Adam Hinch Daily Press Escanaba’s Trent Turchin attempts to lay down a bunt against Eastern UP on July 18, 2024 at Al Ness Field.

ESCANABA — There was plenty of sunshine on display at the American Legion zone tournament in Escanaba on Thursday.

Escanaba defeated the Eastern UP 9-4 in the first game. Marquette defeated Copper Country 7-2 in game two. In game three Eastern UP defeated Marquette 2-0 and Escanaba defeated Copper Country 8-0.

Escanaba jumped out to an early lead as Bon LaChance had an RBI single and Bryce Blixt hit a hard ground ball and reached on an error scoring another run Ashton Rymkos also had a run scored in the inning and Escanaba led 3-0.

Esky plated two more runs in the second inning as Eli Gardner had an RBI single and Adrian Mercier hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring a run and Esky led 5-0.

Gardner started on fire for Esky as he sent down nine of the first ten batters he faced. “My arm felt good starting off,” Gardner said. “I was just trying to let my defense do the work and they pulled through.”

Eastern UP got five of their seven hits in the fourth inning scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Esky responded in the bottom of the fourth as LaChance had an RBI double to extend the lead to 6-3. Esky added three more runs in the sixth frame to extend the lead to 9-3.

Gardner picked up the win for Esky allowing four runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and five walks. “It was huge to be able to get the complete game,” Gardner said. “It gives us more to work with as we go on in the tournament.”

The third game of the day featured a no-hitter by Eastern UP’s Perry LeBlanc as he struck out nine and walked three. “That was my first no-hitter,” LeBlanc said. “I have had some one and two hit games but it just felt so good to get first no-hitter.”

The final game of the day in Esky started off as a pitchers duel as Copper Country pitcher Bryce Hanner sent nine of the first 11 batters he faced back to the dugout and Escanaba pitcher Lucas Hall retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced.

Esky got the scoring going in the fourth inning as Gardner had a lead-off single and Adrian Mercier followed it up with a single to put runners on first and second. Bon LaChance came through with a two-run single to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. “Felt really good out there today,” LaChance said. “The team is really rolling right now, we are getting the bat on the ball and coming thru with lots of hits.” LaChance got another RBI in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to left and Esky led 4-0.

The Cubs put up four more runs in the sixth to close out the game. Lucas Hall picked up the win for the Cubs allowing no runs on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. “Felt good to go out there and throw strikes and let the defense work,” Hall said. “They were lights out today and that was huge for us.”

The Cubs used only one pitcher in each of the first two games.