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Wednesday April 24, 2024
Pugh Outduels Bower In (Sweaty) Wood Bat Victory

Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos from the game

ESCANABA---Sawyer Pugh pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-hit, shutout baseball, as the Channing Railsplitters defeated the Escanaba Polecats, 3-2, in men's league action Monday night. Jackson Bower went the distance and took the loss for Escanaba.

The game was played in 90-degree heat, with humidity to match. Players uniforms were soaked with sweat throughout the evening, but it was a well-played game, for the most part.

Pugh, who just graduated from Kingsford High School this summer and will play at Lakeland (Wis.) University this fall, was in control.

He did not allow a hit until Collin Arnt got a single to left field in the fourth inning. The only other hit he allowed came in the seventh inning off the bat of Northwood University player Grant LaMarche.

Channing scored two runs in the first inning on hits by Pugh and Chase Carlson, and the Railsplitters got good defensive plays from third baseman Zach Spera (sliding catch of a foul pop-up), and from catcher Kenny Pekarek (on a sixth inning pop up inches away from the screen).

Escanaba also got good defensive plays, with Jake LaFave catching a Luke Holsworth line drive at third base, and Matt Richer making a diving play at shortstop.

Channing took a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning when Kevin Evosovich singled home Logan O'Neill, who was nearly thrown out at the plate on a strong throw from Escanaba center fielder Tyler Lawson. O'Neill barely beat the throw with the slide on a bang-bang play.

Escanaba finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning when Pugh threw one away as he tried to get a runner leaning off of first base after a strikeout. The other runner came home to score, and then Arnt's ground ball brought home Escanaba's second run.

Pugh walked Matt Richer to put the tying run on base, so Evosovich relieved Pugh on the mound. After a long battle with Lawson, Evosovich got the strikeout to end the game.

Both teams made four errors in the game, but all three runs against Bower were earned. Bower, who threw for two seasons at Bay College, nearly matched Pugh pitch-for-pitch, throwing all seven innings and scattering six base hits. Pugh earned the win.







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