Young Eskymos Win; Salvage DH Split In Shawano

SHAWANO, Wis.---The Escanaba Eskymos came out with a sluggish performance in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon in Shawano, Wis.

And that earned some of the boys a seat on the bench as Coach Kirk Schwalbach put out a brand new line-up in the nightcap. And those boys responded with a 3-2 victory over the Hawks, salvaging a doubleheader split after Shawano won the first game, 2-1.

Jeffry Lyle gets ready to drive the ball.

It wasn't like the Eskymos were awful in the opener, but Schwalbach didn't like the lack of energy that he saw from his team in that game.

So, he made the switch.

"I just tried to shake things up a little bit," Schwalbach said. "Give some kids some opportunities. The kids who played (in the opener) didn't walk out and try to lose."

"But they just didn't have any energy, and I think they had more energy (cheering) on the bench in the second game. If they had had that in the first game, maybe we would have played a little better."

In the opener, freshman Brandon Punzel got the start on the mound, and he continued to pitch well for the Eskymos. But in the first inning, one defensive mistake cost him. With a runner on second base and one out, Shawano's Josh Carlson hit a hot shot back to the mound. Punzel got the ball, ran toward third, and got it to Tyler Skufca.

Coach Kirk Schwalbach post-game comments.

Skufca ran the runner back to secone base, but never threw the ball, and both runners were safe. Connor Senzig and Taylor Prey followed with RBI singles for Shawano.

"We work on run-downs," Schwalbach said. "You sprint at him, get him to run, and then it's a flip and a tag (at second base). I don't know if he (Nick Vandermissen) called for the ball and Tyler didn't throw it, or if he waited too long and held it too long."

David Falish was on base for the first time this season after an injury to his foot.

The Eskymos were down, 2-0, but had plenty of chances to get back in the game.

In the second inning, Jake Rodman was safe on an error, and David Falish, playing for the first time all season after a foot injury, drew a walk.

Ben Kleiman hit a pop fly that the shortstop and left fielder converged on, but the ball was dropped, scoring Rodman.

Sean Bissell drew a walk, and Nick Vandermissen came up with the bases loaded. He ripped one up the gap, but Hawks center fielder Kyle Wirkus raced to the ball and made a sliding catch, robbing Vandermissen of extra bases and two RBI.

The score stayed 2-1 the rest of the way because Punzel was spot-on with his pitches. He allowed only two baserunners after the first inning: one walk and one base hit.

Brandon Punzel post-game comments.

But his teammates could not get the timely hit with men on base. Escanaba stranded at least one man on base in every inning, leaving ten runners in the six innings they played.

Schwalbach says that Punzel deserved better than a 2-1 loss on his record. Punzel said that he felt more confident in his pitches as the game moved on.

Brandon Punzel suffered a tough loss.

"I thought I did good after the first inning," Punzel said. "I gave up a couple of runs there and I couldn't find it. But after that, I found it, and I shut them down. My fastball, I got ahead with, and my curveball was working after I got ahead."

"Brandon deserved a win there because he pitched a great game," Schwalbach said. "He's definately carried himself like he's a junior or a senior, not a freshman."

So after a quick bite to eat, the Eskymos came on the field with a totally different line-up. The only kids who started the nightcap who also played the first game were Punzel (in right field) and Rodman (on the mound).

Rodman gave up a lead-off single in the first inning and committed an error on a sacrafice bunt play, putting two men on with no outs.

Tim Lueneburg RBI single replay.

But the sophomore got the next three outs without the ball leaving the infield. Then in the second inning, Rodman gave up a one-out walk but got out of the inning when Cody Urban hit a sinking fly ball that Punzel made a shoestring catch on. He threw to first base for the double play.

Escanaba's Logan Lamb and Shawano first baseman Taylor Prey Tuesday evening.

Escanaba continued to struggle with men in scoring position. In the third inning, Tyler Hardwick got a base hit and advanced to second base on an error. He went to third on a wild pitch, but was thrown out at the plate after Rodman hit a ground ball to short.

Freshman Hunter LaMarch got a base hit to put two men on, but Punzel flew out.

In the fourth inning, Lewis Ostrander got a two-out single, and went to second on a wild pitch. Alec Slaga was safe on an error, then stole second.

With runners on second and third, Andrew Sedlar grounded to third, stranding two more runners.

