Errors, Silent Bats Doom Esky Girls At World Series

ROXANA, Del.---Things got off to a good start on Tuesday for the Escanaba Senior Girls (age 15-16) at the Senior Little League World Series in Delaware.

But a rough third inning defensively and the inabilty to get timely hits added up to a 6-2 loss for Escanaba against the Canadian champions from Victoria, British Columbia.

The loss dropped the Escanaba girls to 0-2 in the tournament, and on the brink of being eliminated from championship contention.

The girls will have to win their final two pool play games, and then hope for help from other teams in Pool B.

"I've never seen them play like that before," Escanaba coach Vance Hiney said. "The choices they were making, the errors. It was like they were asleep out there."

Escanaba took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning when Emily Bruntjens led off with a bunt single and stole second base. Jerikka McAlpine hit a towering fly ball to right field that was misjudged by the outfielder, and the ball sailed to the fence. Both girls scored.

But those would be the only runs that Escanaba would get off of pitcher Hayler Gordon.

Jerikka McAlpine comes all the way around to score

"The ball was coming in slow, probably below 50 (miles per hour)," Hiney said. "She had a nice change-up. She threw a change-up at least once or twice to everybody. And it was like we didn't know what to do."

There are times when a 2-0 lead can be plenty for Katie Ross in the pitcher's circle. But with temperatures in the 90's with high humidity, Ross got tired.

And she was not helped by the defense behind her, especially in the third inning when Canada scored all sixof its runs.

Escanaba made five errors in that inning alone, everything from bobbles on ground balls to high throws to low throws. There were late throws where the girls were trying to get the lead runner rather than getting a sure out at first.

There were missed cuts.

Jill Goldsworthy and Rachel Bobroske had back-to-back RBI hits for Canada.

"When we were throwing the ball, it was like we were aiming it instead of just firing the ball," Hiney said. "It was like we were worrying about making sure we got it there so much that we would overthrow it. Instead of just firing it like we normally do."

Ross threw four innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks. Casi Wisler threw the final two innings and was charged with no runs on one hit.

Claire McInerney double; out at 3rd

Escanaba had its opportunities late in the game to try to mount a comeback. In the sixth inning, Ross walked, Taylor Segorski singled to left, and Wisler beat out an infield hit. That loaded the bases for Claire McInerney, who had hit one to the fence earlier in the game.

This time, however, she grounded to short, leaving the bases full.

In the seventh inning, Bruntjens led off with a double and JJ Laviolette walked.

But with two on and two out, Ross hit one to third base to end the game.

Escanaba will face the European champions from Prague, Czech Republic, at 8:00 Wednesday night. It will be a must-win game for the Central Regional champions.

"We're not out of it," Hiney said. "We're still in this, and we can still do this. We've just got to play our ball. We didn't play 'our ball' today."

Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting with the pre-game show at 7:30.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Mary Gauthier, and to hear radio interviews.