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Cubs, Blues Split Error-Filled Legion Doubleheader
 ESCANABA---There were more errors than hits at times, and the mosquitoes made life miserable, as the Escanaba Cubs and Kingsford Blues played a doubleheader Tuesday night at Al Ness Field. In the end, the two teams split a doubleheader, with the Cubs winning the opener, 3-2, and the Blues taking the nightcap, 10-4.  Those would be the only two base hits the Cubs would get against Blues pitcher Dan Harrington. But Escanaba scored two runs in the fifth inning as Kingsford's infield made four errors behind the hard-luck Harrington. Punzel pitched the first three innings for the Cubs, allowing just one infield hit but also walking a couple of batters. Gavin Peacock came in to throw the next three innings, and he earned the win as he scattered three hits, and walked nobody in those innings. As bad as the defense was at times, it was also great at times behind Peacock. In the fifth inning, third baseman Tyler Skufca made the play of the game as he stabbed a ball near the foul line, well into the outfield, and threw to first to get Brock Grenier. Then, in the sixth, LaMarch robbed John Edwardsen of a base hit when he went deep into the hole, backhanded a hard-hit ball, wheeled around and threw to first for the out. Justin Popelka came on to pitch the seventh inning, and he struck out two men before getting Sam Santi to ground out to LaMarch to end the contest.  Edwardsen (pictured above), however, settled down from there, even though there were a handful of defensive errors behind him. Things unravelled for Escanaba, however, as the Cubs gave up three runs in the fourth inning and seven more in the fifth. Seven of the runs were unearned as the Cubs made five errors. Escanaba Pitcher Nick Bink (pictured at left) also struggled, walking three batters and hitting another. Parker LaMarch came on to pitch the final two innings for Escanaba. Anthony Rebera had an RBI base hit in the fourth inning and Brock Grenier had a two-run hit in the fifth. Edwardsen threw all seven innings to beat the Cubs for the second time in the past week. He also threw nine innings in a 16-10 Blues win last week. Escanaba's record is now 6-8. Kingsford is now 17-6. In other local American Legion Baseball games on Tuesday, Niagara shut out Gladstone, 4-0 in Wisconsin...while Mid County and Copper Country split a doubleheader. Mid County won the opener, 7-1, while the Copper Country boys won the nightcap, 13-5. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken during Tuesday's second game.  |
