Eskymos Dominate Marines To Win Season-Opener

MARINETTE, Wis.---If this 2015 high school baseball season ends the way it began on Tuesday, the Escanaba Eskymos will be in Celebration Mode.

Of course, a victory in a regular season opener does not necessarily translate into success come playoff time. But Tuesday's 15-0 win over the Marinette (Wis.) Marines does get the season off on a good note for the Orange and Black.

"For our first time outside, for our first outing, you have to be happy with what you saw today," Escanaba Coach Kirk Schwalbach said. "We hit the ball well. It's a real good start."

Four Eskymo pitchers handcuffed the Marines to just four base hits in a game that was called after six innings due to the mercy rule.

Escanaba scored nine runs in the top of the sixth inning to break open what was a 6-0 lead entering that inning.

"It was different," Eskymo senior Lewis Ostrander said. "It was our first time outdoors, and seeing live pitching for the first time. To put up 15 runs and have 11 hits, and have everyone play and contribute, it's very impressive."

"I know we've got a younger team this year, but we're poised for some big things," Ostrander continued. "We did a good job of getting off to a good start."

Lewis Ostrander RBI hit

"He hit all the right points," Schwalbach said after hearing Ostrander's interview. "He's talking like a coach! He's a student of the game, there's no doubt!"

Indeed, the Eskymos had a strong showing in all phases of the game.

They made no errors on defense. They had eleven base hits on offense, and their first six runs all scored on hits that happened after two were out.

And the four pitchers that Schwalbach sent to the hill combined to allow just four base hits, and they struck out eight Marinette hitters along the way.

Tyler Skufca pitched the first two innings on his 18th birthday, allowing a hit in each inning, but striking out four batters.

Ostrander pitched the third and fourth innings, giving up two hits and two walks.

He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning with a strike out. Brandon Punzel pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning and Justin Popelka did the same in the sixth inning.

Marinette had a total of six base runners in the game.

"I'm happy with the way the kids pitched," Schwalbach said. "They were around the strike zone. That's what we're looking at right away, because it's early, first time out, getting the cobwebs out. All in all, I thought it was a good performance for the boys."

Corey McInerney RBI double

The first five Eskymos went down in order at the plate before Hunter LaMarch got a hit off of Marine ace Jimmy Jackimowicz in the second inning.

Corey McInerney followed wit a fly to right that sliced away from the right fielder, scoring LaMarch with the go-ahead run. Ostrander followed with a hit to score McInerney and it was 2-0.

In the third inning, Sean Bissell got a one-out double to center, and scored on a double down the left field line by Punzel.

That made it 3-0, and then in the fourth inning, the Eskymos caught a break. With two out and no one on, McInerney bunted.

Marinette pitcher Alex Lemery fielded the ball and appeared to have plenty of time to get the out to end the inning. But McInerney was running hard and Lemery rushed his throw.

It went high, and McInerney was safe on the error.

Ostrander and Tyler Hardwick both walked, loading the bases for Bissell. And Bissell cleared the bases with a long double to center that made it a 6-0 contest.

"I was seeing the ball good today and he just gave me the right pitch, I happened to swing right, and there it went," Bissell said. "Their coach just went out to the mound."

Sean Bissell clears the bases!

"So Coach Schwalbach said that after their coach goes to the mound to talk to their pitcher, he normally comes back with dead heat down the middle," Bissell said. "That's what he did, and I was expecting it, so I sat on it (the pitch), and I swung!"

Escanaba put the game away with nine runs in the sixth inning as everybody got into the act. Parker LaMarch, C.J. Barron, and Tyler Willette all got RBI hits off the bench during that inning, and Skufca added a two-run single to put icing on his birthday cake.

With the loss, Marinette fell to 1-1, after the Marines beat Peshtigo Thursday, 9-0.

Escanaba will not play in Norway on Wednesday as had been scheduled. Those games have been cancelled. The Eskymos will return to action on Saturday in Shiocton, Wis.

Escanaba will face Shiocton first at noon, and then will take on Seymour, Wis.

The next Eskymo game on the radio will be the home opener at Al Ness Field next Wednesday, April 15th, against the Marquette Redmen.

Game time is 5:30. Tune in on WCHT-AM (600) and www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to hear radio highlights and interviews, and to see Sandi Young's photos and videos.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/7	4:30 PM	at Marinette Marines	15 - 0 (W)	1-0

4/11	12:00 PM	at Seymour, Wis.	10 - 5 (W)	2-0

4/11	2:00 PM	at Shiocton, Wis.	7 - 9 (L)	2-1

4/15	5:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	8 - 3 (W)	3-1

4/23	5:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	6 - 2 (W)	4-1

4/24	5:00 PM	at Beloit Turner, Wis.	10 - 5 (W)	5-1

4/25	1:00 PM	at Waupun, Wis.	rain - ppd (W)	rain

4/25	4:00 PM	at Prairie Du Chien Blackhawks	rain - ppd (W)	rain

4/28	4:30 PM	at Gladstone Braves	4 - 5 (L)	5-2

5/1	4:00 PM	at Bay City John Glenn	9 - 2 (W)	6-2

5/2	10:00 AM	at Bay City John Glenn	4 - 5 (L)	6-3

5/2	12:30 PM	at Coldwater High School	5 - 15 (L)	6-4

5/6	5:30 PM	at Marquette Redmen	3 - 4 (L)	6-5

5/7	4:30 PM	Gladstone Braves	5 - 4 (W)	7-5

5/9	10:00 AM	Bark River-Harris Broncos	14 - 5 (W)	8-5

5/9	3:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	13 - 3 (W)	9-5

5/13	5:00 PM	Norway Knights	10 - 1 (W)	10-5

5/14	5:00 PM	North Central Jets	9 - 1 (W)	11-5

5/14	7:30 PM	North Central Jets	17 - 6 (W)	12-5

5/16	10:00 AM	Negaunee Miners	11 - 0 (W)	13-5

5/16	3:00 PM	Shawano Hawks	2 - 13 (L)	13-6

5/18	4:00 PM	at Bay Port, Wis. Pirates	5 - 6 (L)	13-7

5/18	6:00 PM	at Bay Port, Wis. Pirates	0 - 0 (T)	13-7-1

5/21	5:28 PM	Marinette Marines	16 - 15 (W)	14-7-1

5/23	1:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	5 - 1 (W)	15-7-1

5/23	4:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	5 - 0 (W)	16-7-1

5/26	5:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	RAIN - ppd (W)	RAIN

5/30	10:00 AM	Petoskey Northmen	1 - 2 (L)	16-8-1