Lennox Peacock was strong on the mound in four innings allowing zero runs on three hits with six strikeouts and zero walks.

“I felt good out there today,” Peacock said. “I just kept that attack mentality and was confident in what I was doing and to strike out the side in the fourth inning was really a big moment for me in this game.”

The Eskymos loaded the bases in the top of the first inning as Graham Johnson drew a walk and Ashton Rymkos and Mikaiden Hughes each singled but left the bases loaded after a flyout by Peacock and a line out by Brian Boutilier.

Petoskey went three up three down in the bottom of the first inning and the Eskymos answered in the top of the second as Cannon Arnt had a lead of single and freshman Alex Irving had a bunt-single then advanced to third on a pair of Petoskey errors to bring in a run. Irving then scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bryce Bichler who had the two-run single to get the walk-off win against Kingsford in the district championship to put the Eskymos up 2-0.

Escanaba senior Ashton Rymkos swings at a pitch against Petoskey on June 3, 2026 at Al Ness Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

“This is one of the best days in my career here as a coach,” Scott Hanson said. “The crowd and the support from the community was just incredible. I told the boys after the game to look out at the crowd and the people who came to support us. It was absolutely amazing.”

Ashton Rymkos later hit an RBI-double to put the Eskymos up 3-0. Rymkos was 3 for 3 on the day with two doubles and four RBIS.

“We were just looking to put the ball in play and find the barrels,” Rymkos said. “I was just looking for the fastball and anything in the zone and just trying to put the barrel on the ball and ended up with a pair of doubles.”

In the top of the third inning the Eskymos added a pair of runs on a two-run single by Bichler to extend the Eskymos lead to 5-0.

“We had 14 hits today,” Hanson said. “We had players with multiple hits Ashton had three Alex had three and Bryce had two. Ashton was driving the ball all over but we also did a good job of hitting with two strikes and putting the ball in play.”

Escanaba senior Lennox Peacock delivers a pitch against Petoskey on June 3, 2026 at Al Ness Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

The Eskymos added to the lead in the fourth inning as Rymkos connected on his second double of the day to bring in a run and Hughes followed it up with a double of his own to score a run and put the Eskymos up 7-0.

The Eskymos added three runs in the top of the fifth inning and Arnt came in the game in relief for Peacock and walked the first batter on four pitches then got a flyout and Tyler Pool grounded into a double play to end the game.

The Eskymos will play for the Regional Championship on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. as they face Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills.