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CMU-BOUND AGAIN! Eskymos Win Regional Title
 CADILLAC---The girls faced adversity for a good part of the day on Saturday, but the Escanaba Eskymos found a way to win another regional softball championship. Escanaba beat Cadillac, 4-0, in the semifinals, then won their second-straight Division Two regional trophy with a heartstopping 5-4 win over Remus Chippewa Hills.  Game time is 1:00 Tuesday afternoon. "The girls kept their spirit up in the dugout (after the rain delay) and overcame a couple of close calls (on the bases)," said Eskymo Assistant Coach Fernie Bosilovatz. "It was super nervewracking," Eskymo captain Codi Jenshak said. "It was up-and-down with the score. It was exciting. We were able to keep our energy up and our momentum up, even though they were trying to take it away from us." 
Codi Jenshak HR against Cadillac.
She struck out ten of the first twelve outs of the game, and the Viking hitters often looked overmatched by the way Frappier placed the ball...and with her velocity. It looked like Escanaba would get the lead in the third inning when Sydney Gafner singled, Callie Heller bunted her to second (and was safe on an error), and Ashley Cook drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Becca Piron popped up.  The Eskymo threat was over. And one inning later, Cadillac made some noise as Katlyn Agren and Emington each got hits. But Frappier struck out the next two batters, keeping it a scoreless game. "Jayme is ice," Eskymo Manager John LaMarch said. "It's all her. It's a credit to Jayme. She's worked very hard to get to where she is. She's an awesome kid and a great 'team player'. That was a big moment in the game." "That happens a lot in sports, when one team is on the cusp of something great and it doesn't happen," LaMarch continued. "Jayme did what she's done all year. She kept them in check and brought the momentum back to the Eskymo dugout."
Jayme Frappier post-game interview.
Belanger then scored all the way from first base as Gafner smoked an RBI triple to left field. Escanaba led, 1-0.  "It was a high pitch," Jenshak said. "I was just able to get my hands to it." That made it a 4-0 game, and that was more than enough for Frappier in the circle. "The girls played a really nice game," LaMarch said. "We had some big hits by some big-time players. Codi Jenshak's home run was awesome, and Syd Gafner had a great day. And what can you say about Jayme Frappier? She was tremendous." The next game saw Remus Chippewa Hills beat Fremont, 7-0, setting up a championship game with the Eskymos. And things started off good for Escanaba in the first inning as Piron singled and scored on another home run by Jenshak.
Codi Jenshak HR against Remus.
 First, there was lightning seen at the field, so the delay began. Then a downpour lasted for about 15 minutes, as the kids sat in their dugouts. Eventually, the teams went back onto the field after what was about a 41-minute weather delay. The Warriors took advantage with a two-out rally as #3 hitter Tegan Denslow, who was 4-for-4 with a homer against Fremont, smacked an RBI single to left. Then clean-up hitter Kendall Boone launched a two-run homer to tie the game at 3-3. "We just had to come out ready to play again, and not get tired, because we were sitting there for like a half hour," Frappier said. "It was a little frustrating at first, knowing that she (Boone) could hit that high, inside pitch. But I just kind of shook it off."  
Bre Belanger RBI single vs Remus
 "We had a meeting before I was up to bat," LaFave said. "He (LaMarch) asked me if I could get a 'regional-championship-bunt down to score the winning run'. And I said 'yeah'. I didn't know he was gonna do it on two strikes. "But he called it, and I knew I could get it down. I got it down the third base line." "It was a great squeeze play and they executed it to perfection," Coach Bosilovatz said. LaFave, known more for her power than bunting with two strikes on her, got the job done. A perfect bunt brought home Piron, and Escanaba had a 4-3 lead. LaMarch then went to the well again, as he had Braedyn Bosilovatz bunt. She got the job done too, putting one down that appeared to score Jenshak. But Jenshak was called out. 
