MARYSVILLE — The Escanaba Minor All-Star softball team (age 9-10) fell to Bullock Creek 9-5 here Saturday during the Little League state tournament to be officially eliminated from contention. Esky also fell 21-13 to Hudsonville Sunday.

Bullock overtook Esky in an explosive first inning Saturday, scoring six of its nine runs, and Escanaba didn’t answer until the sixth when it notched four of its five runs.

“It was a closer game than the score indicated,” Esky manager Justin Jacobsen said.

Breeleigh Reinhart went the distance in a losing effort for Escanaba. She went 2 for 3 with a triple and a single, and Janessa Platt, Chloe Dubord and Mary Kate Tourangeau all collected one hit.

“It wasn’t until the last inning we really got the bats going,” Jacobsen said. “Our offense was really good in the last inning. I think that if we had another inning in that game, we would have come back and won. The kids had finally found their batting.”

Hudsonville entered Sunday’s game against Esky 2-0 and having only allowed two runs during the tournament.

“Going into (Sunday’s) game, we knew we didn’t have the chance to move on,” Jacobsen said. “The girls never gave up and kept their heads high. They kept playing, today, how they ended yesterday’s game. They were swinging the bats, getting on base and scoring runs. I was proud to see they didn’t give up and fought until the end.”

Landry Bray took the loss for Escanaba over three innings, and Reinhart pitched three innings in relief. Two players were a hit away from the cycle as Reinhart went 4 for 4 with a home run, double and two triples, and Platt hit 3 of 4 with a single, double and triple. Dubord notched two hits and Claire Jacobsen collected two doubles. Paige Stammer finished 3 for 3 with three singles.

“Paige Stammer really (stood out),” manager Jacobsen said. “She was our No. 9 batter, and she came out today pumped up and ready to go. She was probably the most excited kid on the bench I’ve seen.”

Jacobsen was proud of the way the team performed.

“I told them I was proud they fought it out and didn’t give up, playing in the heat and leaving it all on the field,” he said. “That’s all I could ask of them. We were proud to represent the (Upper Peninsula) and Escanaba down here.

“I’d like to thank the community for supporting us coming down here. We are grateful for everything that they gave. I’d also like to thank our other coaches, Jamie Tourangeau and Sarah Hill. I couldn’t have done it without them.”