Eskymo Rally Comes Up Short In Regional Opener

SOUTH BEND, Ind.---They might just meet again in a couple of days.

At least, that's what the Escanaba Senior Little League (age 15-16) All-Stars are hoping as they play in the Central Regional Tournament in South Bend, Ind.

Escanaba played the host South Bend District Eleven team in the tournament opener Sunday night, and lost, 7-4, at the Bellville Softball Complex.

But the Escanaba girls feel that they now know what it would take to win should the two teams meet again in the regional championship game later this week.

And that is something that many people involved with this tournament predict will happen. If that is to happen, though, Escanaba will have to find a way to get some consistant hitting.

In the first six innings on Sunday, the girls did not have a baserunner.

Jayme Frappier two-run double.

They went 18 up, 18 down, against two South Bend pitchers. Ten of those outs were strikeouts.

But in the seventh inning, Escanaba, trailing 7-0, finally got some traffic on the bases. It started with Callie Heller's pop fly down the left field line that landed on chalk, giving her a double, and Escanaba's first runner of the game.

Mackenzie Leisner followed with a bunt, and the South Bend third baseman threw it high to first, pulling the girl off the bag and Leisner was safe.

The throw across to third was wild, and Heller tried to score. She was tagged out at the plate on a physical exchange with the South Bend catcher. Heller was shaken up and left the game.

Becca Piron came up after a long delay and ripped a base hit off of South Bend reliever Nichole Kirkpatrick.

That put two runners on base, and Jayme Frappier smoked a shot to the fence, scoring two runs and giving the Eskymos their first two runs of the game.

Frappier was run for, and unfortunately for Escanaba, Anna Burch got picked off of second base for the second out of the seventh inning. Sam Connor drew a walk moments later, and Sam Sailer ripped a single to center field to keep the inning going.

Jessica Gill interview.

Jessica Gill came up and smoked a long ball to the fence, scoring two runs, and bringing Escanaba to within 7-4.

Then Breanna Winling batted for the first time, and it looked like she would get a base hit to left field to make the game even closer.

But Indiana third baseman Dezaray Watts raced over, scooped the ball, and make an accurate throw.

That ended the game with a 7-4 win for the host team, but the way the Escanaba team rallied at the end gave the girls some confidence that they could beat this team later.

Frappier pitched the first three innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits.

Sam Connor threw the next two innings, getting all six batters.

But in the sixth inning, Connor ran into troubles, as South Bend went to its short game. The infield bunt singles and an Eskymo error led to a big inning for the host team, as South Bend scored five times. Frappier came back in to pitch and ended the scoring.

Escanaba will play two games at the Central Regional on Monday.

Jessica Gill two-run double.

First up, the Kentucky State Champions.

And then, 30 minutes after that game ends, the Missouri State Champions. Both games will be broadcast back to the U.P. on WCHT-AM (600), with coverage starting at 11:30 in the morning. Also on www.rrnsports.com.

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