Escanaba pitcher Amaya Humbert delivers a pitch against Norway on July 8, 2025 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — The Escanaba and Gladstone Minor Little League All-Stars (age 8-10) followed different paths to victory in the opening round of the District 10 softball tournament here Monday night.

Esky needed just four innings to subdue Norway 14-0 and Gladstone scored twice in the top of the sixth to rally past Kingsford 3-2 at Lemerand Park.

The Delta County teams met in a winner’s bracket contest and Kingsford and Norway squared off in an elimination game Tuesday night.

Another elimination contest takes place tonight at 5 . The championship round starts Thursday at 5 p.m. with an extra game, if needed, to follow at 7 p.m.

Gladstone’s Peyton Frappier tied the opener at two on a wild pitch and Hadly Hammill scored the game-winner on Caroline Viau’s ground out to the pitcher in the sixth.

Winning pitcher Maia Hughes then secured the decision by striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth.

Hughes fired a one-hitter, allowing just a leadoff single to leftfield to Lainey Wolf in the first. She fanned 14 and walked four.

“I think our girls like the close games,” Gladstone manager Brenda Damitz said. “It was a well pitched game both ways with a lot of good defense. We like to battle to the end. We don’t give up. We’re excited about playing either way.”

Wolf opened the scoring on a wild pitch in the first.

Gladstone’s Sailor Carter tied the contest on a delayed steal in the third.

Zola Hilyard gave Kingsford a 2-1 lead on a wild pitch in the fourth before Gladstone scored the tying and winning runs in the sixth.

Wolf took the loss despite tossing a three-hitter. She whiffed 12 and walked two.

“It could have gone either way,” Kingsford manager Tara Chartier said. “It was a battle to the end. Coming from six different teams, we pick an all-star team and get one week to practice. Especially with the holiday (July 4) in there, we don’t get much time to practice. Although, there was a lot of good play out there tonight.

“We have four solid pitchers, but when she (Wolf) is on, we’re leaving her out there. Lainey couldn’t have done any better. Holland (Maki) gave us solid play at second and Bayslee (Chartier) had a nice throw to Corrine (Lukach) to save a run (in the fourth).”

Amaya Humbert and Isla McCarthy combined on a no-hitter in the nightcap. Humbert struck out eight, walked two and hit a batter through three frames before McCarthy fanned two and walked two in the fourth.

“She (Amaya) put in a lot of work,” Esky manager Danicia Humbert said. “She’s doing a lot of good things and has a good defense behind her. They’re a good team. Both teams battled which is great to see. They’re putting in the work and sportsmanship plays a big part.”

Haddee Mokszycke went 3-for-3, accounting for half of Esky’s six hits.

After scoring on Livvy Nolde’s grounder to the pitcher in the first, Esky added five runs in the second and eight in the third.

“The girls had fun out there,” manager Humbert said. “All the kids had good at-bats and picked out good pitches. They kept the energy up and kept playing. They gave us a good battle early, then our girls got their bats going and put the ball in play.”