MARQUETTE---The Upper Peninsula high school softball season has begun with the Marquette Spring Swing Tournament inside the Superior Dome. Seventeen varsity and four JV teams are competing in the two-day event.
The Escanaba Eskymos won both of their games on Friday.
The Eskymos scored five runs in the first inning and then held on to beat the Gladstone Braves, 5-2. Katie Ross earned the victory in the pitcher's circle.
Later, Ross was back in the circle as the Eskymos shut out the Negaunee Miners, 15-0. Escanaba got home runs from J.J. Laviolette, MacKenzie Leisner, and Ross. Emily LaFave had an inside-the-park homer in the Eskymo victory.
In their second game on Friday, the Gladstone Braves gave up two home runs and lost to the Marquette Redettes, 8-2.
On Saturday, Escanaba and Marquette played to a 2-2 tie in an early game. Later, the Braves beat Norway, 8-2, as Tasi Martinez clubbed a home run and scored twice.
The junior varsity Eskymos won all three of their games.
In Friday's 19-4 win over the Ironwood varsity team, Taylor Gauthier ripped a deep home run to center field to cap the win over the Red Devils. Katie Wilson had two hits and scored three runs, and Cassi Wisler had a double, triple, and also scored three. Wisler also pitched two innings and Abby Jackson threw four innings in the win.
In Saturday's first game, the JV Eskymos beat the Negaunee JV's, 22-0. Wilson had a double and an inside-the-park home run, Wisler had three extra base hits, Payton Gustafson had three hits, and Georgia Letho had three doubles. Brooke Bink also added an inside-the-park home run for the JV Eskymos.
In Saturday's second game, the JV Eskymos beat the varsity Stephenson Eagles, 13-1. Gustafson and Heather Bergstrom both had inside-the-park home runs. In the circle, Gustafson got the win, allowing one hit, while Jackson threw three innngs in relief.
The junior varsity Braves won their first two games...5-3 over the Marquette JV's on Friday and 6-4 over Negaunee's JV's on Saturday. The JV Braves finished their weekend late Saturday night with a 6-1 loss to the Houghton varsity team.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25 SCOREBOARD
Escanaba JV 19, Ironwood 4
Escanaba 5, Gladstone 2
Marquette 8, Gladstone 2
Escanaba 15, Negaunee 0
Gladstone JV 5, Marquette JV 3
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 SCOREBOARD
Escanaba 2, Marquette 2
Gladstone 8, Norway 2
Escanaba JV 22, Negaunee JV 0
Escanaba JV 13, Stephenson 1
Gladstone JV 6, Negaunee JV 4
Houghton 6, Gladstone JV 1
The Escanaba Eskymos won both of their games on Friday.

Later, Ross was back in the circle as the Eskymos shut out the Negaunee Miners, 15-0. Escanaba got home runs from J.J. Laviolette, MacKenzie Leisner, and Ross. Emily LaFave had an inside-the-park homer in the Eskymo victory.
In their second game on Friday, the Gladstone Braves gave up two home runs and lost to the Marquette Redettes, 8-2.
On Saturday, Escanaba and Marquette played to a 2-2 tie in an early game. Later, the Braves beat Norway, 8-2, as Tasi Martinez clubbed a home run and scored twice.
The junior varsity Eskymos won all three of their games.
In Friday's 19-4 win over the Ironwood varsity team, Taylor Gauthier ripped a deep home run to center field to cap the win over the Red Devils. Katie Wilson had two hits and scored three runs, and Cassi Wisler had a double, triple, and also scored three. Wisler also pitched two innings and Abby Jackson threw four innings in the win.

In Saturday's second game, the JV Eskymos beat the varsity Stephenson Eagles, 13-1. Gustafson and Heather Bergstrom both had inside-the-park home runs. In the circle, Gustafson got the win, allowing one hit, while Jackson threw three innngs in relief.
The junior varsity Braves won their first two games...5-3 over the Marquette JV's on Friday and 6-4 over Negaunee's JV's on Saturday. The JV Braves finished their weekend late Saturday night with a 6-1 loss to the Houghton varsity team.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25 SCOREBOARD
Escanaba JV 19, Ironwood 4
Escanaba 5, Gladstone 2
Marquette 8, Gladstone 2
Escanaba 15, Negaunee 0
Gladstone JV 5, Marquette JV 3
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 SCOREBOARD
Escanaba 2, Marquette 2
Gladstone 8, Norway 2
Escanaba JV 22, Negaunee JV 0
Escanaba JV 13, Stephenson 1
Gladstone JV 6, Negaunee JV 4
Houghton 6, Gladstone JV 1
