ESCANABA---The Escanaba 9-10 year old girls softball team has become the fourth Escanaba Little League team to punch its ticket to the state tournament.
The girls scored runs in five of the six innings played and posted an 8-2 win over Penokee Range Wednesday night to earn a U.P. Sectional Championship.
That sends the Orange and Black into the state tournament next week in downstate Tecumseh.
Emily Moore pitched five innings for Escanaba, allowing four base hits and two runs.
She struck out nine batters. Cadence Carter pitched the final inning to close the game.
Escanaba scored a run in the first inning when Carson Segorski singled and stole both second and third bases. The ball got away on the steal of third, and Segorski scored.
In the bottom of the first inning, Madison Houtari got an infield hit and scored on a double by Derian Bender. Penoke Range had runners at second and third with just one out, but Moore was able to get the next two batters to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Escanaba took the lead in the second inning. Moore put down a bunt for a hit along the third base line, and then the ball was thrown away, sending her to third base. Then, Ava Boucher got a base hit to center field to score a run, giving Escanaba a 2-1 lead.
Next, Lizzy Silva put down a bunt. She was out, but the run scored, and it was 3-1.
In the third inning, Escanaba took a 4-1 lead when Segorski got another pop fly single, and scored on a bunt by Bailey Barron (with an error attached).
Penokee Range got to within 4-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Brooke Oftstad.
Escanaba broke the game open with three runs in the fourth inning.
There were several errors and walks in that inning, and Macy Lancour had an RBI single. It was 7-2.
Houtari took the loss for Penoke Range, pitching the entire game.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken at the game.
That sends the Orange and Black into the state tournament next week in downstate Tecumseh.
Emily Moore pitched five innings for Escanaba, allowing four base hits and two runs.
She struck out nine batters. Cadence Carter pitched the final inning to close the game.
Escanaba scored a run in the first inning when Carson Segorski singled and stole both second and third bases. The ball got away on the steal of third, and Segorski scored.
In the bottom of the first inning, Madison Houtari got an infield hit and scored on a double by Derian Bender. Penoke Range had runners at second and third with just one out, but Moore was able to get the next two batters to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Escanaba took the lead in the second inning. Moore put down a bunt for a hit along the third base line, and then the ball was thrown away, sending her to third base. Then, Ava Boucher got a base hit to center field to score a run, giving Escanaba a 2-1 lead.
In the third inning, Escanaba took a 4-1 lead when Segorski got another pop fly single, and scored on a bunt by Bailey Barron (with an error attached).
Penokee Range got to within 4-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Brooke Oftstad.
Escanaba broke the game open with three runs in the fourth inning.
There were several errors and walks in that inning, and Macy Lancour had an RBI single. It was 7-2.
Houtari took the loss for Penoke Range, pitching the entire game.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken at the game.
