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Escanaba Senior Girls Get First World Series Win
 ROXANA, Del.---Right from the opening warm-ups, the Escanaba Senior Girls Little League softball team (age 15-16) appeared to be an invigorated bunch. The girls seemed to have more enthusiam, and the parents and other supporters seemed to be energized as Escanaba prepared to face the European champions from Prague, Czech Republic, as the World Series continued on Wednesday in Sussex, Delaware.  Even though the game didn't start until 8:30, the girls got to business early and cruised to the victory. Escanaba was energized by Garden City, Montana's 5-2 win over Damascus, Virginia, earlier in the day. Had Virginia won that game, Escanaba would have been eliminated from a possible semifinal appearance. But with these two results on Wednesday, Escanaba only needs a win over Virginia on Thursday to advance to the semfinal round. Escanaba took advantage of four Czech errors in this five-inning game. In the first inning, Emily Bruntjens was safe on an error, Jerikka McAlpine slapped a single to left field, and JJ Laviolette drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Katie Ross helped her own cause with a long fly to right field that hit neat the top of the fence. Three runs scored. The lead doubled from 3-0 to 6-0 in the third inning when Taylor Gauthier singled home a run and Bruntjens drove home two more with a hit. The lead grew to 8-0 in the fourth inning when Taylor Segorski squeezed home one run, and another came home on a wild pitch.  An error at second base moved the runners along, and Paulina Vagnerova's ground ball brought home Czech's first run. Escanaba put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. McAlpine drove in one with a base hit, then with two out, Segorski's long fly ball to left was just out of the reach of the left fielder, allowing two runs to score with the bases loaded. Segorski led the way with three hits, while Ross and Hiney both had two hits. In the circle, Ross threw all five innings, allowing two hits and fanning five batters. Escanaba takes on the Southeast Regional Champions from Damascus, Virginia, on Thursday. The game was supposed to start at 8:00, but because of concerns over severe weather, the game will now start at 3:00. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 2:30 Thursday afternoon. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos, and to hear radio interviews from Day Three of the World Series.  |
