BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW Esky Ousted Despite Connor No-Hitter How can you give up no base hits, one walk, and commit no errors, and still lose a softball tournament game? It happened to the Escanaba 9-10 girls on Wednesday, and only the three dozen or so Escanaba softball fans on hand in Cheboygan for the Minor Softball state quarterfinals can truly explain just how it did happen. Sam Connor threw another excellent game for Escanaba, allowing no hits and striking out 11 batters, but lost to Southtown Bullock Creek, 1-0. The only person she walked, Shelby Bailey leading off the fourth inning, came around to score on three passed balls. That was it. No throwing the ball around. No walking people. No line drives against. So, why did Escanaba lose? Well, if it's unbeliveable that you can lose a game while allowing just one baserunner, keep reading. It gets even crazier. Escanaba's Alexis St. Cyr was safe on an error to start the fourth inning and went to second on the play. She advanced to third on a ground ball, then Connor put down a bunt single, with the Southtown girls choosing to let her go to first to guard against the runner coming in from third. Here's where it gets crazy. In a first and third situation, the stolen base is a given. Connor went to second, and after a moment, was called out by the infield umpire. It was announced in the press box that Connor left first early, which is a violation, but the actual call was that Connor had rounded second base and was called out because she didn't keep going to third. With Connor called 'out', instead of runners at second and third and one out, there were two out with a runner at third. MacKenzie Leisner struck out to end the inning. In the sixth inning, St. Cyr worked for a one-out walk. Then on a wild pitch, she went to second, and rounded the bag again. She was called out, much to the disbelief of the Escanaba coaches, who argued long and hard. The 2008 Little League Softball rule book, on page 70, rule 7.08, states that "if the pitcher has possession of the ball within the pitcher's circle, and is not making a play, the runners not in contact with their bases must immediately attempt to advance, or to return to base." In both cases, the Escanaba runner went back to the bag. But this umpire, who is from southern Lower Michigan, said that any runner who rounds the bag is automatically out, unless the runner continues to the next bag. Not true, according to the above-noted rule. In addition, the Escanaba coaches said the umpires told them at the tournament's opening meeting that the girl rounding a bag would be given a couple of seconds to go back to the bag. Kelsey Forvilly struck out to end the game, and Escanaba manager Deb Leisner continued to argue the call. "It's very tough," Leisner said, choking back tears. "I feel like, you know, the girls have given it their all. We feel that the umpires took it away from them." The consensus amongst several coaches gathered, and even some of Southtown's supporters were that the "rounding the bag" call was not a good one, particularly at the 9-10 level, and in a 1-0 game. Leisner tried to protest the call to Central Regional Headquarters in Indianapolis, but was told that it was not a call that could be protested. Escanaba had only three hits off of Bailey, who pitched all six innings for the win, striking out five and walking one. Forvilly had a hit in the first inning, Brittany Douglas had a lead-off single in the fifth, and Connor had that bunt. "We had great community support, a lot of tremendous parent support," Leisner said. "The girls have worked hard. I'm extremely proud of everybody. I hope all the fans are proud of them too." Connor was the tough-luck loser, allowing no hits, one walk, 11 strikeouts. "She's been great all year long," Leisner said. "She really digs deep, she's a great pitcher. Sam did a great job today, and it was also a 12-man team effort."  Wednesday's Quarterfinals Southtown Bullock Creek 1, ESCANABA 0 Parchment 11, Mattawan 1 Cheboygan vs Western Grand Rapids, 6 p.m. St. Clair vs Tecumseh, 6 p.m. Thursday's Semifinals Bullock Creek vs Cheb/WGR winner, 4 p.m. Parchment vs StC/Tecum winner, 6:30 p.m.

9-10 Girls State Tournament Sked At Cheboygan, Michigan Escanaba 6, Tecumseh 5 Escanaba 9, Dexter 5 Escanaba 11, L'Anse Creuse 1 Western Grand Rapids 16, Escanaba 6 Southtown Bullock Creek 1, Escanaba 0 (ESCANABA FINISHES 3-2, QUARTERFINALIST)

Esky Girls Lose; Quarters Next The Escanaba 9-10 girls lost their final pool play game at the state tournament in Cheboygan Monday, falling to Western Grand Rapids, 16-6. But the result didn't mean much because the girls had already secured a spot in the quarterfinal round by winning their first three pool play games over the weekend. "They had some really good hits and we made some errors that cost us some runs," Escanaba Manager Deb Leisner said. "And I sent some runners home that I shouldn't have and that cost us too. But they were a good team." The team was off the field before noon on Monday, and instead of back to the hotel in Mackinaw City, the girls were headed back to Escanaba to spend Monday and Tuesday nights in their own beds. The team will drive back to Cheboygan, about 165 miles away, on Wednesday. "I think that will be huge for us," Leisner said. "The girls have been in a motel for four nights, so it will be good to get a break and let them sleep in familiar surroundings." Escanaba plays in the quarterfinals at 4:00 Wednesday afternoon. The team's opponent is Midland Bullock Creek. WCHT-AM 600 will broadcast the game live, starting at 3:50 Eastern time. It will also be broadcast at www.rrnsports.com.

