Strong Defense Sends Eskymo Girls Into Final Four

ROXANA, Del.---The Escanaba Senior Little League All-Stars (age 15-16) played their best game of this long tournament run at the most opportune time on Thursday.

Escanaba made no errors and got strong pitching from Katie Ross to post a 2-1 win over Damascus, Virginia, at the World Series. The girls finished pool play with a 2-2 record, and now advance to the world semifinal round on Friday against Bristol, Pennsylvania.

"This is the first game in this whole run that we've been error-free," Escanaba Manager Andy Fields said. "Katie (Ross) needed it, the team needed it, and it was a total team effort today. It was wonderful to move on."

Just 48 hours earlier, Escanaba lost an ugly game to the Canadian national champions, and the girls were on the brink of elimination with an 0-2 record.

But Escanaba beat the Czech Republic, the Virginia team lost to the Montana state champions, and the Canadians were upset by the Czech Republic.

Those results gave the Escanaba girls and opening, and they took advantage of it.

"There has been a whole different energy in the dugout," Escanaba catcher Taylor Segorski said. "We were just much more determined than we had been in the first two games. The first two games, we kind of slept through."

"I feel amazing," Escanaba first baseman Cassi Wisler said. "I'm really confident in this team, that we can always come back and win. I'm really proud of all of our girls."

Escanaba played incredible defense, with all 21 outs being recorded on the infield.

JJ Laviolette was impressive at third base, making six plays, three of them on hard-hit balls. Taylor Gauthier was strong at shortstop, making two force plays in the early innings.

And Claire McInerney did the same on two occassions at second base.

Segorski, behind the plate, through out a base-stealer in the first inning.

"I don't have very many people steal on me," Segorski said. "I don't have very many people who attempt to steal on me. So, it was just a good way to keep the girls from running too much. It sends the message early on."

Wisler made several plays at first base as well, corraling several high throws.

Escanaba scored in the first inning when Emily Bruntjens led off with a triple and scored on a sacrafice bunt by Jerrika McAlpine. The lead went to 2-0 in the third inning when Laviolette singled and scored on a long double to left field by Ross.

Escanaba had plenty of chances to add to its lead, but couldn't get that big hit with runners in scoring position. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Escanaba got hits from Segorski, Gauthier, and Wisler to load the bases with no outs. But the next three girls got out, keeping it a 2-0 game.

And the seventh inning became real dramatic.

Ross got the first two outs of the inning, but Maddie Parks battled for a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Nine-hitter Sierra Milhorne also drew a walk, and Brianna Vannoy got a single to cut the Escanaba lead to 2-1. With the tying and go-ahead runs on base, Ross got Kendra Wampler to pop up to Laviolette at third base to end the game.

"I was just like, 'oh, I'm gonna catch this!'," Laviolette laughed. "This feels awesome. I'm so excited. We were in the zone. We really wanted to win this game."

Escanaba had ten hits in the game, stranding eight runners. Madison Garrett threw all six innings for Damascus, and took the loss. Ross allowed five hits in seven innings.

"This Virginia team was a really good team," Fields said. "They held us to two runs, and we're a really good-hitting team. They were sneaky good."

"But today, the difference was our defense. It was two great teams going at it, and it came right down to the last out."

Escanaba faces Bristol, Pa., in the semifinals. The East Regional champions have won all four of their games at the World Series. Game time is 5:00. The game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com starting at 4:30.

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