It was still 0-0 until the fifth inning when Hardwick got the team started with his second base hit of the game. Rodman bunted him to second base, and then LaMarch hit a ground ball to short. It was bobbled, and then thrown away, giving Escanaba its first run. Then with two out, Tim Luneburg came through with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

Lewis Ostrander RBI single replay.

Then Ostrander followed with an RBI single (his second hit of the game), and it was 3-0.

But Shawano finally got to Rodman in the bottom of the fifth inning. Conner Senzig led off with a single, but was forced out at second base on a ground ball. That batter (Urban) advanced to second base when Sedlar's relay throw to first base was wild.

Cam Beversluis did some pinch running.

Urban went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Dan Buetter ground-out. So, Escanaba had a 3-1 lead with two out and no one on base. But leadoff batter Zach Sousek got a base hit, stole second base, and advanced to third on a Hunter Ludvigsen infield hit. Carlson came through with a double to drive in one run, making it 3-2.

Rodman was able to get a Tyler Cornelius grounder to end the inning.

In the sixth inning, Escanaba loaded the bases when brothers Logan Lamb and Bailey Lamb each got base hits, and the Hawks intentionally-walked Punzel. Lueneburg was rung up on a called third strike. Escanaba stranded ten more baserunners.

Schwalbach brought Devin Olsen in to pitch, and the junior right-hander rolled through the Hawks in a 1-2-3 inning (with two strikeouts) to earn the save.

Tyler Hardwick post-game comments.

Shawano improved to 5-14 on the season. Escanaba is now 14-5.

Ostrander and Hardwick led the Eskymos with two hits each in that second game.

"I was just seeing the ball really well today," Hardwick said. "It just felt good."

Hunter LaMarch and Brandon Punzel chill in the trunk during the rain delay.

The Eskymos sat in their cars at the field for about 40 minutes before the game as heavy rain fell at the field. But the sun came out, and it was a pleasant day for a doubleheader.

Expect for those hungry mosquitoes, which feasted on everybody at the field.

"Oh, they are thick out there!" Punzel said. "We need our bug spray!"

"Oh, it was terrible in the outfield!" Hardwick said.

The Eskymos are back on the road Thursday for a single game against the Negaunee Miners.

Game time is 5:00. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and will be streamed live over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos, taken by Sheila Olsen...and to listen to radio replays and interviews.

Tyler Hardwick is tagged out at the plate by Shawano catcher Josh Carlson as Coach Schwalbach watches.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/20	10:45 AM	at Whitehall Vikings	4 - 2 (W)	1-0

4/20	6:00 PM	at Remus Chippewa Hills	12 - 3 (W)	2-0

4/26	5:00 PM	at Kenosha Tremper High School	3 - 14 (L)	2-1

4/27	1:00 PM	University School of Milwaukee	12 - 2 (W)	3-1

4/27	7:00 PM	Prairie Du Chien Blackhawks	12 - 1 (W)	4-1

4/29	5:30 PM	at DePere Redbirds	1 - 5 (L)	4-2

5/4	12:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	16 - 0 (W)	5-2

5/4	5:45 PM	Gladstone Braves	5 - 1 (W)	6-2

5/5	12:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	14 - 4 (W)	7-2

5/5	3:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	13 - 3 (W)	8-2

5/7	5:30 PM	Marinette Marines	2 - 0 (W)	9-2

5/8	6:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	11 - 2 (W)	10-2

5/9	6:00 PM	Gladstone Braves	14 - 8 (W)	11-2

5/17	5:00 PM	Alpena Wildcats	3 - 4 (L)	11-3

5/17	7:30 PM	Alpena Wildcats	10 - 9 (W)	12-3

5/18	12:30 PM	Gladstone Indians	5 - 0 (W)	13-3

5/18	5:30 PM	Alpena Wildcats	3 - 4 (L)	13-4

5/21	4:30 PM	at Shawano Hawks	1 - 2 (L)	13-5

5/21	6:30 PM	at Shawano Hawks	3 - 2 (W)	14-5

5/25	10:00 AM	Shepherd	3 - 2 (W)	15-5

5/25	12:30 PM	Alpena Wildcats	11 - 4 (W)	16-5

5/25	2:30 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	4 - 5 (L)	16-6

5/28	6:30 PM	at Gladstone Braves	3 - 3 (T)	16-6-1

6/1	12:30 PM	Petoskey Northmen	0 - 2 (L)	16-7-1