SAULT STE. MARIE---For a while there, it looked like the Escanaba Cubs might be able to sneak into the championship game of the Sault Invitational Sunday morning.
The Cubs were in a 1-1 tie with the host Eastern U.P. Travelers in the fifth inning.
But then the wheels fell off, and in a matter of minutes, not only did the Cubs lose the game, they ended up losing it on the eight-run mercy rule, 9-1.
Ben Kleiman continued his strong pitching by going three innings, but he already threw on Saturday and couldn't go the rest of the way.
David Falish and Brandon Punzel came to the mound in the middle innings, and the Soo team took advantage to beat the Cubs for the second time in the tournament.
Escanaba led, 1-0, in the second inning when Tyler Skufca doubled home Bailey Lamb.
The Cubs went on to load the bases as Sean Bissell singled and Hunter LaMarch and Lucas Barnhart both drew walks. But the Cubs couldn't get the big hit.
On Saturday, the Cubs pounded Alpena, 14-0, before losing to Petoskey, 4-2.
In the opener, Ben Kleiman threw another shutout (with relief help from David Falish). It is Kleiman's fourth shutout of the season.
In the second game, Escanaba led, 1-0, in the third inning. But infield errors on two consecutive plays helped Petoskey to plate three runs, all of them unearned.
The Cubs tried to rally in the final inning when Tim Lueneburg doubled home Bissell, but Devin Olsen and Falish each flew out to end the scoring threat.
Escanaba with a 2-2 record, which was good enough to get them into Sunday's semifinal round.
It is the third time this season that the Cubs have made it to Sunday for a tournament.
The Cubs also had a split in Friday's action in the Soo, beating Sudbury (Ont.), 7-3, but then losing the second game to the Travelers, 8-2.
Skufca got the ball in the opener for the Cubs, and he got some offensive help in the fourth inning when his teammates scored three times to build a 6-2 lead.
Falish had a double off of the center field fence to score Dane Messersmith, who had singled in Lamb on the play before. Falish had two hits in the contest.
That game was played on the Soo's small Laucks Field, and the boys used wooden bats.
Later, Escanaba moved over to the big James Field to face the EUP Travelers. Olsen started on the mound, but gave up two runs in the first inning and there were several errors behind him.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from this weekend's games, taken by Sheila Olsen.
The Cubs were in a 1-1 tie with the host Eastern U.P. Travelers in the fifth inning.
Dane Messersmith caught on Sunday.
Ben Kleiman continued his strong pitching by going three innings, but he already threw on Saturday and couldn't go the rest of the way.
David Falish and Brandon Punzel came to the mound in the middle innings, and the Soo team took advantage to beat the Cubs for the second time in the tournament.
Escanaba led, 1-0, in the second inning when Tyler Skufca doubled home Bailey Lamb.
The Cubs went on to load the bases as Sean Bissell singled and Hunter LaMarch and Lucas Barnhart both drew walks. But the Cubs couldn't get the big hit.
On Saturday, the Cubs pounded Alpena, 14-0, before losing to Petoskey, 4-2.
In the opener, Ben Kleiman threw another shutout (with relief help from David Falish). It is Kleiman's fourth shutout of the season.
Vandermissen on his way to a double.
The Cubs tried to rally in the final inning when Tim Lueneburg doubled home Bissell, but Devin Olsen and Falish each flew out to end the scoring threat.
Escanaba with a 2-2 record, which was good enough to get them into Sunday's semifinal round.
It is the third time this season that the Cubs have made it to Sunday for a tournament.
The Cubs also had a split in Friday's action in the Soo, beating Sudbury (Ont.), 7-3, but then losing the second game to the Travelers, 8-2.
Tyler Skufca pitched Friday for the Cubs.
Falish had a double off of the center field fence to score Dane Messersmith, who had singled in Lamb on the play before. Falish had two hits in the contest.
That game was played on the Soo's small Laucks Field, and the boys used wooden bats.
Later, Escanaba moved over to the big James Field to face the EUP Travelers. Olsen started on the mound, but gave up two runs in the first inning and there were several errors behind him.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from this weekend's games, taken by Sheila Olsen.
Escanaba second baseman Nick Vandermissen camps under a pop fly as Bailey Lamb (34) trots away.
