IRON MOUNTAIN----The Escanaba Minor Boys Baseball All-Star team (age 9-10) was supposed to be an "easy out" for the Iron Mountain North team when the two squads met Wednesday night in the district finals at Iron Mountain's Barkle Field.
Not that the Iron Mountain boys didn't respect the Escanaba kids. Far from it.
But the Iron Mountain team had faced greater competition during its area tournament than the Escanaba team had faced.
And the Escanaba team was made up of nine-year-olds (except for one boy) and the Iron Mountain North boys had more experience.
But the Escanaba boys hung in there all the way to the end before falling, 9-7.
While Escanaba was eliminated, Iron Mountain faces Tri-County in a loser's bracket game Thursday night. Norway beat Tri-County, 15-5, in Wednesday's other game.
Iron Mountain North entered Wednesday's game with the goal of winning without using up any pitching. They threw four pitchers in the first two innings, and three of them tossed just 20 pitches, keeping all three eligible to pitch Thursday and beyond.
But Escanaba would not fold quickly. The boys hit the ball well, played good defense, and Nathan Howes did just enough on the mound to keep the Eskymos in the game.
Iron Mountain took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, with two of the runs coming home on a base hit by Blake Julian.
Escanaba got two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the IM lead to 3-2.
Howes kept the IM team off the board for the next two innings, and then Adam Willette smacked a two-run single for Escanaba.
And in the third inning, Jordan Schafer got a hit and scored on a wild pitch.
So, halfway through this six-inning game, Escanaba was leading Iron Mountain, 5-3.
But IM got two runs in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by Julian and an RBI double down the left field line by Ian Anderson. A bunt single by Michael Saravin in that inning also helped Iron Mountain to take a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Escanaba had a chance to regain the lead. Schafer got a one-out double, and then Marshall Zelenak got a base hit. But Nick Rousseau struck out and Hunter Lancour lined out to end the Escanaba scoring threat.
Iron Mountain North then scored three insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Anderson had an RBI triple, and Luke Powell and Nick Saari added RBI singles to give Iron Mountain a 9-5 lead.
But once again, Escanaba's boys did not give up.
Howes got a one-out double, then Jayger LaMarch brought him home with a base hit.
After Willette got an infield hit, Schafer got another base hit, his third hit of the game, driving in a run to bring Escanaba to within 9-7.
With runners at first and third, Escanaba sent Schafer to second on a steal. He made it, but as he did, he landed over the second base bag. Schafer was called out.
That was the end of the game. Escanaba ended up with 12 hits against four Iron Mountain pitchers, with Willette and Schafer each getting three base hits.
Ayden Mylander, on his tenth birthday, had two hits. LaMarch had two hits and Zelenik had hits in both of his at-bats off of the bench.
For Iron Mountain North, Julian drove in three runs with a hit and a grounder. Anderson had a single, double, triple, and two runs batted in.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see many more photos taken during the game by Sheila Olsen.
Not that the Iron Mountain boys didn't respect the Escanaba kids. Far from it.
And the Escanaba team was made up of nine-year-olds (except for one boy) and the Iron Mountain North boys had more experience.
But the Escanaba boys hung in there all the way to the end before falling, 9-7.
While Escanaba was eliminated, Iron Mountain faces Tri-County in a loser's bracket game Thursday night. Norway beat Tri-County, 15-5, in Wednesday's other game.
Iron Mountain North entered Wednesday's game with the goal of winning without using up any pitching. They threw four pitchers in the first two innings, and three of them tossed just 20 pitches, keeping all three eligible to pitch Thursday and beyond.
But Escanaba would not fold quickly. The boys hit the ball well, played good defense, and Nathan Howes did just enough on the mound to keep the Eskymos in the game.
Escanaba got two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the IM lead to 3-2.
Howes kept the IM team off the board for the next two innings, and then Adam Willette smacked a two-run single for Escanaba.
And in the third inning, Jordan Schafer got a hit and scored on a wild pitch.
So, halfway through this six-inning game, Escanaba was leading Iron Mountain, 5-3.
But IM got two runs in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by Julian and an RBI double down the left field line by Ian Anderson. A bunt single by Michael Saravin in that inning also helped Iron Mountain to take a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Escanaba had a chance to regain the lead. Schafer got a one-out double, and then Marshall Zelenak got a base hit. But Nick Rousseau struck out and Hunter Lancour lined out to end the Escanaba scoring threat.
But once again, Escanaba's boys did not give up.
Howes got a one-out double, then Jayger LaMarch brought him home with a base hit.
After Willette got an infield hit, Schafer got another base hit, his third hit of the game, driving in a run to bring Escanaba to within 9-7.
With runners at first and third, Escanaba sent Schafer to second on a steal. He made it, but as he did, he landed over the second base bag. Schafer was called out.
That was the end of the game. Escanaba ended up with 12 hits against four Iron Mountain pitchers, with Willette and Schafer each getting three base hits.
Ayden Mylander, on his tenth birthday, had two hits. LaMarch had two hits and Zelenik had hits in both of his at-bats off of the bench.
For Iron Mountain North, Julian drove in three runs with a hit and a grounder. Anderson had a single, double, triple, and two runs batted in.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see many more photos taken during the game by Sheila Olsen.
