WAUPUN, Wis.---They proved that they belonged there.
The Escanaba High School baseball team, after hearing that some of the officials who were running the Waupun (Wis.) Invitational were questioning whether the Eskymos deserved to even be in the event, went out Saturday and showed that they can play some quality baseball.
After losing their opening game on Friday, the Eskymos bounced back to win twice on Saturday to win the consolation bracket of this eight-team tournament.
Escanaba beat the University School of Milwaukee Wildcats, 12-2 (in six innings), and then dusted off the Prairie du Chien Blackhawks, 12-1 (in five innings) to finish the tournament 2-1.
"This is an elite tournament," Escanaba Coach Kirk Schwalbach said. "When we heard that there were some who thought that we didn't belong here, I shared that with the kids.
"Some people were saying that we maybe weren't good enough to get into this tournament. I think that maybe we earned some respect now by the way that we played."
The Eskymos had lost to Tremper High School out of Kenosha, Wis., 14-3 on Friday. But the game was tied at 3-3 in the third inning and the Eskymos missed a bases-loaded-no-out opportunity to take the lead. That game was played on artificial turf, something the Eskymos are not used to. Saturday's games were on a different field, with grass.
Saturday's first game was against the University School Wildcats, a private school from Milwaukee. The Eskymos scored in every inning but the fourth, eventually ending the game on the mercy rule in the sixth inning.
Escanaba led, 4-1, in the fourth inning before effectively putting the game away with five runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Eskymo pitcher Ben Kleiman threw all six innings, and needed just 76 pitches to beat the Wildcats. He allowed five hits and two walks, striking out six batters.
"Ben threw 76 pitches and 50 of them were strikes," Schwalbach said. "He was throwing everything well: fastball, curveball, change-up. He is pounding the strike zone."
Bailey Lamb went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Lewis Ostrander and Tyler Skufca were both 2-for-4. Tim Lueneburg had three runs batted in. Escanaba had 13 hits.
The boys had to wait about four hours to face their next oponent: the Blackhawks from Prairie du Chien High School. That game was scoreless until the third inning when Ostrander ripped a bases-loaded single to put the Eskymos in front.
"Lewis didn't play a lot last year as a freshman," Schwalbach said. "He worked a lot in the weight room during football and basketball (seasons), and has come back a lot stronger."
"His confidence is high right now," Schwalbach continued. "Lewis has been a great surprise for me. He's getting big hits for us and making it tough for me to take him out of the line-up."
Ostrander went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in during the game against the Blackhawks, giving him a 4-for-6 day at the plate. Lueneburg had two hits in that game as well, with two runs batted in. And Kleiman went 2-for-3 in that game.
Devin Olsen picked up the win on the mound. He threw 92 pitches in the five innings of work, allowing five hits. He struck out seven batters and walked just two. Olsen helped his own cause at the plate with a two-run single during a ten-run fourth inning rally.
Schwalbach was happy with his team's performance, for a second straight weekend.
"The first team we faced (Kenosha Tremper, on Friday) was far and away the best team we faced here," he said. "A lot of the guys had a 'deer-in-the-headlights' look. But we settled in today, and got our confidence rolling. It was a real good weekend. The kids should be proud of themselves."
Escanaba (4-1) travels back to Wisconsin on Monday to face the always-tough DePere Redbirds. Game time is 5:30 ET. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and will be broadcast over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from the games taken by Sheila Olsen.
The Escanaba High School baseball team, after hearing that some of the officials who were running the Waupun (Wis.) Invitational were questioning whether the Eskymos deserved to even be in the event, went out Saturday and showed that they can play some quality baseball.
Tyler Skufca stretches out a pulled hamstring muscle Saturday night.
Escanaba beat the University School of Milwaukee Wildcats, 12-2 (in six innings), and then dusted off the Prairie du Chien Blackhawks, 12-1 (in five innings) to finish the tournament 2-1.
"This is an elite tournament," Escanaba Coach Kirk Schwalbach said. "When we heard that there were some who thought that we didn't belong here, I shared that with the kids.
"Some people were saying that we maybe weren't good enough to get into this tournament. I think that maybe we earned some respect now by the way that we played."
The Eskymos had lost to Tremper High School out of Kenosha, Wis., 14-3 on Friday. But the game was tied at 3-3 in the third inning and the Eskymos missed a bases-loaded-no-out opportunity to take the lead. That game was played on artificial turf, something the Eskymos are not used to. Saturday's games were on a different field, with grass.
Ben Kleiman pitches against Milwaukee.
Escanaba led, 4-1, in the fourth inning before effectively putting the game away with five runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Eskymo pitcher Ben Kleiman threw all six innings, and needed just 76 pitches to beat the Wildcats. He allowed five hits and two walks, striking out six batters.
"Ben threw 76 pitches and 50 of them were strikes," Schwalbach said. "He was throwing everything well: fastball, curveball, change-up. He is pounding the strike zone."
Bailey Lamb went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Lewis Ostrander and Tyler Skufca were both 2-for-4. Tim Lueneburg had three runs batted in. Escanaba had 13 hits.
The boys had to wait about four hours to face their next oponent: the Blackhawks from Prairie du Chien High School. That game was scoreless until the third inning when Ostrander ripped a bases-loaded single to put the Eskymos in front.
Rookie Tyler Hardwick (1) scores a run.
"His confidence is high right now," Schwalbach continued. "Lewis has been a great surprise for me. He's getting big hits for us and making it tough for me to take him out of the line-up."
Ostrander went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in during the game against the Blackhawks, giving him a 4-for-6 day at the plate. Lueneburg had two hits in that game as well, with two runs batted in. And Kleiman went 2-for-3 in that game.
Devin Olsen picked up the win on the mound. He threw 92 pitches in the five innings of work, allowing five hits. He struck out seven batters and walked just two. Olsen helped his own cause at the plate with a two-run single during a ten-run fourth inning rally.
Schwalbach was happy with his team's performance, for a second straight weekend.
"The first team we faced (Kenosha Tremper, on Friday) was far and away the best team we faced here," he said. "A lot of the guys had a 'deer-in-the-headlights' look. But we settled in today, and got our confidence rolling. It was a real good weekend. The kids should be proud of themselves."
Escanaba (4-1) travels back to Wisconsin on Monday to face the always-tough DePere Redbirds. Game time is 5:30 ET. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and will be broadcast over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from the games taken by Sheila Olsen.
Devin Olsen pitches during Saturday night's Escanaba win over Prairie du Chien.
