Late rally lifts Esky Cubs
American Legion baseball
Mike Mattson | Daily Press Negaunee’s Keenan Johnson is tagged out at home plate by Escanaba catcher Collin Arnt in Thursday’s American Legion Class A Zone 5 Tournament at Al Ness Field.
Mike Mattson | Daily Press Negaunee third baseman A.J. Suardini fires a throw across the diamond to first base against Escanaba in the American Legion Zone 5 Tournament at Al Ness Field.
Mike Mattson | Daily Press Negaunee’s Keenan Johnson is tagged out at home plate by Escanaba catcher Collin Arnt in Thursday’s American Legion Class A Zone 5 Tournament at Al Ness Field.
Mike Mattson | Daily Press Negaunee third baseman A.J. Suardini fires a throw across the diamond to first base against Escanaba in the American Legion Zone 5 Tournament at Al Ness Field.
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ESCANABA -- The Escanaba Cubs were 2-18 going into the American Legion Zone 5 Baseball tournament.
That didn't matter Thursday, however, as the Cubs rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Negaunee Diamonds at Al Ness Field.
Esky (3-18) trailed 4-1 after five innings of a contest which endured a 40-minute rain and lightning delay. The Cubs then cashed in on five errors in the sixth, tying the score at 4.
Negaunee regained the lead in its half of the sixth on Carter Richardson's single to leftfield.
Drew Rodman tied the game on Tyler Lawson's infield single in the seventh. Lawson then scored the game-winner on a throwing error moments later.
Negaunee (12-10) committed nine of the 11 miscues in this match-up.
"This is the first time we came out on top in errors," said Esky manager Jon Bintner. "We also cut down our strikeouts against a quality pitcher. Although, we still left a lot of guys (seven) on base. Again it was a struggle for us to get the timely hits."
Grant LaMarche, who got the complete-game victory, retired the Diamonds in order in the bottom of the seventh.
"It's heart-breaking," said Negaunee manager Jason Siik. "The guys played real good baseball the past couple weeks. We started good and felt confident when it was 4-1. Five errors in the sixth, it's hard to overcome that. Yet, we still felt confident going into the bottom of the seventh. Escanaba played good. They kept their heads in the game. Luckily, we still get to play tomorrow and we're going to come back confident."
Negaunee began the scoring on Keenan Johnson's single to right-center in the first.
Connor Aiken knotted the contest on an error in the third. The Diamonds then regained the lead on Taylor Laurin's sacrifice fly to center in their half of the third.
Jacob Adriano raised the count to 3-1 on a fielding error in the fourth and Johnson's sacrifice fly to right made it 4-1 in the fifth.
LaMarche struck out three batters, walked none and allowed six hits. Johnson took the loss in relief of Tanner Peterson, who fanned two, walked three and gave up five runs on three hits before reaching the pitch count limit (105) in the seventh.
Esky finished with four hits, including a pair of infield singles by Lawson.
"In a game like we had today, putting the ball in play is critical," said Bintner. "We expected to be competitive, but it's about getting over that hump and getting the guys to believe they can win. I'm proud of the way the guys kept battling."
Esky hosts Marquette today at 2 and the Sault Ste. Marie-based Eastern U.P. Travelers tonight at 8.
In the nightcap, Marquette unleashed a 12-hit attack in an 11-4 conquest of the Travelers.
Marquette's Hunter Doucette ripped three doubles and drove in two runs. Jacob Peterson added three hits and two RBIs and Alec Gadzinski had two hits.
Jim Storey rapped a two-run single in the seventh for Sault, which finished with six hits.
Sault was scheduled to meet Negaunee this morning, with Marquette facing the Diamonds today at 5.