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Anderson Bomb Highlights Esky Girls Tourney Win
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 “I told the girls I'm glad they stayed engaged, because it can be tough when it gets out of hand like that,” Escanaba Manager Brian Parlato said. “Credit to Marquette, they played hard the whole game. It was a fun game to coach, just trying to keep all the girls in it.”
The highlight of the game was a towering two-run homer over the left field fence in the second inning for Escanaba first baseman Mara Anderson.
“She really got ahold of that one,” Parlato said. “As soon as she hit it, I had a feeling it might go over the fence. That's the first time any of these girls have put one over for us in any kind of game (league play, travel ball, All-Stars combined). Pretty exciting to see all the girls meet her at home plate.”
“I was pretty nervous because it was a full count,” Anderson said. “It felt really good.”
Escanaba also got some good defense. Marquette got its only hit of the game in the second inning with a runner on second base as Makayla Gustafson ripped a shot to center field. Clare Dewitt motored home, but Escanaba shortstop Abby Derkos went well into the outfield to get the ball and threw a perfect strike to catcher Koeller Hayes, who put the tag on in plenty of time for the out.
 “She (Derkos) was beating herself up because Koeller had that girl gunned at second base and Abby tried to make the tag before she caught the ball,” Parlato said. “She came back on the next play. I told her, hey, way to redeem yourself, and shake off that drop. She makes plays. Not much gets by her and she has a great arm.”
Marquette's pitchers, Gustafson and Lilly Smigel, struggled to throw strikes in the rain, issuing nine walks, hitting three batters, and throwing multiple wild pitches.
Besides Anderson's home run, Escanaba got a two-run single to right field by #12 batter Brynn Poszczwicz.
“Brynn got ahold of that one,” Parlato said. “It doesn't matter if they're batting 10, 11, 12, they're just as capable as the girls batting 4, 5, and 6 in our lineup. We've got batters 1-through-12.”
Escanaba sent 24 batters to the plate in two innings, and the game was mercied after Emma Parlato struck out all three batters she faced in the top of the third inning.
Things promise to be more difficult for Escanaba on Sunday as the girls face Bullock Creek Southtown out of District One. Game time is 10:00. It will be broadcast live on Eagle 107.3 FM, and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.
SATURDAY'S OTHER LOCAL SCORES
9-10 MINOR SOFTBALL DISTRICT
11-12 MAJOR BASEBALL DISTRICT |
