MARINETTE, Wis.---You know that it might not be your day when your starting right fielder jumps up in the dugout before the game and almost knocks himself out.
That's what Cody Imhoff did Sunday before the Escanaba Cubs faced Manitowoc in the final game of the Marinette Firecracker Tournament.
"I'm OK," he said, right after banging his head on the ceiling and crashing into two teammates on the bench. Well, the trainers checked Imhoff out, and despite a little bit of blood, there was no concussion, and Imhoff was lucid enough to play.
Meanwhile, Cubs Manager Tom Ohman was banging his head on the ceiling, too, because his team made four errors and the pitching fell apart and the Cubs lost, 11-1.
Escanaba played without David Falish, Jeffry Lyle and Andrew Miller, all of whom could have thrown some innings.
And Ben Kleiman couldn't play because of a sore arm and sore elbow (on two different limbs), and Sean Bissell was sick with some kind of bug.
Escanaba finishes the tournament with a 1-2 record, and is now 4-9 overall.
CLICK HERE to read about Escanaba's Saturday games in Marinette.
The Cubs managed only two hits in the game: one each by Devin Olsen and Tyler Skufca.
But Manitowoc scored at least one run in every inning and the only Escanaba run came in the fourth inning when Dane Messersmith scored on a wild pitch.
By that time, the Cubs were already behind, 4-0, and it got worse from there as the Cub pitchers struggled to throw strikes.
Skufca got the start and went three innings, walking the bases loaded in that third inning and giving up a two-run hit to Mason Brunner.
Brandon Punzel pitched the fourth inning, and just didn't have it. He hit two batters, including one with the bases loaded, and he issued a bases-loaded walk.
In the fifth inning, Bailey Lamb tried to give Ohman some innings, but he couldn't close the inning...although he should have. The usually-reliable Hunter LaMarch made errors on consecutive plays at shortstop and then Lamb walked in two runs and hit another man with the bases loaded. That gave Manitowoc a 10-1 lead.
Andrew Sedlar came in to get the final out to prevent the mercy rule, but he gave up a run in the sixth inning and the game ended right there.
Of Manitowoc's eleven runs, six came in on walks, wild pitches, or hit batsmen.
Escanaba returns to action on Wednesday with a home game against Gladstone.
The game time has changed and is now 6:00.
The Cubs will then travel to Marquette on Friday for another 6:00 game. That game was originally scheduled for Al Ness Field.
Both of this week's Escanaba Cubs games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from the game, taken by Sheila Olsen.
That's what Cody Imhoff did Sunday before the Escanaba Cubs faced Manitowoc in the final game of the Marinette Firecracker Tournament.
Cody Imhoff batting for the Cubs Sunday.
Meanwhile, Cubs Manager Tom Ohman was banging his head on the ceiling, too, because his team made four errors and the pitching fell apart and the Cubs lost, 11-1.
Escanaba played without David Falish, Jeffry Lyle and Andrew Miller, all of whom could have thrown some innings.
And Ben Kleiman couldn't play because of a sore arm and sore elbow (on two different limbs), and Sean Bissell was sick with some kind of bug.
Escanaba finishes the tournament with a 1-2 record, and is now 4-9 overall.
CLICK HERE to read about Escanaba's Saturday games in Marinette.
Tim Lueneburg (27) scoops the ball out of the dirt as Manitowoc's Devon Siler is safe.
But Manitowoc scored at least one run in every inning and the only Escanaba run came in the fourth inning when Dane Messersmith scored on a wild pitch.
By that time, the Cubs were already behind, 4-0, and it got worse from there as the Cub pitchers struggled to throw strikes.
Skufca got the start and went three innings, walking the bases loaded in that third inning and giving up a two-run hit to Mason Brunner.
Brandon Punzel pitched the fourth inning, and just didn't have it. He hit two batters, including one with the bases loaded, and he issued a bases-loaded walk.
In the fifth inning, Bailey Lamb tried to give Ohman some innings, but he couldn't close the inning...although he should have. The usually-reliable Hunter LaMarch made errors on consecutive plays at shortstop and then Lamb walked in two runs and hit another man with the bases loaded. That gave Manitowoc a 10-1 lead.
Is Cubs pitcher Brandon Punzel napping?
Of Manitowoc's eleven runs, six came in on walks, wild pitches, or hit batsmen.
Escanaba returns to action on Wednesday with a home game against Gladstone.
The game time has changed and is now 6:00.
The Cubs will then travel to Marquette on Friday for another 6:00 game. That game was originally scheduled for Al Ness Field.
Both of this week's Escanaba Cubs games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from the game, taken by Sheila Olsen.
Escanaba's Devin Olsen tries to stop Manitowoc's Brian Tlachac from stealing, but the throw was late.
