Escanaba Wins 'Yooper Bowl'; Quarterfinals Sunday

ESSEXVILLE, Mich.---It's a game that could have been more easily played in Trenary, or maybe in Gwinn, or Perkins.

But the Escanaba Major Little League All-Stars (age 11-12) played the Negaunee All-Stars six hours away on Saturday, at the state tournament in Essexville.

And in the end, Escanaba won the "Yooper Bowl", 10-0, in five innings.

"We finally got the bats rolling," Escanaba Manager Gary Salo said. "I don't think you can find too many things wrong when you put ten on the board. I think now, we're finally clicking, peaking, and doing things at the right time."

Hannah Edington threw a no-hitter and Escanaba pounded out 14 base hits to finish pool play 3-0.

The girls face Taylor in the state quarterfinals Sunday afternoon.

Katie Wilson triggered two of Escanaba's scoring innings by beating out bunt singles from the leadoff spot. She also ended the game with a single to right field that brought in two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, invoking the ten-run mercy rule.

Katie Wilson beats out a bunt single.

Wilson, who had the game-winning hit to beat Gladstone in the districts last week, ended up going 3-for-4 in this game.

Wilson showed her arm in the second inning when she threw out a Negaunee runner who was trying to steal second base.

Edington backed up her pitching by going three-for-three at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring two. But she almost lost her no-hitter, though, in the top of the fifth inning when Negaunee's Abby Nelson hit a fly ball to right that looked like it might land.

Negaunee catcher Abby Nelson and ump.

But Kenzie Romps, who splits her playing time with other girls, ran in and made the catch to preserve the no-hitter.

"I just didn't really see it coming (at first)," Romps said. "I thought it was like shorter than it was!"

"If it wasn't for her, I would've had a one-hitter," Edington said with a horse voice. "I lost my voice cheering," she added.

Romps also had an RBI single in the fourth inning, and put down a sacrfice bunt in the third inning during her time off of the bench.

Gabi Salo and Jalin Olson also had two base hits for Escanaba.

Jessica Poole took the loss in the circle for Negaunee, allowing ten runs on 14 hits. Six of the runs against her were earned. She struck out three and did not walk a batter. Negaunee was eliminated from the state tournament with a 1-2 record in pool play.

Maddy Kolich RBI base hit.

So, Escanaba advances to the Elite Eight. The girls will play the District Five champions from Taylor, out of suburban Detroit. Game time is 2:45.

The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.

ESCANABA SENIOR GIRLS WIN---The Escanaba Senior Girls (age 15-16) won their district tournament opener on Saturday, beating Iron Mountain North, 10-0, in six innings. Jaymie Frappier threw four innings and struck out six batters, walking none.

Frappier allowed two hits. Sam Connor tossed the final two innings, allowing one hit but no walks. She fanned three batters. At the plate, Mackenzie Leisner and Frappier both had two hits. Callie Heller also had two hits...both of them on bunts.

Escanaba faces Kingsford Sunday night at Lemmerand Park. Kingsford beat Norway, 8-3, in Saturday's other district game. Game time is 7:00 ET and it will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

ESCANABA JUNIOR GIRLS WIN AGAIN---The Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) won their second straight game in the district tournament Saturday, beating Norway 22-0, at Lemmerand Park. Emily Bruntgens, JJ Laviolette, Katie Ross, Taylor Segorski, Claire McInerney, and Emily LaFave all had two hits for Escanaba.

LaFave drove in five runs, while Laviolette and Kayla VanPortfleit both drove in three. Ross and McInerney both had two RBI. In the circle, VanPortfleit threw two innings, allowing two hits and a walk. Aubrey Saunders threw the next two, allowing no hits (she hit a batter, though). And Ross pitched the final inning, allowing no base runners.

Escanaba plays against Kingsford in the district championship game Sunday at 3:00 ET. WCHT-AM (600)'s Ron Plum will provide live updates and bonus coverage of this game during our Major Girls broadcast from Essexville.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos, and listen to audio from the Escanaba-Negaunee game.