GLADSTONE---It was about as intense as a rivalry baseball game can get.
The Escanaba Eskymos and Gladstone Braves battled tooth-and-nail for seven innings on Thursday before the Braves posted a 1-0 win at Don Olsen Field.
Justin Jurek fired a no-hitter for the Braves, striking out ten batters and walking just two. On the other side, Escanaba's Devin Olsen threw a three-hitter with six strike outs.
Every at-bat, especially late in the game, had that tournament-feel as neither team wanted to give an inch.
The only run of the game came in the third inning when Gladstone's Christian Tackman singled, got bunted to second by Sam Pouliot, went to third on a ground ball to second by Tommy Bailey, and scored on an Olsen wild pitch.
The closest Escanaba came to getting a base hit off of Jurek came in the very first inning as Tyler Skufca hit one just out of the reach of shortstop Sam Pouliot.
Pouliot went over to get the fly, it hit his glove, and bounded away. Some called it a hit, others called it an error. But Jurek was in complete control, although Escanaba had chances to tie the game in both the sixth and seventh innings.
In the sixth, Lewis Ostrander drew a one-out walk, went to second on a bad pick-off throw, and then went to third on a wild pitch. But Jurek struck out Ben Kleiman and got Skufca to bounce out to second to keep it 1-0.
In the seventh inning, Jurek walked Brandon Punzel to lead off the inning. Corey McInerney came in to pinch-run, and Olsen bunted him to second.
Bailey Lamb grounded out to move McInerney to third, but Jurek got a dramatic strikeout on Hunter LaMarch to end the game.
Olsen allowed only three hits in the loss. Gladstone did have a chance to extend its 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jurek walked and was bunted to second by Tackman.
Pouliot then ripped one to the fence, and Jurek held up at first, and then, was waived home. Ostrander threw to Kleiman at short, and Kleiman's relay throw was dead-on to catcher Sean Bissell, who tagged Jurek out at the plate to keep it 1-0. Pouliot then tried to steal third, but Bissell easily threw him out.
Gladstone, ranked No. 4 in the state in Division Three, improved to 12-1 on the season. Escanaba's record fell to 5-7 on the season.
The Braves travel to Oconto Falls, Wis., for a doubleheader on Friday against the Panthers. Game time is 4:30. The games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.
The Eskymos host Kingsford in a doubleheader on Sunday. Game time is 1:00. Those games will also be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and on www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Lori Jurek, listen to interviews with the two pitchers and two coaches, and to hear audio highights from the game.
The Escanaba Eskymos and Gladstone Braves battled tooth-and-nail for seven innings on Thursday before the Braves posted a 1-0 win at Don Olsen Field.
Justin Jurek fired a no-hitter for the Braves, striking out ten batters and walking just two. On the other side, Escanaba's Devin Olsen threw a three-hitter with six strike outs.
The only run of the game came in the third inning when Gladstone's Christian Tackman singled, got bunted to second by Sam Pouliot, went to third on a ground ball to second by Tommy Bailey, and scored on an Olsen wild pitch.
The closest Escanaba came to getting a base hit off of Jurek came in the very first inning as Tyler Skufca hit one just out of the reach of shortstop Sam Pouliot.
Pouliot went over to get the fly, it hit his glove, and bounded away. Some called it a hit, others called it an error. But Jurek was in complete control, although Escanaba had chances to tie the game in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Justin Jurek post-game interview.
Bailey Lamb grounded out to move McInerney to third, but Jurek got a dramatic strikeout on Hunter LaMarch to end the game.
Olsen allowed only three hits in the loss. Gladstone did have a chance to extend its 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jurek walked and was bunted to second by Tackman.
Pouliot then ripped one to the fence, and Jurek held up at first, and then, was waived home. Ostrander threw to Kleiman at short, and Kleiman's relay throw was dead-on to catcher Sean Bissell, who tagged Jurek out at the plate to keep it 1-0. Pouliot then tried to steal third, but Bissell easily threw him out.
Devin Olsen post-game interview.
The Braves travel to Oconto Falls, Wis., for a doubleheader on Friday against the Panthers. Game time is 4:30. The games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.
Justin Jurek gets strike out to end game
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Lori Jurek, listen to interviews with the two pitchers and two coaches, and to hear audio highights from the game.