Codi Jenshak 2-run HR vs Remus
 "He (LaMarch) decided to walk their best hitters," Frappier said. "If she would have gotten a hit, that would have scored a run." And she did, on five pitches. With runners at the corners, Boone, who had hit that home run off of Frappier earlier in the game, bounced out to end the threat. "It was great," Frappier said. "I just kind of threw it outside, and I knew she wasn't crowding the plate. It looked like she struggled to hit the outside pitch, so I threw it outside. And it went off the edge of the bat." 
Eskymo Girls Get Their Awards and Trophy!
Remus second baseman Olivia Wolfe back-peddaled into the outfield, got her glove on the ball, and dropped it. Jenshak scored the winning run.  Swan Valley (27-9) beat Bay City John Glenn, 10-0, and Goodrich, 9-1, in those two games. CLICK HERE to read about Swan Valley. The Vikings are ranked seventh in the state while the Eskymos (19-7) are not ranked. Tuesday's state quarterfinal game starts at 1:00 at CMU. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 12:45. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Mike Dagenais, and to listen to highlights and interviews. |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
3/29 |
6:00 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
|
2 - 3 (L)
|
0-1
|
3/30 |
1:00 PM |
at Gladstone Braves
|
3 - 8 (L)
|
0-2
|
3/30 |
4:00 PM |
at Negaunee Miners
|
15 - 0 (W)
|
1-2
|
5/2 |
4:00 PM |
at Rapid River Rockets
|
8 - 0 (W)
|
2-2
|
5/11 |
9:00 AM |
Onaway Cardinals
|
7 - 1 (W)
|
3-2
|
5/13 |
4:00 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
|
13 - 2 (W)
|
4-2
|
5/13 |
6:00 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
|
6 - 1 (W)
|
5-2
|
5/14 |
4:00 PM |
Gladstone Braves
|
1 - 4 (L)
|
5-3
|
5/14 |
6:00 PM |
Gladstone Braves
|
2 - 6 (L)
|
5-4
|
5/16 |
4:00 PM |
Pulaski, Wis.
|
12 - 2 (W)
|
6-4
|
5/16 |
6:00 PM |
Pulaski, Wis.
|
11 - 1 (W)
|
7-4
|
5/17 |
4:00 PM |
Cheboygan Chiefs
|
8 - 7 (W)
|
8-4
|
5/17 |
6:00 PM |
Cheboygan Chiefs
|
5 - 3 (W)
|
9-4
|
5/18 |
10:00 AM |
Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
|
10 - 7 (W)
|
10-4
|
5/18 |
12:00 PM |
Rapid River Rockets
|
5 - 1 (W)
|
11-4
|
5/18 |
2:00 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
12 - 6 (W)
|
12-4
|
5/18 |
4:00 PM |
Neenah, Wis.
|
3 - 4 (L)
|
12-5
|
5/21 |
4:00 PM |
at Gladstone Braves
|
2 - 4 (L)
|
12-6
|
5/21 |
6:00 PM |
at Gladstone Braves
|
3 - 4 (L)
|
12-7
|
5/23 |
4:00 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
13 - 3 (W)
|
13-7
|
5/23 |
6:00 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
12 - 2 (W)
|
14-7
|
5/31 |
3:00 PM |
at Cheboygan Chiefs
|
10 - 3 (W)
|
15-7
|
6/1 |
12:00 PM |
Kingsford Flivvers
|
6 - 4 (W)
|
16-7
|
6/1 |
1:00 PM |
Petoskey Northmen
|
6 - 0 (W)
|
17-7
|
6/8 |
10:00 AM |
at Cadillac Vikings
|
4 - 0 (W)
|
18-7
|
6/8 |
2:00 PM |
Remus Chippewa Hills
|
5 - 4 (W)
|
19-7
|
6/11 |
1:00 PM |
Saginaw Swan Valley
|
2 - 3 (L)
|
19-8
|
