Skufca Leads Cubs To Near-Upset Of #1 Plover Sox

ESCANABA---When Saturday night's baseball games ended at Al Ness Field, the Escanaba Cubs were just happy to have qualified for the semifinal round of the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament for the first time since 2008.

On Sunday, things got serious.

Cubs shortstop Ben Kleiman at the plate.

The Cubs took to the field against the top-ranked Amercian Legion team in Wisconsin, but the boys hung in there all the way before the Plover Black Sox escaped with a 2-1 win.

Tyler Skufca pitched a complete-game six-hitter and the Cubs defense turned three double plays behind him.

But Plover managed to score in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and win the game.

Plover later beat Midland Berryhill, 4-3, to win the tournament championship.

"You gotta give the boys credit," Escanaba Manager Tom Ohman said. "They really came out and played hard. And Tyler Skufca pitched a nice game. Kept us in it."

Escanaba had made the semifinals by going 2-2 in pool play, and winning a tiebreaker against two others team. (See separate story under the 'RELATED STORIES' tab below)

Tim Lueneburg turns a 5-3 double play.

Skufca didn't play in any of those games because he was at a basketball camp in Sault Ste. Marie.

So, he was one of the only fresh arms Ohman had, and Skufca threw well. The Cubs made two errrors in the first inning, but Skufca got helped when third baseman Tim Lueneburg turned a 5-3 double play.

David Falish on second base after a double.

But in the second inning, Plover took the lead when Cale Pieczynski was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on an infield hit by Austin Schulfer.

"We had one bad inning defensively, but it didn't really cost us," Ohman said. "Other than that, I thought we played a real clean game."

Escanaba had plenty of chances to grab the lead, but couldn't get the big hit against Plover pitcher Alex Oliver. David Falish doubled to lead off the top of the first inning (the Cubs were visitors because they were the lower seed) but couldn't bring him home.

In the second inning, Skufca walked and went to second on a passed ball, but the next two batters made outs.

In the third inning, Falish singled and Ben Kleiman was safe on an error. But with two out, Brandon Punzel lined out to the first baseman and Bailey Lamb flew out, so the score stayed 1-0 in favor of the Black Sox.

Nick Vandermissen drives home David Falish

Escanaba finally tied the game in the fifth inning when Falish walked and Punzel and Lamb were both safe on errors. With the bases loaded, Nick Vandermissen singled home Falish to tie the game.

The bases were still loaded, but Skufca hit into a force out and Sean Bissell flied out after a long at-bat to end the inning.

"The opportunities were there, but we just didn't quite push it across," Ohman said.

Andrew Miller made a big catch in left.

In the bottom of the fifth, Skufca gave up two hits and a walk. But left-fielder Jeff Lyle threw out a runner trying to make it to third base.

And later, Vandermissen and Kleiman turned a 4-6-3 double play to Lamb to end the Plover scoring threat.

In the top of the sixth inning, Falish and Kleiman got back-to-back singles with two out. But Punzel grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Falish led the Cubs with three hits and a walk at the top of the batting order.

Plover scored in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead. Cal Giese walked to start the inning, and Pieczynski bunted him to second. Connor Zblewski came through with the RBI single to break the tie for the Black Sox.

The Cubs had one last chance in the seventh inning as Skufca drew his second walk of the game. But Bissell was called out at first base on a close play after his slow roller was bobbled at second base. It was oh, so close for the Cubs.

Jeff Lyle cuts down a runner at third base.

"It hurts that you lose," Ohman said. "But I thought we played a terrific tournament this weekend. I think from here, we're gonna do well."

Escanaba (3-6) will host the Gladstone Indians Tuesday night. Game time is 8:00. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and at www.rrnsports.com.

Sunday's Tournament Championship Round
10:00 Semifinal at Gladstone: Midland Berryhill 4, DePere, Wis. Panthers 1
10:00 Semifinal at Escanaba: Plover, Wis. Black Sox 2, Escanaba Cubs 1
1:00 Championship: Plover, Wis. Black Sox 4, Midland Berryhill 3

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos and videos from Sunday's semifinal game.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

6/14	1:00 PM	at Green Bay Shockers	1 - 11 (L)	0-1

6/14	3:30 PM	at Marinette Marines	3 - 0 (W)	1-1

6/15	12:30 PM	at Ash-Port, Wis.	1 - 9 (L)	1-2

6/15	3:00 PM	at Green Bay Shockers	8 - 17 (L)	1-3

6/21	5:30 PM	Chief Pontiac	1 - 5 (L)	1-4

6/21	8:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	10 - 2 (W)	2-4

6/22	4:45 PM	Marquette Blues	5 - 0 (W)	3-4

6/22	7:00 PM	Midland Berryhill	0 - 9 (L)	3-5

6/23	10:00 AM	Plover, Wis.	1 - 2 (L)	3-6

6/25	8:00 PM	Gladstone Indians	0 - 3 (L)	3-7

6/29	12:00 PM	Green Bay Blue Jays	6 - 7 (L)	3-8

6/29	6:30 PM	Watertown Legion	1 - 0 (W)	4-8

6/30	11:30 AM	Manitowoc Legion	1 - 11 (L)	4-9

7/3	6:00 PM	at Gladstone Indians	1 - 3 (L)	4-10

7/5	6:30 PM	at Marquette Blues	6 - 9 (L)	4-11

7/8	8:00 PM	Menominee Red Wave Legion	10 - 0 (W)	5-11

7/12	2:00 PM	Sudbury Ontario Legion	7 - 3 (W)	6-11

7/12	6:00 PM	at Eastern U.P. Travelers	2 - 8 (L)	6-12

7/13	10:00 AM	Alpena Wildcats	14 - 0 (W)	7-12

7/13	1:00 PM	Petoskey Legion	2 - 4 (L)	7-13

7/14	10:00 AM	at Eastern U.P. Travelers	1 - 9 (L)	7-14

7/20	2:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	10 - 3 (W)	8-14

7/24	1:00 PM	Ishpeming Blue Storm	5 - 3 (W)	9-14

7/24	7:00 PM	at Menominee Red Wave Legion	1 - 2 (L)	9-15

7/25	2:00 PM	Eastern U.P. Travelers	2 - 1 (W)	10-15

7/27	11:00 AM	Marquette Blues	7 - 5 (W)	11-15

7/27	1:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	4 - 1 (W)	12-15

7/27	5:00 PM	Hancock Legion	5 - 2 (W)	13-15

7/28	12:00 PM	Gladstone Indians	0 - 15 (L)	13-16

8/1	4:00 PM	Ida Legion	7 - 0 (W)	14-16

8/2	6:00 PM	at Hudson Legion	0 - 4 (L)	14-17

8/3	10:00 AM	at Gladstone Indians	1 - 0 (W)	15-17

8/3	12:00 PM	Hudson Legion	3 - 4 (L)	15-18