Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Escanaba’s Craig Kamin slides into third base against Cheboygan Saturday at the Escanaba Invitational.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba baseball team added two wins here Saturday, as the Eskymos have now won six of their last seven games.

Esky out-hit the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils 10-4 in the its morning opener, and after a tense, scoreless game that exploded in the sixth, the Eskymos shut out the Cheboygan Chiefs 6-0 in the afternoon.

In the first game, the Eskymos got off to an early lead. They collected four runs in the first inning and three more in the second while holding the Sault scoreless, and the Blue Devils couldn’t overcome the deficit.

“We had seven (runs) in the first two innings,” Esky coach Scott Hanson said. “It was just a solid baseball game. We took the lead early and kept ahead.”

Grant LaMarche earned the win for the Eskymos over five innings. He allowed three hits, four walks and one run (none earned) while striking out six. Josh Bruntjens pitched two innings in relief. He struck out three and gave up three runs on four hits.

Craig Kamin went 1 for 2 and finished with four RBIs and one run. Jake LaFave finished with two RBIs, and Austin Willette, Riley Lamb and Jake Anderson all notched one RBI.

Paul Allard took the loss for the Blue Devils (3-14) over five innings. He allowed seven hits, one walk and six runs (four earned) while striking out two. Allard also finished with two RBIs and one hit. Dalton Graham notched two hits, and Garrett Brown collected one RBI, one hit and one run.

The second game looked as though it may go to extra innings after five innings with no score. However, an explosion by the Eskymos in the sixth, and a one-hit day for Kamin on the mound sealed the game.

“We couldn’t ask for anything more than that (Kamin’s pitching performance),” Hanson said. “It’s the best I’ve ever seen him pitch.”

There were only four total hits as the sixth inning started. Both teams struggled offensively, but the Eskymos (11-9) came alive in the bottom of the inning.

Bryant Maki was first up for Escanaba and singled on a ground ball along the third base line. Kamin singled next, but an error in the outfield advanced him to third and scored Maki for the first run of the game. Grant LaMarche then singled on a bunt to score Kamin. Shortly after, LaMarche scored on a passed ball to increase the Esky lead to 3-0.

“What it boiled down to was the ability to make the plays,” Chiefs’ coach Kevin Baller said. “Escanaba put pressure on us defensively, and, on the bunt, we had the chance to get the runner at third but made the play at first. It just kind of started from there.”

With one out remaining, Escanaba tacked on three more runs in the sixth on a ground single from Tyler Lawson and another grounder from Maki that scored two.

“We played some small ball to make things happen (in the sixth),” coach Hanson said. “They threw the ball away a few times, and we were able to take extra bases. Our team’s speed really showed there. Then, we were able to execute on the suicide squeeze. It just seemed like things snowballed in a positive way for us.”

The Chiefs (9-9) went three-and-out in the top of the seventh to end the game.

“A couple key plays here, a couple key plays there, and the wheels fell off,” Baller said.

“It was a different ball game, and it allowed them to get a runner in place for that squeeze play. They put pressure on us defensively, and we just couldn’t make the plays when we had to. “

LaFave was the star of the top of the fifth. Cheboygan’s Sam Schneider was on second with two outs, and LaFave made a diving catch in the outfield to end the threat.

“I think we had one threatening, and then Jake LaFave made that great catch,” Hanson said. “I don’t want to say game-saving catch, but it was 0-0 at the time. You know, if he misses that, they’d probably score there and it’d be at least one run.

“This was a big game for us. They’ll be our first-round district opponent. They’re a quality team, and I think we’ll be in for a battle in districts.”

Baller felt the game was good on both sides.

“It was a good game,” he said. “Both teams did very well. Both sets of pitchers had a great game, and our pitchers threw strikes and forced Escanaba to put the ball in play. It was just an all-around good baseball game. We just got a little sloppy there in that sixth inning. It happens from time to time.”

Kamin earned the win with a complete game over seven innings. He allowed one hit and struck out nine. LaMarche finished with one hit, one run and one RBI. Kamin went 2 for 2 with one run, and LaFave and Jared Hanson both notched one hit. Willette collected two hits.

Escanaba hosts Gladstone today at 6:15 p.m.