Escanaba freshman Bryce Bichler fires a pitch during a game against Manistique on May 13, 2025 at Al Ness Field in Escanaba. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — With no seniors on its roster this season there’s an abundance of opportunities for players to emerge into the spotlight.

Freshman Bryce Bichler continues to take advantage of opportunities on the mound. After making his debut on the mound in junior varsity action last month Bichler carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning as the Eskymos cruised to a 12-0 five-inning win over Manistique Monday at Al Ness Field to start their 11-game home stand.

“I didn’t know Bryce could pitch until two weeks ago. He likes the challenge,” Esky skipper Scott Hanson admitted. “He does the simple stuff. He throws strikes. It’s a lesson for anybody — control the (walks), make the team hit (the ball) and pitch to contact. He did a good job.”

Bichler, the Eskymos’ lone freshman, didn’t allow a base runner until he walked Landen Papple on five pitches with one out in the third. Bichler then got Ajay Berger and Mack Pugh to fly out to end the third. He then got Masin Tryan out on strikes, Cooper Curtis to fly out and Cole Watchorn out via grout out.

And with the Eskymos leading 12-0 after four innings Bichler was three outs away from an abbreviated no-hitter in this second varsity start.

He worked a 1-0 count to Manistique’s Britt Frain. The second pitch saw Frain drop a blooper into left field for the Emeralds first hit of the game. His no-hitter was gone.

Luke Benish singled in the ensuing at bat to put runners on the corners.

But Benish was thrown out attempting to steal second base by Esky catcher Hughes. Jeffery Lampin popped out and Papple looked at strike three.

Bichler allowed two hits and walked one, but he also struck out six batters across five shutout innings.

“He was laughing on the mound all day,” Hughes said. “He’s having a good time. His fastball was working really well.”

The Eskymos found ways to give Bichler run support, and it came off Curtis, who is more than capable of holding his own on the mound.

Esky scratched one run across in the first off an RBI single from junior Lennox Peacock, but ultimately left the bases loaded to end the frame.

The Eskymos scratched three runs across home plate off a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly from junior Nolan Bink and a dropped third strike which went awry for a 4-0 lead after two.

Then a two-out rally saw the orange and black add runs off a wild pitch, a two-run single from Hughes, an RBI poke from sophomore Brody Ison and an Owen Fields grout out turn into an Emeralds error for two runs.

Esky led 10-0 after three innings before junior Max LeDuc’s two-run double in the fourth inning.

Curtis was tagged with the loss, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) off six hits with five walks and six strikeouts.

The Eskymos also forced Curtis to hurl 109 pitches (53 strikes) across three innings of work.

“We’re just waiting on a good pitch,” Hughes said. “Just a good pitch that we can drive.”

Frain allowed two earned runs off two hits with a walk and a strikeout in an inning of relief.

Peacock finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Cannon Arnt went 2-for-3. Hughes, Bink and sophomore Brody Ison each stole two bases. Bichler scored twice and added an RBI.

Now the Eskymos prepare for five more games this week. There’s matchups with Negaunee and Rudyard on Saturday, a doubleheader with Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday.

There’s also a crucial game with Kingsford at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. But Esky started its stretch of 11-straight home games to end the regular season with a win.

“Hopefully some of these games go our way,” Hanson said. “All of our games downstate the last two weeks… in four of those five games if one or two little things go our way we win those games. I want to get a little run going here, hopefully get some confidence.”