Escanaba outfielders Addison Noblet (left) Chloe Dubord (middle) and Clara Braun find a way to stay entertained before the first pitch of a MHSAA Division 2 district quarterfinal game against Kingsford on May 27, 2025 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA –When it comes to big games in any sport, Kingsford and No. 1 Escanaba are no strangers.

The Flivvers knocked off the Eskymos during volleyball season in the district championship game. The Eskymos knocked off the Flivvers in basketball season in the district quarterfinal round.

In a sense, you could call Tuesday’s district quarterfinal collision on the softball diamond a rubber match between the two schools.

And in this case, it was the Eskymos who emerged victorious in the rubber match. Behind a dominating showing from University of Michigan commit Grayson LaMarche the No.1 Eskymos cruised to a12-0 five-inning win over the Flivvers at Abrahamson Field.

The No. 1 Eskymos collide with Sault Ste. Marie at noon Thursday in the district semifinal round. The winner between the Eskymos and Blue Devils faces the winner of Houghton and Petoskey in the district championship game later in the day. All games will be held at Escanaba’s Abrahamson Field.

But Thursday’s opener, despite being against a U.P. team, will force the Eskymos to play an unfamiliar foe.

“I don’t know anybody that’s really played them. I’m not sure what their record is,” Eskymos head coach Andy Fields said of the Blue Devils. “To be honest, I don’t know much (about Sault Ste. Marie), but we’re gonna prepare like any other team we’re going against in the playoffs, and we’re gonna take care of business.”

LaMarche was her typical, dominant force in the circle. The soon to be Michigan Wolverine recorded all 15 outs via strikeout, including an immaculate inning in the third.

She did hit a brief snag in the fourth inning, issuing walks to Anna Bortilini and Kailey Sundquist. LaMarche settled back in, striking out Karley Trevillian and Kailey Matuszewski on seven pitches.

“She got a little rushed out there,” Fields said of LaMarche. “She just wanted to go. And sometimes when pitchers go too quick they kind of forget about their mechanics. She just had to slow down a little bit. She got it back together.”

After a 1-2-3 first inning the Eskymos put up five runs in the second off an opposite field RBI triple from senior McKenzie Engebretson, an RBI single from senior Maddy Mott and a two-run home run from LaMarche.

The Eskymos added five more in the third thanks to RBI singles from LaMarche and juniors Harlee Coolman and Chloe Dubord and an RBI double from junior Addison Noblet to lead 10-3 after three innings.

Coolman ripped an RBI double and Mott added an RBI sacrifice fly for a 12-0 lead after four innings.

Dubord also earned a triple and senior catcher Carly Bowden was 2-for-3 with a double. LaMarche and Coolman each had multi-hit games.

Mya Brunswick took the loss for the Flivvers, who finished their 2025 season at 14-18. Brunswick allowed five runs off four hits with a walk and three strikeouts across 1 2/3 innings of work.

Now the Eskymos are aiming for a district championship. An accomplishment they haven’t earned on their home field in seven seasons.

“It’s very special,” said Fields, who was an assistant coach the last time Esky hoisted a district championship trophy on Abrahamson Field. “It’s really special to end with a trophy here, and it means a lot. It’s going to mean a lot to the seniors to finish off here.”