|
Cubs, Indians Advance To Legion U.P. Final Four
 MARQUETTE---The Escanaba Cubs and Gladstone Indians both advanced to the Final Four of the Upper Peninsula Zone Five Tournament Friday in Marquette. The Indians beat Hancock, 5-0, and then dominated Ishpeming, 15-2, to take the top spot in their pool. The Cubs beat Menominee, 4-3, before losing to Marquette, 15-5. But Escanaba was still the top seed in its pool. In the first game for Gladstone, Christian Tackman threw a three-hitter as Indians shut out Hancock, 5-0. Justin Jurek got Gladstone started in the bottom of the first inning when he stole home on a straight steal, giving Gladstone a 1-0 lead. Jake Pearson singled to start the second and scored on a groundout by Sam Pouliot for a 2-0 lead. Gladstone extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth on a Pearson RBI groundout and an RBI double by Christian Groleau. Tackman scored on a passed ball in the fifth to close out the scoring. Tackman struck out six batters to earn the victory. In the second game, Gladstone jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Ishpeming in the first on RBI singles from Hunter Garling and Pearson. Pearson later scored from second on a rare two-base sacrafice fly by Hardwick. The Indians would blow the game wide open with five runs in the fourth inning, two more in the fifth and five more in the sixth as Ishpeming used six different pitchers. Garling, Pearson and Jake Peterson all had two hits in the game, with Garling and Peterson each driving in three runs. Gladstone stole ten bases on the day. Tom Bailey knotched the win on the mound, working the first five innings, allowing two runs. Groleau worked a scoreless sixth inning. Escanaba began its day with a come-from-behind win over Menominee. The Red Wave took an early 2-0 lead before the Cubs rallied. Tyler Skufca got the win on the mound. Landon Maccoux had an RBI single and Matt Hanson had an RBI groundout to give Menominee that lead. But in the fifth inning, Skufca ripped one to the center field fence that brought home David Falish, tying the game at 2-2. In the sixth inning, Falish drove home Devin Olsen with a base hit to make it a 4-2 game. The Cubs had to hang on in the seventh inning as Ryan Woods singled home a run to cut the Red Wave deficit to 4-3. But Skufca got Hanson to ground out to end the game. The second game saw the Cubs use four different pitchers and lose to the Marquette Blues, 14-5. Jake Rodman got the start, and was relieved by Bailey Lamb, Nick Vandermissen, and Brandon Punzel. Marquette took an early 4-0 lead before Escanaba got two runs back on a Vandermissen hit that scored Skufca and Falish. But Marquette kept right on scoring, getting at least one run in every inning. Skufca had two hits in the game, including another double that brought home Falish in the fifth inning. Falish walked four times during the game. For Marquette, Peyton Labombard drove in six runs, including three on a bases-clearing double in the top of the sixth inning. Mackinley Larson took the win on the mound, with Labombard coming on in relief in the fifth inning. Escanaba pitchers issued 12 walks in the game. Marquette stranded 14 runners. The U.P. semifinals will be held on Saturday in Marquette. Escanaba will face Marquette again, while Gladstone will take on Ishpeming again. Both games begin at 11:00, with the championship game to follow. Three of those four teams will advance to the American Legion State Tournament next week in Gladwin. |
