POWER SURGE: Eskymos Cruise Past Rapid River

Click the thumbnails to see pictures taken by Carrie Moore and hear post-game comments from Carsyn Segorski and Coach Andy Fields.

RAPID RIVER---The Escanaba High School softball team scored 12 runs in the first inning and crusied to a 22-0 win over Rapid River Wednesday evening.

Carsyn Segorski clubbed a pair of three-run homers and Erica Moore added a two-run shot as the Eskymos pounded out 20 base hits and took advantage of four Rapid River errors.

Segorski's first three-run shot highlighted a 25-minute first inning that saw the Eskymos send 17 batters to the plate. Carney Salo added a two-run single, McKenna Bullen had a run-scoring hit, and Nicole Kamin smacked an RBI double.

Maddy Monkevich closed the rally with a run-scoring base hit against Rockets pitcher Natalie Belanger, who will play at Bay College this fall.

"We've faced Natalie quite a few times and she's a really good pitcher," Eskymo Manager Andy Fields said. "But you know, our hitting, we're tough, one through nine. It showed here today. I was a little concerned because Natalie likes to throw up a little bit and my girls like the high ball. But we stayed disciplined and we got on her."

"I think offesnively this is the strongest we've been in a long time," said Segorski, who was a member of the Eskymo state championship team as a feeshman two years ago. Last season was cancelled because of corona. "That's going to help us a lot. Obviously, we have two very great pitchers (Emily Moore, McKayla Mott) and I think they're going to benefit from each other. We're really young (defensively) but we're really strong. We've playing together for such a long time. So I think that's going to help us a lot."

Belanger held the Eskymos off the board in the second and third innings, but Escanaba sent 16 batters to the plate in the fourth inning. In that twn-run rally, Segorski smacked her second three-run homer, Moore followed with her two-run bomb, and Bullen, Kamin and Abby Hill had RBI hits. In fact, Hill had two of them that inning: a double and a triple.

"I don't know, my bat just got hot this season," Segorski said. "Something changed from my freshman year. I was more of a hit-for-average hitter, not for power, and got on base. Now, I'm the Three (in the batting order)!"

Emily Moore pitched all four innings for the Escanaba win. She allowed two base hits and one walk. She struck out eight of the twelve outs that she recorded before the mercy rule kicked in.

Belanger pitched all four innings for Rapid River, which fell to 3-2 on the season. The Rockets will host the Kingsford Flivvers on Friday afternoon.

Escanaba improved to 3-2 and will head downstate again for another tough tournament. The Eskymos' first game will be against Frankenmuth on Friday evening.

"I did want to get a game or two in before that," Fields said. "We had ten games scheduled this week, but in a way, not being able to play Monday or Tuesday (weather) was actually maybe a blessing in disguise. The wear-and-tear. So we'll be good and fresh for Friday for sure."

"I think it's going to be fun," Segorski said. "Our team likes a challenge. We like things that are going to push us, and seeing better pitchers is going to help us as we had to our playoff season, because we expect to make it pretty far. This strong schedule will be good for us."