ESCANABA — Momentum swung in a big way here Tuesday night as the Escanaba Girls’ Major Little League All-Stars (age 10-12) posted a 15-5 softball triumph in four innings over Gladstone in the District 10 championship game.

Maia Hughes and Ellie Sanville combined on a two-hitter in Tuesday’s opener as Gladstone forced an extra game with a 2-0 victory.

Next for Esky is a trip to the state tournament at St. Clair where it will begin play July 10.

“Our bats woke up in the second game,” Esky head coach Danicia Humbert said. “We were finally stringing hits together. We got settled in and were ready to play that game. The first game was just a great battle. I tip my hat to Gladstone. They really battled. Both teams showed great sportsmanship. They told each other ‘good job’ after the game and really meant it. It’s great to win, but more importantly this is about life’s lessons, teamwork, sportsmanship and building friendships.”

In the nightcap, Esky scored nine runs in the first inning, including seven before recording an out.

Esky got its first two runs on Maci Engebretson’s double to leftfield and Barlow Bosk added a two-run double to center for a 4-0 lead.

“It was amazing,” Esky’s Genevive Fields said. “I don’t think anybody thought we’d come out like that. It’s exciting to be going down there in my last year. I’ll be playing travel ball next year.”

The Esky All-Stars then took advantage of four walks while pushing five additional runs across the plate for its nine-run advantage.

Gladstone was battling when the game was halted 30 minutes by lightning.

Emymersyn Whitney’s single to left then got Gladstone on the board in its half of the first.

The teams traded runs in the second with Fields scoring on a wild pitch for Esky’s 10th run and Paisley Branstrom’s single to left driving in Gladstone’s second run.

Gladstone, fueled by Whitney’s two-run single to right, shaved its deficit to 10-5 in the third.

Esky, however, answered with five runs in the fourth.

“I thought we still had a chance when it was 10-5,” Sanville said. “It was fun. We got to play an extra game. I’m glad we won the first one.”

Evelyn Young led off the fourth with an infield single. Amaya Humbert then added an infield single and Fields’ single to left made it 11-5.

Engebretson’s sacrifice fly to left pushed Esky’s advantage to 12-5.

Ruby Jacobsen scored on error before Harper Adiska gave Esky a 14-5 advantage on a single to center and Zionnah Boursaw single to right ended the scoring.

Amaya Humbert then sealed the verdict by striking out all three Gladstone hitters in the fourth.

Humbert recorded four strikeouts, walked one and allowed a run on two hits in 2â…” frames of work. Bosk fanned two, walked two and gave up four runs on two hits though 1â…” innings.

“Barlow’s pitching gave me little bit of a break,” Humbert said. “My arm felt more relaxed when I got back to the mound. They made it interesting, but it helped to go back in with a cushion. This is my last year. I’m looking forward to going downstate next week and playing travel ball next year.”

Gladstone starter Maia Hughes, who faced seven hitters, absorbed the loss.

“I had hopes that we were going to win,” she said. “We just wanted to get this game in. They saw what we did in the first game and made some adjustments. We feel good about what how did in this tournament, overall.”

Esky collected 11 hits, including two apiece by Humbert and Bosk. Whitney finished 2-for-2 for Gladstone which finished with four hits.

“Our goal was to get to that part of the tournament,” Gladstone coach Brenda Damitz said. “When we got within 10-5, it was a good feeling. We kept battling. I hope they show what U.P. softball is all about. We got a chance to see every team in this tournament which I think helped prepare us for tonight. The first game was the most intense we had.”

Gladstone got both runs in the fifth inning of the opener. Hughes scored on an error and Sanville crossed the plate on Vivienne Lewandowski’s ground out to short.

Sanville, who pitched the last two frames in relief, took the win. She whiffed three, walked one and didn’t allow any hits. Hughes fanned three and walked none through four innings.

Humbert absorbed the loss despite tossing a three-hitter. She struck out six and walked two.