Escanaba minor girls' softball team poses for a photo after winning the District 10 title on July 10, 2025 at Abrahamson Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — The battle for the District 10 softball title went down to the wire here Thursday as the Escanaba Minor Little League All-Stars (age 8-10) squeezed past Gladstone 2-1.

“What an exciting game,” Esky manager Danica Humbert said. “It always is with Gladstone. Both teams played with heart. It was a great tournament.”

The victory sends Esky to the state tournament at Cheboygan where it will open pool play against the District 6 champion Friday noon.

Isla McCarty, who reached base on a walk, advanced twice on a passed ball and scored the game-winner on a throwing error in the fifth inning of this pitcher’s duel.

“That was a big one,” Humbert said. “That was a heads-up play by our baserunner. We talked about it in the dugout. We told the kids they had to know what the next play would be. They kept battling, went to the plate with confidence and made the plays in the field.”

Winning pitcher Amaya Humbert, who struck out the side in the sixth, fired a two-hitter, finished with 16 strikeouts, walked three and hit a batter.

“My outside pitch was the best today,” she said. “I think it kept them a little off balance. It feels great to be going to the state tournament. That’s not too far away. I think that will give us a little bit of an advantage.”

Gladstone tied the score on Hadly Hammill’s two-out single to leftfield in the half of the fifth.

“I knew we had to get one more out,” Amaya said. “It was a little bit of a relief to get the third out (in the fifth and sixth innings). Gladstone did a good job.”

Gladstone missed a golden opportunity in the opening frame when Cassie Ashby reached on a fielding error and Maia Hughes got walked with nobody out.

Humbert then retired the next three hitters, forcing Gladstone to come up empty.

“We were hoping we could get ahead right away, but Amaya was nearly in top form,” Gladstone manager Brenda Damitz said. “When we tied the score it definitely helped our girls. We played a better game this time (than in Monday’s 6-3 loss). We lost by one. We can’t be mad about that.” Both teams had additional scoring chances.

Esky left base runners on third in the third and fourth innings and Gladstone stranded seven, including at least one in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth frames.

Hughes, pitching for the fourth straight day, took the loss despite tossing a two-hitter. She fanned 12 and walked three.

“I think I did pretty good,” she said. “My arm was getting sore. Pitching four days in a row took its toll. It slowed me down a little.”

Damitz said she was proud of the way Hughes pitched.

“Maia pitched real well,” she added. “It’s disappointing when you pitch that well and you’re the last batter. Many of the girls are going up to the next level (Majors). We were hoping to take them downstate. Amaya was nearly in top form. It was a well pitched game both ways. It’s nice to have somebody from the U.P., especially from our area, down there. It’s fun for both teams. They’re going to be happy for the other team.”

Staying in the winner’s bracket enabled Esky to get a break from competition Wednesday.

“We got a good night’s sleep and felt pretty rested,” Amaya Humbert said. “My outside pitch worked best today. I think that kept them a little off balance.”

Manager Humbert had similar thoughts.

“It was nice to get a day off,” she said. “We had a little bit of batting practice and watched the Gladstone-Kingsford game. Those were two teams which kept battling. Maia pitched a great game and Gladstone played a great game. When they got the first two runners on base in the first, the kids kept battling. Getting out of that inning was a big lift for them.”