ST. CLAIR, Mich.---The Escanaba Major Girls 11-and-12 year-old softball team arrived in steamy St. Clair, Michigan, tonight for the state tournament, which starts tomorrow at the brand new Legacy Fields.
There are 16 teams from across Michigan at the event, although District Eleven from the northern and western U.P. did not send a representative.
So the host District Seven team has two teams.
The girls from all 16 teams walked through downtown St. Clair, with a police and fire escort. Then it was on to the Town Mall for opening ceremonies, where all of the teams were introduced and the girls posed for pictures, and were all treated to a picnic dinner.
Escanaba takes on Grandville out of District Nine Friday in their opener. Game time is 12:00.
"Grandville is going to be a strong team," Escanaba Manager Todd Milkiewicz said. "Everybody that we face will probably be very competitive. The 12u bracket is really a strong bracket, all the way across Little League. It's the premiere of Little League. The stadium that we're playing at is fabulous. Top quality all the way around."
"Grandville's a good team, and there's a lot of good teams here," Escanaba pitcher Mckayla Mott said. "I'm excited to play them. It was a very long (trip). We stopped three times and I'm very tired. But I'll get my rest tonight and play good tomorrow!"
Friday's game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and rrnsports.com.
So the host District Seven team has two teams.
The girls from all 16 teams walked through downtown St. Clair, with a police and fire escort. Then it was on to the Town Mall for opening ceremonies, where all of the teams were introduced and the girls posed for pictures, and were all treated to a picnic dinner.
Escanaba takes on Grandville out of District Nine Friday in their opener. Game time is 12:00.
"Grandville is going to be a strong team," Escanaba Manager Todd Milkiewicz said. "Everybody that we face will probably be very competitive. The 12u bracket is really a strong bracket, all the way across Little League. It's the premiere of Little League. The stadium that we're playing at is fabulous. Top quality all the way around."
"Grandville's a good team, and there's a lot of good teams here," Escanaba pitcher Mckayla Mott said. "I'm excited to play them. It was a very long (trip). We stopped three times and I'm very tired. But I'll get my rest tonight and play good tomorrow!"
Escanaba will also face Muskegon White Lake on Saturday and Milanon Sunday in pool play. That will knock the tournament down to eight teams...the quarterfinals and semifinals are Monday, and the state championship game is Tuesday at noon. The state champion advances to the regional tournament in Indianapolis.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS above to see pictures and a video from the parade.
The teams:
District 1 Bullock Creek
District 2 Kalamazoo Parchment
District 3 Milan
District 4 South Farmington
District 5 Taylor
District 6 Lac Ste. Claire
District 7 Croswell-Lexington and St. Clair
District 8 West Branch
District 9 Grandville
District 10 Escanaba
District 12 White Lake
District 13 Onaway
District 14 Bay County
District 15 Vicksburg
District 16 TecumsehClick the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS above to see pictures and a video from the parade.
The teams:
District 1 Bullock Creek
District 2 Kalamazoo Parchment
District 3 Milan
District 4 South Farmington
District 5 Taylor
District 6 Lac Ste. Claire
District 7 Croswell-Lexington and St. Clair
District 8 West Branch
District 9 Grandville
District 10 Escanaba
District 12 White Lake
District 13 Onaway
District 14 Bay County
District 15 Vicksburg
