Click the thumbnails to see photos and to hear comments from second baseman Ruby Jacobsen and Coach Danicia Humbert. Also click to hear the pre-game interview with third baseman Gen Fields.
ST. CLAIR---The Escanaba Major Little League All-Star (age 10-12) softball team had a rough first inning on Friday and could not come back, losing to the host St. Clair All-Stars. 4-1, in the Michigan State Tournament opener.
St. Clair scored all four runs in the top of the first inning as Escanaba pitcher Amiya Humbert walked three batters. They all rode home on a double to right field off the bat of Paisley Karas. Humbert settled down from there and put up gooseggs the rest of the way, but St. Clair pitcher Lilly Burnham was tough to hit as well.
Escanaba did have its chances as the game went on. The turning point may have been the fourth inning when Evelyn Young smacked a base hit down the left field line. On the second pitch to Livvy Nolde, she tried to steal to second base and was thrown out on a perfect throw by St. Clair catcher Reagan Stoltz.
Nolde then hit a ground ball to third base, which was misplayed. That flipped the batting order, and bringing up Amiya Humbert. She adjusted as the first pitch came sooner than she thought, smoking it to third base. It was caught and the throw became a double play.
Danicia Humbert argued that it was a “quick pitch” and should have been nullified. The umpires did not agree, and the inning was over.
In the fifth inning, Escanaba again threatened. Gen Fields and Maci Engebretsen had back-to-back singles to start the inning. Barlow Bosk brought in a run with a grounder to the circle, but Harper Adiska grounded out, stranding Engebretsen at third base.
Then in the bottom of the sixth, another rally threat. Haddie Mokszycke crushed a shot to the center field fence for a one-out double. St. Clair changed pitchers, and Kara Bosanic drew a walk. With two out, Young crushed a line drive that was caught at second base, ending the game with a 4-1 loss.
Escanaba also had a defensive gem in the game. Burnham slapped a base hit to center field with a runner on second base. Escanaba center fielder Zionnah Barsaw came up throwing, and let loose on a strike to Mokszycke at the plate for the out.
Escanaba can still make the quarterfinals by beating Petoskey and Bay County in Saturday and Sunday games. The game against Petoskey starts at noon Saturday and the Sunday game will start at 4:00. Both will be broadcast live on FM-93.5 and AM-600.
