The 2025 Escanaba softball team poses for a photo before game two of a doubleheader against Marquette on May 19, 2025 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Before she threw her first pitch in game two of Monday’s doubleheader against Marquette, Escanaba junior Cam Buckley was mobbed by teammates at the pitcher’s circle.

Buckley was set to pitch in Monday’s finale for the No. 3 Eskymos, who had other ideas before first pitch.

See, Buckley enlisted in the Army National Guard and begins basic training in June. She won’t be available for Esky after districts. So the team, to the surprise of the junior righty, acknowledged and thanked her for making the choice to serve.

There was an announcement over the PA system. Posters were made. Group photos were taken.

Plus, it helped that Buckley earned the win and hit her first career home run to complete the sweep over the Sentinels with a 9-5 win in game two after Esky claimed game one 11-1 in five innings.

Escanaba junior Cam Buckley (middle, wearing pink hat) walked back to the Eskymos’ dugout during a game against Marquette on May 19, 2025 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. Buckley, who begins basic training for the Army National Guard in June, earned the right to wear the hat after hitting her first career home run. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

“Not only is Cam getting ready to do something very selfless, but she’s been selfless this year for our team,” Eskymos coach Andy Fields said of Buckley. “She knew coming (into the 2025 season) that she was not going to have a lot of playing time, and it wasn’t due to her ability. She’s come in and worked hard. She’s done everything we’ve asked of her.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a player coming out of this softball team than her today.”

Buckley, who will go through basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri’s Ozarks this June, decided to enlist after seeing countless family members enlist. She also enlisted for academic purposes.

“It was a hard decision, but I’m looking toward the future,” Buckley said. “I mean, obviously I would love to play softball in college. But I wanted to get a head start.”

She went the distance in Monday’s finale to earn the win, allowing five runs (two earned) off 10 hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts. She also cranked a 3-1 pitch over the center field fence in the bottom of the second to pad her lead to 3-0.

But she wasn’t the only Eskymo to hit a home run in game two. After hitting two grand slams in one inning against Macomb Dakota less than 24 hours before, Lamb stepped up to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.

For the third time in two days Lamb belted a grand slam, cranking a 1-0 pitch over the fence in center field for a 7-1 lead.

It was her lone hit of the game while racking up five RBIs. And when you factor in an 3-for-3 outing with three RBIs in Monday’s opener Lamb has three grand slams, eight hits and 17 RBIs in her last four games across two days.

Escanaba senior Katey Lamb swings at a pitch during a game against Marquette on May 19, 2025 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

“She’s just a gamer,” Fields said of Lamb. “She’s an All-State player. She’s putting this team on her back right now.”

Junior Harlee Coolman joined in on the home run parade in game two, blasting a lead-off home run off the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the sixth. She finished 3-for-4 on the day.

Senior Clara Braun went 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice while senior Maddy Mott was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Game one saw junior Landry Bray assume responsibilities in the circle. She allowed a lead-off double to Halle Haynes, who later scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 Marquette lead.

Not only was this the only run Bray allowed, but it was also the only hit she allowed in five innings of work, walking none and striking out 10. She also went 1-for-3 with a double.

Esky went to work in the batter’s box to back up Bray after a slow first inning. The Eskymos belted four runs in the second off a two-run double from Braun, an RBI single from senior Grayson LaMarche and an RBI groundout from senior Carly Bowden.

Lamb added a two-run single and senior McKenzie Engebretson added an RBI knock of her own for a 7-1 lead after four innings.

Esky finished off Marquette in the fifth with an RBI double from LaMarche, an RBI poke from Lamb and a two-run single from Engebretson.

Junior Chloe Dubord finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored. LaMarche was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Engebretson also finished with two hits.

Esky now shifts its attention to Tuesday’s doubleheader against Gladstone, the No. 4 ranked team in Division 3 fresh off a 4-3 win over Gaylord, the No. 1 team in Division 2.

“They’re ready for tomorrow,” Fields said. “It’s senior night tomorrow, and this is kind of what it comes down to — the two of us playing at the end of the year. It’s always exciting.”

Game one is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. at Abrahamson Field.