Click the thumbnails to see photos, and videos taken by Leo Nolde. Also click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Evvie Young, Amiya Humbert, and Coach Danicia Humbert. Also click to hear pre-game interviews with Kara Bosanic and Zionnah Barsaw.
ST. CLAIR---The Escanaba Major Little League All-Star softball team (age 10-12) won its third straight lopsided state tournament game on Monday, beating Grosse Pointe, 11-0, in St. Clair. The Escanaba ladies have outscored their opponents, 35-2, since the tournament-opening loss to the host St. Clair team.
Monday's win moved the Escanaba All-Stars into the state semifinals of the 16-team tournament, with a game against Georgetown set for Tuesday morning at 10:00.
Grosse Pointe had a chance to score in the bottom of the first inning, but a baserunning mistake cost the District Six champions a chance to have two on base with no outs. By the time the suburban Detroit team had another scoring chance, it was down, 11-0.
Escanaba took the lead with three runs in the top of the second inning. Haddee Mokszcycke ripped a shot to the fence to bring in two runs, and then she scored on another long double by Evvie Young.
Escanaba put the game away with eight runs in the third inning, with Ruby Jacobsen singling in one run and Hayley Trombley bringing home two runs with a fly ball base hit in front of a Grosse Pointe outfielder,
Grosse Pointe tried to prevent the mercy rule in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ellie Simaika getting a one-out, line drive base hit, and Emma Case reaching on a pop fly that landed a few feet in front of home plate. But Amiya Humbert struck out the next two batters to end the game. She struck out six altogether and did not issue a walk.
Simaika had two of Grosse Pointe's hits, with Annabelle Reck and Case getting the others. Simaika took the loss in the pitcher's circle, with Hailey DeMay relieving.
Escanaba got base hits from eight of the 12 girls on the roster.
The Escanaba-Georgetown game Tuesday morning starts at 10:00 and will be broadcast on FM-93.5, AM-600, and at www.radioresultsnetwork.com. The other semifinal will see Clare take on the host St. Clair team, also at 10:00.
The state championship game will follow at about 12:30 on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the Central Regional in Indianapolis.
