Click the thumbnails to see video highlights and to hear post-game comments from Connor Asgaard. Jayce Braun, and Cubs Coach Mike Rymkos.
ESCANABA---To say that the Escanaba Cubs American Legion baseball team was shorthanded for its Tuesday night season-opener against Niagara would have been a severe understatement.
“I just filled in because they didn't have enough guys,” sophomore Connor Asgaard said. “I showed up at the field and there were only six guys here. So, I'm just texting people, telling people to get here. We've got jerseys and hats to give out! We got eleven guys, mostly younger guys, but they're a great group of kids.”
“It was 4:13 when I found out I was gonna play this game,” incoming freshman Jayce Braun said. “I ran and got my stuff, and I got here at 4:34, I think.”
The game was a 5:30 start.
Well, the ragtag bunch performed well on the field, beating Niagara in the season opener, 20-1, at Al Ness Field.
Asgaard helped out with an RBI triple and Braun contributed a two-run single as the Cubs got nine hits and took advantage of 17 walks issued by Niagara pitchers.
“I was pretty patient at the plate and got a hold of one,” Asgaard said. “Nice triple, but the guy got thrown out at the plate. That's all right, though. We were up by a bunch anyway. Did pretty good in the field, too.”
“First at-bat, pitcher was throwing kind of slow,” Braun said. “He was throwing a lot of balls, but in my mind, I was like, if he throws a strike, I'm hitting it.”
Several of Escanaba's veteran players were not available for the game, including some at the U.P. High School All-Star football festivities in Marquette.
Besides Asgaard and Braun, soon-to-be-sophomore Alex Irving had an RBI single and walked three times, and Timmy Robitaille had two hits, walked twice, drive in a run, and scored three times. Graduated senior Graham Johnson chipped in with an RBI single and Joey Garcia also had a hit and two runs batted in.
“The boys did great,” new Cubs Manager Mike Rymkos said. “We had seven guys when I showed up tonight. Four younger boys came, and they were aggressive at the plate, they swung the bat, and Niagara struggled quite a bit throwing strikes.”
Robitaille, Irving, and Blake Gagnon all pitched for Escanaba, and they combined to allow only three base hits and walk just one batter. Brock Flamino, Easton Holmes, and Matt Smith had the base hits for Niagara.
The two teams will be back in action this weekend at the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament, with half of the Friday-Saturday games at Al Ness Field and the other half at the Bay College field in Wells. Sunday's semifinals and championship will be held at Al Ness Field.
Escanaba's games Friday night will be against Sheboygan and Kewaunee County, at 6:00 and 8:30, at Al Ness Field. Both will be broadcast live on FM-93.5 and AM-600. Niagara will face the Eastern U.P. Wood Ducks and Kewaunee County on Friday at 10:30 and 1:00 (Eastern), also at Al Ness Field.
