ESCANABA---It was an old-fashioned pitcher's duel Wednesday night at Al Ness Field as the Escanaba Eskymos faced the Norway Knights. And as he has done all season long, Escanaba's Justin Popelka was just a bit better than his opponent.
Popelka threw a complete-game three-hit shutout as the Eskymos beat the Knights, 2-0.
Norway left-hander John Edwardsen was a tough-luck loser, allowing give hits and one earned run. Edwardsen also threw a complete game in the losing effort.
"I told the team that we had an opportunity to make a statement today," Escanaba Manager Kirk Schwalbach said. "Everyone knows that Norway has a nice ball club. Timber (Popelka) has pitched well. He hasn't had a bad start all year."
"He's gone into the sixth or seventh (inning) every start. Defense and pitching is usally wins. It's a good win."
"I felt good out there," Popelka said. "They had some decent hitters. I had some good defense for sure. That really helps you on the mound. The curveball wasn't quite as good today. I felt like it may have been hanging a little bit. But the change-up felt pretty good and so did the fastball. I had pretty good command. I was able to out it on the corners when I wanted to, and they had a tough time hitting it."
Popelka allowed no hits until Kevin Evosevich broke it up with one out in the fourth inning. The Knights never got a runner past first base, and Popelka issued no walks.
Edwardsen was almost as sharp, but he gave up two runs in the second inning and the offense never gave him a chance to make up those runs.
The runs scored on a two-out, bases loaded single by Eskymo freshman Cody Frappier. One of the runs was unearned.
"Cody, for a freshman, getting that big hit to right field, I didn't know if it would stand up that early," Schwalbach said. "Kudos to him. That's his first game-winning RBI. He was pretty pumped up. That's why he's playing a little bit more, because he's starting to swing the bat a little better."
Popelka struck out seven batters, bit also got some great defense behind him.
Catcher C.J. Barron made a sliding catch near the dugout on a foul pop fly to end the second inning, and then second baseman Parker LaMarch robbed Ryan Menard of a hit with a diving catch to lead off the third inning.
"I was playing towards the middle because that's where the coaches want me to play," LaMarch said. "It was just a line shot to my left side, and I just had to react fast and hopefully get over there, and fortunately, I got it."
LaMarch at second and his older brother Hunter, at shortstop, combined to make six defensive plays in the game. Both LaMarch boys also had base hits at the plate.
Escanaba improved to 17-6 on the year, and outside of its extra-inning loss to Gladstone last week, the Eskymos haven't lost a game in nearly a month. They will host the Bink's Coca-Cola Invitational at Al Ness Field on Saturday. Bark River-Harris faces Negaunee in the 10 a.m. game, and Escanaba plays the Kingsford American Legion team at 12:30.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Younf, and to listen to a replay of Frappier's hit and to hear post-game interviews with LaMarch, Popelka, and Schwalbach.
Popelka threw a complete-game three-hit shutout as the Eskymos beat the Knights, 2-0.
"I told the team that we had an opportunity to make a statement today," Escanaba Manager Kirk Schwalbach said. "Everyone knows that Norway has a nice ball club. Timber (Popelka) has pitched well. He hasn't had a bad start all year."
"He's gone into the sixth or seventh (inning) every start. Defense and pitching is usally wins. It's a good win."
"I felt good out there," Popelka said. "They had some decent hitters. I had some good defense for sure. That really helps you on the mound. The curveball wasn't quite as good today. I felt like it may have been hanging a little bit. But the change-up felt pretty good and so did the fastball. I had pretty good command. I was able to out it on the corners when I wanted to, and they had a tough time hitting it."
Popelka allowed no hits until Kevin Evosevich broke it up with one out in the fourth inning. The Knights never got a runner past first base, and Popelka issued no walks.
The runs scored on a two-out, bases loaded single by Eskymo freshman Cody Frappier. One of the runs was unearned.
"Cody, for a freshman, getting that big hit to right field, I didn't know if it would stand up that early," Schwalbach said. "Kudos to him. That's his first game-winning RBI. He was pretty pumped up. That's why he's playing a little bit more, because he's starting to swing the bat a little better."
Popelka struck out seven batters, bit also got some great defense behind him.
Catcher C.J. Barron made a sliding catch near the dugout on a foul pop fly to end the second inning, and then second baseman Parker LaMarch robbed Ryan Menard of a hit with a diving catch to lead off the third inning.
LaMarch at second and his older brother Hunter, at shortstop, combined to make six defensive plays in the game. Both LaMarch boys also had base hits at the plate.
Escanaba improved to 17-6 on the year, and outside of its extra-inning loss to Gladstone last week, the Eskymos haven't lost a game in nearly a month. They will host the Bink's Coca-Cola Invitational at Al Ness Field on Saturday. Bark River-Harris faces Negaunee in the 10 a.m. game, and Escanaba plays the Kingsford American Legion team at 12:30.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Younf, and to listen to a replay of Frappier's hit and to hear post-game interviews with LaMarch, Popelka, and Schwalbach.