Esky Girls Win Third Straight The Escanaba 9-10 girls advanced to the quarterfinals of the Minor Softball State Tournament in Cheboygan on Sunday, beating L'Anse Creuse, 11-1, in five innings. The win gave Escanaba a 3-0 record, entering Monday morning's final pool play game against Western Grand Rapids. Sam Connor pitched all five innings, allowing no hits and striking out 15 batters. "We were aggressive on the bases and we hit the ball hard," Escanaba Manager Deb Leisner said. "The girls have been working hard, practicing a lot before the games. They're also having a lot of fun and are meshing as a team." Escanaba scored two runs in the first inning against the Macomb County team. Callie Heller walked, Kelsey Forvilly singled, and both scored on a fielder's choice ground ball by Connor. They added three runs in the second inning on three walks and a two-run double by Connor. Escanaba took a 6-0 lead in the third inning when MacKenzie Leisner singled and eventually scored on a hit by Alexis St. Cyr. L'Anse Creuse got its only run in the top of the fourth inning on a walk, hit batsman, and a steal of home. Esky got that run back in the bottom of the fourth when Connor singled, Rebecca Piron got a hit, and Connor scored on a bunt single by Leisner. Brittany Douglas also got her first hit of the tournament trail in that inning, but it did not result in another run scoring. Escanaba put the game away with four runs in the fifth inning. Heller was hit by a pitch, then there were two walks to load the bases. All three girls would eventually steal home (Heller, St. Cyr and Forvilly). Lesiner later singled home the final run that ended the game on the mercy rule. Escanaba had eight hits, two each by Connor and Leisner. The girls improved to 3-0 after also beating Dexter and Tecumseh over the weekend (see stories on both games below).

Esky Girls Beat Dexter The Escanaba 9-10 girls won their second straight pool play contest Saturday, beating Dexter, 9-5, at the Minor Softball State Tournament in Cheboygan. "Seven of our nine girls in the lineup got hits," Escanaba Manager Deb Leisner said. "We brought the pitching machine with us from home, and we use it in practice before the games, and in their batting cages here. The girls are really working hard." Escanaba scored two runs in the fourth inning and three in the fifth to snap a 4-4 tie and improve to 2-0 in pool play. Leisner figures the girls have to win at least one of the next two pool play games to advance to Wednesday's quarterfinal. "Maybe 2-2 would do it, but we can't take that chance," she said. "The girls have a goal. It's a team goal that we're in it to win it. They want to win a state championship." They took a step toward that Saturday as Sam Connor had three hits and drove in four runs. Chelsea LaPalme also contributed three hits for Escanaba. The scoring started in the first inning as Callie Heller put down a bunt single, stole second, and scored on a double by Kelsey Forvilly. Connor singled Forvilly home to make it 2-0. After Dexter scored once in the bottom of the first, Escanaba scored two runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Forvilly led off with a single and scored on a double by Connor. After Connor stole third, she scored on a bunt single by MacKenzie Leisner. But Dexter scored three in its half of the third, tying the game at 4-4. In the fourth inning, Heller and Forvilly led off with walks. And Connor came through with another shot, a two-run single that made it 6-4. Then Esky put the game away with three more runs in the fifth inning. Leisner had another bunt single, then LaPlante ripped a triple against the win to score the run. "That ball would have been over the fence if the wind wouldn't have knocked it down," Deb Leisner said. "People around here were saying they never saw a 10 year old hit the ball that hard." LaPalme scored on a bunt single by J.J. Laviolette, and she eventually scored on a ground ball to make it 9-4. That was al the offense that Heller needed on the mound, as she allowed only one run over the last three innings to post the victory. "Callie only walked one batter and that was big," Coach Leisner said. "She did a great job pitching and the defense helped her out. J.J. made a great catch in right field and Forvilly had two line drive shots." Escanaba opened the tournament with a 6-5 win over Tecumseh (see story below).

Esky Girls Hang On, Win Opener The Escanaba 9-10 girls built a 5-2 lead then had to hang on for dear life Friday as the Minor Softball State Tournament began in Cheboygan. Escanaba beat Tecumseh, 6-5, in its first pool play game of the tournament. The game ended with the downstate team trying to score the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but catcher Rebecca Piron took the throw and applied the tag at the plate, giving Escanaba an exciting win. "It was an exciting play," Escanaba Manager Deb Leisner said. "We made two good cuts (throws). These are the things you practice. I'm real proud of the girls." Escanaba took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by Sam Connor. After Tecumseh tied it in the bottom of the first, Escanaba took a 5-2 lead in the third inning. Alexis St. Cyr started the rally with a single, then Kelsey Forvilly walked. Connor put down a bunt single to score a run, then several Tecumseh throwing errors allowed two more runs to score. Tecumseh scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to make it 5-4, but Escanaba got an important insurance run in the top of the sixth. St. Cyr tripled up the right-center field gap and scored on a single by Forvilly. Tecumseh scored in the bottom of the sixth, but had that tying run cut down to end the game. "The girls handled the pressure really well," Leisner said. "At this level, making errors can really shake you up. But the kids refocused and did a good job." Leisner says the Tecumseh team was a good first opponent, as the girls have three more pool play games before advancing to the single elimination playoff rounds starting next Wednesday. "They have a very good team," she said. "We knew they'd be one of the tougher teams, and I was glad to play them first instead of one of the weaker teams." Connor pitched all six innings to earn the win. She struck out 13 batters, and three of the five runs she gave up were unearned runs. St. Cyr led the way offensively with three hits in four at-bats.

9-10 Girls District Softball Schedule District Tournament at Gladstone Howes Field Escanaba 2, Gladstone 1 Escanaba 4, Gladstone 0 ESCANABA ADVANCES TO STATE TOURNAMENT AT CHEBOYGAN ON JULY 25TH.