|
Banged Up Eskymos Drop Two At Essexville-Garber
 ESSEXVILLE, Mich.---The good news is the Escanaba Eskymos scored ten runs during their doubleheader Saturday against the Essexville-Garber Dukes. The bad news is they gave up 30 runs. The Eskymos ran out of pitching and tried to play over two key injuries in losing both ends of the doubleheader, 16-7 and 14-3. Escanaba finishes the weekend road trip with a 1-3 record, after splitting Friday's doubleheader at Bay City Central. (Read the story about those games HERE ) 
Eskymo rookie Corey McInerney at the plate.
The injury problem grew on Saturday as catcher Sean Bissell went down. "He jammed his thumb," Schwalbach said. "He'd catch the ball, but the thumb got bent back three times, so he had to come out. It was swelled up pretty bad. So Parker had to go back there." That would be freshman Parker LaMarch, who had never caught before at the varsity level. Schwalbach says that it was a tough assignment for LaMarch. "He did a great job for a freshman," the coach said. "But he doesn't have the arm that Sean has. So, when he came in, they (the Dukes) ran like crazy." Escanaba actually had a 1-0 lead, but the Dukes hit the ball against Brandon Punzel. Punzel took one for the team, throwing 128 pitches before Schwalbach took him out. 
Brandon Punzel threw 128 pitches.
Still, the Eskymos trailed just 9-7 in the sixth inning. But Schwalbach had very few options in the bullpen, turning to freshman Justin Popelka to pitch. The Dukes scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the game away at 16-7. "He did well for a freshman," Schwalbach said. "But they are a good-hitting team, and they hit him. It seemed like everything they hit landed either in front of us, or behind us. And then we had a couple of misjudged fly balls, too." A part of the reason for that could be the fact that the Eskymos have not had a practice outside yet this season, and before this weekend, had played just one baseball game. It is not possible to practice catching fly balls during a practice session inside the gym. Brandon Punzel was three-for-three with three runs batted-in for the Eskymos. Zavien Stickler had five hits and seven RBI in the twinbill for Essexville (8-4-1). In the second game, senior Bailey Lamb got the ball, and the Eskymos again took a 1-0 lead. But the Dukes scored seven runs in the bottom of that first inning. 
Bailey Lamb throws in Game #2 Saturday.
Escanaba is now 1-4 on the season, but with a very tough schedule so far. "Playing Appleton North, Bay City Central, and Essexville," Schwalbach said. "That is a great schedule. I like to win games, but this will be good for us in the long run." Schwalbach also noted that Essexville had played 12 games and Bay City Central had played ten before meeting the Eskymos this weekend. "Not an excuse, though," Schwalbach said. Escanaba is off until this Thursday, when the boys have their home-opener against the Negaunee Miners. Game time is 6:00. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. 
Escanaba freshman Justin Popelka bats during Saturday's game against Essexville. (Sheila Olsen photo)
|
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
4/11 |
5:30 PM |
at Appleton North Lightning
|
3 - 7 (L)
|
0-1
|
4/18 |
4:00 PM |
at Bay City Central Wolves
|
6 - 4 (W)
|
1-1
|
4/18 |
6:00 PM |
at Bay City Central Wolves
|
2 - 8 (L)
|
1-2
|
4/19 |
11:00 AM |
at Essexville-Garber Dukes
|
7 - 16 (L)
|
1-3
|
4/19 |
1:00 PM |
at Essexville-Garber Dukes
|
3 - 14 (L)
|
1-4
|
4/25 |
6:00 PM |
at Kenosha Tremper High School
|
9 - 2 (W)
|
2-4
|
4/26 |
10:00 AM |
at Waupun, Wis.
|
6 - 4 (W)
|
3-4
|
4/26 |
6:30 PM |
at Fox Valley Lutheran High School
|
4 - 7 (L)
|
3-5
|
5/3 |
12:30 PM |
Menominee Red Wave Legion
|
10 - 0 (W)
|
4-5
|
5/3 |
5:00 PM |
Negaunee Miners
|
0 - 7 (L)
|
4-6
|
5/7 |
5:30 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
|
10 - 4 (W)
|
5-6
|
5/8 |
4:30 PM |
at Gladstone Braves
|
0 - 1 (L)
|
5-7
|
5/11 |
1:00 PM |
Kingsford Legion Blues
|
5 - 4 (W)
|
6-7
|
5/11 |
3:15 PM |
Kingsford Legion Blues
|
11 - 2 (W)
|
7-7
|
5/13 |
6:30 PM |
at Kingsford Legion Blues
|
15 - 0 (W)
|
8-7
|
5/16 |
5:00 PM |
Alpena Wildcats
|
7 - 2 (W)
|
9-7
|
5/16 |
7:00 PM |
Alpena Wildcats
|
6 - 2 (W)
|
10-7
|
5/17 |
12:30 PM |
Houghton Gremlins
|
7 - 2 (W)
|
11-7
|
5/17 |
5:00 PM |
Negaunee Miners
|
6 - 7 (L)
|
11-8
|
5/22 |
4:00 PM |
at Negaunee Miners
|
10 - 0 (W)
|
12-8
|
5/24 |
12:00 PM |
Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox
|
9 - 0 (W)
|
13-8
|
5/24 |
2:30 PM |
Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox
|
10 - 3 (W)
|
14-8
|
5/26 |
6:00 PM |
Gladstone Braves
|
1 - 3 (L)
|
14-9
|
5/29 |
4:30 PM |
Marinette Marines
|
5 - 7 (L)
|
14-10
|
5/31 |
12:30 PM |
at Cheboygan Chiefs
|
19 - 3 (W)
|
15-10
|
5/31 |
3:00 PM |
at Petoskey Northmen
|
5 - 3 (W)
|
16-10
|
6/7 |
10:00 AM |
Newaygo High School
|
6 - 1 (W)
|
17-10
|
6/7 |
3:00 PM |
Gladwin
|
1 - 4 (L)
|
17-11
|
