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Eskymo Softball Season Ends In Quarterfinal Loss
 MT. PLEASANT---One year ago, the Escanaba High School softball team was embarrassed by the Saginaw Swan Valley Vikings in the state quarterfinals. The Eskymos did not forget about that 12-1 loss, and hoped to have another crack at the downstate powerhouse team. They got their wish after winning another regional championship last weekend, and this time, the Eskymos did not get blown out. 
Sydney Gafner makes a catch in left field.
That sends Swan Valley back to the Final Four once again, but the Escanaba girls gained some respect for the way they battled all afternoon long. ""We've got nothing to be ashamed of," Eskymo Manager John LaMarch said after the heartbreaking loss. "They were gritty right to the end. They battled and gave everything they had. "Any time you play an athletic event that keeps score, somebody has to win, somebody has to lose." "It's been a great two years," Eskymo senior Codi Jenshak said, choking back tears. "You can't find anything else like it, I guess. It was just awesome." 
John LaMarch post-game interview.
The Eskymos had a runner on second base in five of the seven innings, but scored just twice. In the first inning, Emily Bogaudo had a single and Jenshak was safe on an error. But with two on, Michelle LaFave bounced out to end the threat. 
Emily Bogauto is at first base after a hit.
LaFave missplayed two balls at third base, with the run scoring on the second bobble when she got a force play at third. In the bottom of the third inning, Eskymo freshman Callie Heller led off with a hit, and turned it into a double when the Saginaw outfielder was slow to get the ball back into the infield. The next three Eskymos flew out, so Escanaba still trailed, 1-0. In the bottom of the fourth, LaFave hit a pop fly down the right field line that landed for a double. But the next two girls were out on a strikeout and groundout. Eskymo pitcher Jaymie Frappier kept her team in the game by moving the ball around the strike zone, keeping the Viking hitters off-balance. In the fifth inning, Morgan Stadler got her second hit of the game for Swan Valley. She was bunted into scoring position and went to third on a passed ball. But Frappier was able to strike out lead-off batter Sarah Addy to end the inning. 
Jaymie Frappier pitched well for Escanaba.
Unfortunately, one of those "little mistakes" happened as Syd Gafner hit an infield pop fly. The "infield fly rule" took effect, making Gafner automatically out. But when the Saginaw infielder couldn't make the catch, Cook forgot about the rule and she took off for third base. She was tagged out for what became a double play for the Vikings. "With so much at stake, we all add a lot of pressure to ourselves," LaMarch said. "It's unfortunate because I think every play that was (not) made on both sides, if you ask the kids, they'd probably make that play if they were given another opportunity."  
Eskymos tie the game on an unearned run.
But Stevenson air-mailed the ball out of the stadium for an error, scoring Heller with the tying run. But not two runs. In the top of the sixth inning, Frappier got the first two outs, the second one coming on a long fly ball to right field that Nicole Juhl tracked down. But Courtney Reinhold got a solid base hit, and then Reegan Flattery ripped one up the gap. 
Escanaba senior Codi Jenshak takes a walk between pitches as Viking catcher Reegan Flattery gets ready. Jenshak hit a homer.
"She ran hard and gave it her best effort," LaMarch said of Cook's almost-catch. "That's what we asked everyone to do: just give their best effort. That's all anyone can expect for all of us." Escanaba got a run in the bottom of the sixth when Jenshak led off with a bomb to the Central Michigan University Chippewa center field wall. Swan Valley center fielder Kelli Halvin made a great effort to get to the ball, crashing into the fence. But she couldn't get it, and Jenshak came all the way around for an inside-the-park home run. 
Codi Jenshak gets inside-the-park home run.
"But I didn't know what was going to happen, so I just kept running and I realized that they weren't getting the ball in fast. I guess I scored!" Later in the inning, Braedyn Bosilovatz was safe on an infield error. Juhl bunted her to second base, and when nobody covered third, Bosilovatz moved up another base. But with the tying run at third, Cook grounded out to end the inning. 
Swan Valley pitcher Courtney Reinhold got tough at the end of Tuesday's game.
She ended up allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in seven innings of work. Reinhold struck out five and did not walk a batter. Frappier also threw well for the Eskymos. She scattered seven hits over seven innings, and only one of the Vikings' runs against her were earned. Saginaw Swan Valley (28-9) returns to Battle Creek for Friday's state semifinals. The Eskymo season ends with a 19-8 record. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos and videos taken by Mike Dagenais, and to hear 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
|
