ESCANABA----The Escanaba Junior Cubs beat the Gladstone Junior Indians, 17-7, in five innings. The pitchers for both sides struggled to throw strikes, as the teams combined for 19 walks and three hit-battsmen in the game.
Gladstone took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, with Lucas Bero driving in one of the runs with a base hit. Escanaba scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, with Lucas Barnhart and Jake Walker each getting bases-loaded walks.
The J-Cubs scored four more runs in the second inning on an Andrew Sedlar sacrafice fly and a two-run double by Dan LaPalm.
Gladstone's Drew Serrer drove in a run with a single in the third inning to make it 8-4, then James Capodilupo had an RBI single in the fourth inning to bring the Junior Indians to within 8-5.
But Escanaba came back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 12-5. Alex Ruatti had a two-run double during that inning.
Gladstone scored twice in the top of the fifth inning on a Nick Trudeau RBI single and Josh Parrett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Escanaba reliever Devin Olsen struck out Capodilupo to end the inning.
Escanaba scored five runs in the fifth inning to end the game. Jeff Lyle had an RBI single, then Olsen's two-run double to left field ended the game at 17-7.
The Junior Cubs host Hancock in a doubleheader Friday night, then the boys travel to Marquette on Saturday to close the season against the Reds. The season ended for the Junior Indians, with some of the boys being moved up to the "varsity" Indians.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more photos from the game.

Alex Ruatti started for the Junior Cubs.
The J-Cubs scored four more runs in the second inning on an Andrew Sedlar sacrafice fly and a two-run double by Dan LaPalm.
Gladstone's Drew Serrer drove in a run with a single in the third inning to make it 8-4, then James Capodilupo had an RBI single in the fourth inning to bring the Junior Indians to within 8-5.
But Escanaba came back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 12-5. Alex Ruatti had a two-run double during that inning.
Gladstone scored twice in the top of the fifth inning on a Nick Trudeau RBI single and Josh Parrett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Escanaba reliever Devin Olsen struck out Capodilupo to end the inning.
Escanaba scored five runs in the fifth inning to end the game. Jeff Lyle had an RBI single, then Olsen's two-run double to left field ended the game at 17-7.
The Junior Cubs host Hancock in a doubleheader Friday night, then the boys travel to Marquette on Saturday to close the season against the Reds. The season ended for the Junior Indians, with some of the boys being moved up to the "varsity" Indians.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more photos from the game.
