IT'S NOT A DREAM! Eskymo Girls To Play For Title

ROXANA, Del.---The Escanaba Senior Girls (age 15-16) pulled out another dramatic victory at the Little League World Series on Friday, and this one will see the U.P. girls play for a World Championship on Saturday.

Escanaba slipped past previously-undefeated Bristol, Pa., 2-1, to advance to the World Championship game in Roxana, Delaware.

J.J. Laviolette's two-run double with two out in the sixth inning provided the offense, and she made the force play at third base in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

"I'm speechless right now," Escanaba center fielder Emily Bruntjens said. "I can't even believe it. We're going to the championship game. I can't stop smiling!"

"That's crazy," Escanaba right fielder Malary Huiney said. "We could be world champions! We're going for a world championship right now. This is the farthest you can go in Little League softball, and we're there. Living the dream!"

"It's surreal feeling," Escanaba first baseman Cassi Wisler said. "None of it feels real. I can't believe we're in the championship game tomorrow. It's amazing!"

Not bad for a team that lost its first two games and was on the brink of elimination.

"We were a little bit nervous, I think, coming into the tournament," Escanaba catcher Taylor Segorski said. "Now, we're getting into the groove of things. You know? One girl drops the ball, someone else picks it up!"

"This is a dream come true," Escanaba Manager Andy Fields said. "I can't believe it. Not only to be the coach of this team, but my daughter's on the mound. Words can't express how I feel right now. This is awesome."

Escanaba had a hard time hitting Pennsylvania pitcher Alyssa Adams. She retired the first nine Escanaba girls in a row, five of them on strikes.

The first baserunner came in the fourth inning when Bruntjens got an infield hit. She was on third base with two out when Katie Ross smoked one to right field. It was caught by Tiana Nelson.

In the top of the sixth inning, Escanaba broke the tie. Claire McInerney got a one-out single, and then Bruntjens drew a walk. Jerrika McAlpine followed with a sacrafice bunt to move the runners into second and third. That brought up Laviolette.

"When I was up there, I was like 'I've got to hit this. I've got to get these two runs home'," Laviolette said. "Once I hit it and I was on second base, I hit my helmet so hard. Oh, it felt great."

After the two runs scored, Escanaba still had a chance to add more runs when Ross and Segorski drew walks. Taylor Gauthier popped up, though, to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, Escanaba had another chance to break the game open when the girls loaded the bases with no outs on walks to Wisler and McInerney, and a hit by Maddie Kolich. But the Esky girls could not get the run home, so it stayed 2-0.

"That's on me," Fields said. "We should have been able to get a run home there."

In the bottom of the seventh, the leadoff batter was safe on an infield error. Ross got the first out, but Tianna Brewington got a base hit to put two runners aboard. Then Alyssa Adams was hit by a pitch in the dirt, loading the bases with one out.

Stephanie Wolf struck out for the second out, and Ross was one strike away from the victory when she got Jade Stevens to pop up. Unfortunately for Escanaba, Laviolette and Gauthier collided and the ball dropped in, allowing a run to score.

Fields came out to settle the girls down, and on the first pitch, Maria Dea bounced one to Laviolette at third. She could have thrown to first base, but instead, lunged toward third base.

She tagged the bag for the force out to end the game, and Escanaba celebrated.

"Bases were loaded, so any ball that came to me, I knew I was going to third," Laviolette said. "I stuck to me decision, went right to third, and just dove for it. I knew she was out once I dove for it, and the ump just said 'out' and I just felt great about that!"

Ross earned the pitching win, allowing four hits and no earned runs. She fanned five.

Escanaba will face the team that mercied them at the very start of the tournament, but this time, for the world championship. Escanaba takes on Garden City Little League out of Missoula, Montana, Saturday at 2:00. The game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Mary Gauthier, and to hear brief interviews with all of the girls!