SHAWANO, Wis.---The Escanaba High School Baseball team finished a perfect weekend with a doubleheader sweep of the Shawano Hawks, 12-2 and 11-1, Saturday, in Wisconsin. The Eskymos also battered the Negaunee Miners, 14-1, on Friday.
"You come down to Wisconsin and play Shawano, they historially have been a good program. They play in a good conference," Escanaba Manager Kirk Schwalbach said. "So coming in, I certainly didn't expect to walk out with 12-2 and 11-1 sweep of a doubleheader. Obviously, we're pleased with how we played today."
The Hawks pounded the Eskymos, 13-2, in Escanaba last spring, and the veteran Eskymo players didn't forget it.
The top players from last year's Shawano team have since graduated, and the Eskymos took advantage of a rebuilding Hawks team with a 3-11 record this time around.
"It's real nice," Escanaba pitcher Brandon Punzel said. "We're on eight straight (wins) now. This team took it to us last year. It was nice to come here and get some revenge on their field, since they did ut to us on our own field."
Punzel had a lively fastball in the second game of the doubleheader, despite having not pitched since a loss against Kenosha Tremper two weeks ago. He threw four innings, allowing no hits, walking three, and striking out six batters. C.J. Barron came on in relief and threw the final two innings, allowing no hits, striking out four. and walking one.
That's right. A combined no-hitter for Punzel and Barron in the 11-1 nightcap win.
Escanaba scored five runs in the first inning as the Shawano pitcher, Joey Taydoch, had trouble throwing strikes. He walked five batters and hit two others and the Eskymos were well on their way to a doubleheader sweep. Hunter LaMarch had three hits and a sacrafice fly. Jack Valentine had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Eskymos.
In the first game, the Eskymos fell behind, 1-0, in the first inning on a walk, stolen base, and dropped pop up. But in the second inning, Escanaba scored five runs to grab the lead.
Logan Lamb had an RBI double, Parker LaMarch had an RBI single, Barron drove in two with a double to the fence, and Punzel smoked an RBI double to center field.
Escanaba added five more runs in the third inning to lead, 10-1. Justin Popelka had an RBI single, and Parker LaMarch had a sacrafice fly during that inning.
Barron and Lamb both had three hits to lead a 13-hit attack for the Eskymos. That backed up excellent pitching from Popelka, who allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings of work. Barron threw the final inning, allowing no runs or hits.
There was plenty fo good defense in that doubleheader opener, as the Eskymos turned a pair of 1-6-3 double plays with Popelka hitting Hunter LaMarch and Punzel for the twin killing. Also, Popelka picked off a runner who was leaning too far off of first base.
With the bat, Lamb seemed to thrive in the #9 hole in the opener. The only time the Hawks got him out was when he was robbed of extra bases by Tadych at third base.
"They're kind of using that as a second lead-off spot," Lamb said. "When you're in a slump, it helps to go lower down in the order, and sometimes you get some pitches that can help you get out of your slump. It seems to really be helping me."
Barron played a big part in the sweep, catching the majority of both games before coming in to pitch and giving way to Cody Frappier. He says he was just glad to be back on the field, after having no games before Friday's game in Negaunee.
"We're always battling in practice and trying to get better," Barron said. "It's just nice to get on the field. We're gonna have a lot of games this week, so we won't be practicing too much. It was a good time. Beautiful weather, nice facility here at Shawano."
Escanaba began its weeekend with a 14-1 win in Negaunee Friday night. Johnny Schlenvoght threw all six innings, scattering eight hits.
Hunter LaMarch hit a home run, Popelka had three runs batted in, and Barron and Criag Kamin both had three hits.
The Eskymos impoved to 10-5 on the season, and will make the short trip to Bark River-Harris on Monday. The Broncos splot a doubleheader with the Menominee American Legion team on Saturday, losing the opener, 20-8, before winning the nightcap, 5-4. Monday's game starts at 4:00 and can be heard live on WCHT-AM (600).
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Young, to hear radio replays from the first game, and to hear interviews with players and Coach Schwalbach.
"You come down to Wisconsin and play Shawano, they historially have been a good program. They play in a good conference," Escanaba Manager Kirk Schwalbach said. "So coming in, I certainly didn't expect to walk out with 12-2 and 11-1 sweep of a doubleheader. Obviously, we're pleased with how we played today."
The top players from last year's Shawano team have since graduated, and the Eskymos took advantage of a rebuilding Hawks team with a 3-11 record this time around.
"It's real nice," Escanaba pitcher Brandon Punzel said. "We're on eight straight (wins) now. This team took it to us last year. It was nice to come here and get some revenge on their field, since they did ut to us on our own field."
Punzel had a lively fastball in the second game of the doubleheader, despite having not pitched since a loss against Kenosha Tremper two weeks ago. He threw four innings, allowing no hits, walking three, and striking out six batters. C.J. Barron came on in relief and threw the final two innings, allowing no hits, striking out four. and walking one.
That's right. A combined no-hitter for Punzel and Barron in the 11-1 nightcap win.
In the first game, the Eskymos fell behind, 1-0, in the first inning on a walk, stolen base, and dropped pop up. But in the second inning, Escanaba scored five runs to grab the lead.
Logan Lamb had an RBI double, Parker LaMarch had an RBI single, Barron drove in two with a double to the fence, and Punzel smoked an RBI double to center field.
Escanaba added five more runs in the third inning to lead, 10-1. Justin Popelka had an RBI single, and Parker LaMarch had a sacrafice fly during that inning.
Barron and Lamb both had three hits to lead a 13-hit attack for the Eskymos. That backed up excellent pitching from Popelka, who allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings of work. Barron threw the final inning, allowing no runs or hits.
With the bat, Lamb seemed to thrive in the #9 hole in the opener. The only time the Hawks got him out was when he was robbed of extra bases by Tadych at third base.
"They're kind of using that as a second lead-off spot," Lamb said. "When you're in a slump, it helps to go lower down in the order, and sometimes you get some pitches that can help you get out of your slump. It seems to really be helping me."
Barron played a big part in the sweep, catching the majority of both games before coming in to pitch and giving way to Cody Frappier. He says he was just glad to be back on the field, after having no games before Friday's game in Negaunee.
Escanaba began its weeekend with a 14-1 win in Negaunee Friday night. Johnny Schlenvoght threw all six innings, scattering eight hits.
Hunter LaMarch hit a home run, Popelka had three runs batted in, and Barron and Criag Kamin both had three hits.
The Eskymos impoved to 10-5 on the season, and will make the short trip to Bark River-Harris on Monday. The Broncos splot a doubleheader with the Menominee American Legion team on Saturday, losing the opener, 20-8, before winning the nightcap, 5-4. Monday's game starts at 4:00 and can be heard live on WCHT-AM (600).
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Young, to hear radio replays from the first game, and to hear interviews with players and Coach Schwalbach.
