Escanaba Cubs players pose for a photo after winning the Firecracker Tournament on June 29, 2025 at Pederson Ballpark in Marinette. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

MARINETTE — It was a moment the Escanaba Cubs program will never forget as they took down Manitowoc Post 88 5-0 to claim their first ever Firecracker Tournament championship.

The Cubs got on the board first in the title game at the top of the first inning as Bon LaChance hit a two-run double on the sixth pitch of the at-bat to put the Cubs up 2-0.

“I was just fighting the count on the first at-bat,” LaChance said. “I had the lucky check swing and fouled it off and got a good piece of the slider and drove it away.”

The Cubs added to the lead in the second inning as Ashton Rymkos doubled, then advanced to third on an error. Cannon Arnt took advantage as he hit a ground ball to the pitcher who couldn’t make a play on the ball extending the Cubs lead to 3-0.

Cubs center fielder Cooper Curtis singled on a line drive to left field to score a run in the third inning and LaChance hit an RBI-single for his second hit of the game to put the Cubs up 5-0.

Cubs pitcher Cannon Arnt sent Manitowoc down one, two, three in the fifth inning before lightning and rain ended the game.

Arnt was dominant in the win allowing zero runs on one hit with three strikeouts and two walks.

“I feel amazing right now,” Arnt said. “The last couple years we have come close going second and third. With Lennox coming to pitch against Marinette… it saved us on pitching, which was a big key to our success this weekend.”

The Cubs advanced to the championship game defeating Marinette 5-3 on Friday as Lennox Peacock earned the win allowing three runs on five hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk.

On Saturday Cooper Curtis threw a no-hitter as the Cubs beat Menominee 8-0 and Luis Warmack was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs as they defeated Watertown 5-3.

“It feels great to get this one ,” Cubs manager Paul LaChance said. “The team played great all weekend. We got hits, pitching was great and we didn’t commit errors. It was just a good weekend for us.”

The Cubs return to action Tuesday as they travel to Kingsford for a doubleheader. First pitch set for 5:30 p.m.