Escanaba's Ashton Rymkos takes a pitch inside for a ball during game one of a doubleheader against Kingsford on July 18, 2025 at Al Ness Field in Escanaba. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — The Escanaba Cubs closed the 2025 regular season with four games this weekend against the Kingsford Greens and Appleton. Here’s what went down.

Friday

Kingsford 2, Escanaba 2

Two throwing errors at third base from Cannon Arnt allowed the Greens to take a 2-0 lead midway through the first stanza. The Cubs evened the odds on a with pitch and a passed ball in their half of the first.

That was all the offense provided for either team in the opener, which ended in a tie. Eli Gardner and Graham Johnson earned the Cubs’ lone hits. Isiah Brow earned a no decision, coughing up two unearned runs off three hits with four walks and a strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Anders Finley allowed two hits, walked one and fanned five in five innings of relief while also being responsible for driving in the Greens two runs.

Kingsford 11, Escanaba 10

With the game tied at 10 entering the sixth inning one team needed to come up with a big hit to prevent the series from being an even draw. On this night it was Joey Weber who earned a two-out RBI single off Arnt for an 11-10 lead. Brow struckout, Ashton Rymkos grounded out and Owen Fields watched strike three whistle by to end the game.

The Cubs, who drew nine walks in the loss, did have their chances to run away with the game on multiple occasions. Esky led 2-1 after one off an RBI single from Luis Warmack, who later scored on a passed ball. The Cubs added on four more in the second thanks to an RBI double from Gardner, an RBI poke from Bon LaChance and a two-run single from Warmack for a 6-1 lead after two.

And after firing a mere 28 pitches through three innings, Rymkos appeared to be in cruise control on the mound entering the fourth inning. By the time the Cubs came back to hit the Greens belted seven runs off Rymkos, who through 41 pitches in the frame as the Cubs stared down the barrel of an 8-6 deficit.

But the home team had a response.

Thanks to an RBI double from LaChance and three bases-loaded walks the Cubs led 10-8 with one out, three ducks on the pond and the opportunity to break the game wide open once again. But Joey Garcia and Gardner both watched as strike three was called in their ensuing at bats to extinguish the threat.

The Greens added two runs in the fifth to tie the game before ultimately claiming the win.

Rymkos allowed 10 earned runs off 13 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings of work in a no decision. Arnt took the loss, allowing one unearned run off a hit and a walk in the sixth. Warmack and LaChance finished with two hits each.

Landon Amundson was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Trent McLain, who was 0-for-3 in game one, went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs while taking the win, issuing one walk with six strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief. Gavin Trevillian allowed six runs (five earned) off five hits with three walks and three punchouts in twi innings of work on the mound while finishing 2-for-4 from the batter’s box. Cam Varda allowed four runs off two hits with five walks and a strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Saturday

Appleton 11, Escanaba 0

The Cubs were limited to two hits, one from Gardner and one from Warmack, in the five inning loss. Cooper Curtis took the loss, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) off nine hits with seven walks and five punchouts in 3 2/3 innings. Appleton scored three runs in the first and second innings one in the third and four in the fourth.

Escanaba 5, Appleton 3

Facing two outs and runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth, Gardner had the chance to give the Cubs a much needed big hit. The young man formerly known as “The Deer” during his days as an Eskymo came through.

He ripped a 1-2 pitch into the grass in left field. Curtis and Arnt scored. Garnders found himself standing at second on the throw home. The Cubs claimed a 5-3 lead late.

After issuing a lead-off walk and a single, Gardner settled down on the mound, earning a pair of punchouts and a game-sealing groundout for the win.

Garnder claimed the win, allowing one hit and walking one with three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Arnt allowed three unearned runs off four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings while finishing 2-for-3 from the pate. Warmack went 2-for-3 with an RBI. LaChance earned a two-run double.