WALK OFF: Peacock Helps Cubs Beat Indians, 7-6

ESCANABA---Lennox Peacock smacked a walk-off base hit to right field to lead the Escanaba Cubs American Legion baseball team to an exciting 7-6 win over the Gladstone Indians Friday night at Al Ness Field. Peacock, the Cubs' youngest player at just 14 years old, also earned the win on the mound as he relieved Bon LaChance in the top of the seventh inning.

"I had two strikes on me, and (second baseman) Nick Kolich popped right into my head," Peacock said. "Before the game, we were working in the cage and working on hitting opposite-field on an outside pitch. That's exactly what I did. I took it opposite field, and it was one of the best feelings ever when I saw Ben (Johnson) sliding safe."

Johnson had slugged an RBI single before Peacock's at-bat to tie the game.

In the top of the seventh inning, Gladstone's Eli Terrien came through with an RBI single that gave Gladstone a 6-5 lead after a wild sixth inning had seen both teams score unearned runs.

"It's just, put the ball in play, and try to hit it hard," Johnson said. "That was my goal."

Gladstone Manager Scott Kwarciany reminded his boys after the game to "keep your eyes on the prize", meaning the U.P. zone finals and a possible trip to the state finals.

"It was two baseball teams that competed it out," he said. "Teams made mistakes, but mistakes didn't decide the outcome of this game in the end. There was good hitting. Both teams. We got a clutch hit to get a lead. and they got two clutch hits at the end. We can't complain. Our kids can hold our heads high after this game and move on."

Aedan Creten, who came on in relief of Travis Mack in the sixth inning, took the loss for Gladstone. Peacock, who relieved Bon LaChance in the final inning, was credited with the win.

Escanaba improved to 6-5 on the season heading into the holiday weekend. Gladstone fell to 6-7-1.