Eskymo bats bash Kingsford
POSTED: May 8, 2008
KINGSFORD — A nine-run first inning explosion Wednesday night carried the Escanaba Eskymos to a 17-7 baseball victory over Kingsford. The game was stopped in the sixth by the 10-run mercy rule.
That outburst made pitching easier for Ryan Way, who worked four innings and gave up five hits. He struck out six and issued four walks, with four of the seven runs unearned.
Brent Johnson worked the final two innings and allowed two hits.
“When you get that many runs in the first inning you lose your intensity a little bit and you have a little bit of a letdown,” said Escanaba manager Don Lauscher. “For the most part we played very well.”
Doug Beattie reached base four times with a single, double, triple and walk and drove in two runs. Chris Hillesheim had a solo home run and single.
Way, Brent Jenshak and Jordan LeMire also had two hits, with LeMire driving in three runs.
The Eskymos (10-3) will play a doubleheader at Cheboygan Friday, then compete in the Petoskey Invitational Saturday.
Escanaba will face Petoskey in the Division 2 district baseball tournament May 31 at Cheboygan, according to a drawing held Wednesday afternoon. Sault Ste. Marie meets Cheboygan in the 10 a.m. opener, with the title game about 3 p.m.
