Escanaba 9-10 Boys Open Districts With Soggy Win
GLADSTONE---The Escanaba Minor Little League All-Stars (age 9-10) opened the district tournament Wednesday night with a 15-3 win over Munising at Gladstone's Howes Field. The game was shortened by the mercy rule, and by heavy rains. Munising got two runs back in the bottom of the inning on three walks, a wild pitch, and a base hit by Reece Cotey. But Escanaba got four more runs in the third inning on a bunch of walks and wild pitches, along with an RBI single by Charley McInerney. Escanaba scored seven more runs in the top of the fourth inning, again, on many wild pitches and walks. LaChance had an RBI double and Cannon Arnt also ripped a single. As the rains began in the bottom of the fourth inning, Escanaba pitcher Ben Johnson walked four batters to force home a run with two out. That's when it was raining too hard to continue. With the game one out shy of being official, Munising conceded the game. Munising started the game with top pitcher Hayden Rockhill on the mound, but the team's strategy was to throw multiple pitchers 20 pitches each, which keeps them eligible to pitch without a day's rest as the tournament continues. Escanaba also kept an eye on the pitch count, using four pitchers, although the starter, LaChance, threw more than 20 pitches (32). The second game on the schedule Wednesday, Gladstone against Tri-County, was postponed by rain and unplayable field conditions. That game will be played in Gladstone at 6:00 Thursday night, and it will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Escanaba will play the winner of that game Friday night at 7:00 in Gladstone, while Munising will face the loser Friday afternoon at 5:00, also in Gladstone. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos from Wednesday night's game. |