Kingsford, Norway to meet in Little League tourney
Gladstone awaits winner of today’s game
ESCANABA — While the Gladstone Majors All-Stars defeated Norway 3-2 to qualify for Friday’s district title game, the Escanaba All-Stars season comes to an end as they fell 6-3 against Kingsford on Wednesday at Dickson Field in Escanaba.
Gladstone and Norway opened up play Wednesday in the winner’s bracket of the district tournament with a close game of baseball.
Following several innings with the score tied up with two runs on the board for each, Gladstone’s Jaxsyn Lancour dropped a walk-off single just inches fair in left field to drive in the winning run as Collin Brown crossed the dish.
Lancour shared his feelings on the moment after the game.
“The whole thing was on my back, the whole game. When I hit it, I was just like, ‘oh my god,’ I didn’t know what to do,” Lancour commented. “I was going to take anything. Whatever happened was all I could do. If it was coming at me, I was just going to take it because that’s a walk-off.”
Starting pitcher Nick Proehl — who threw for five innings before being relieved by Henry Sholten — shared his thoughts on beating Norway to qualify for the championship game.
“It was pretty good, it was a close match,” Proehl said. “In travel ball, we never won to these guys, so it feels really good to beat them. And I’m happy about Jaxsyn walking that off. … Just happy for him and happy for our team.”
Gladstone coach Mike Sanville commented on the win as well.
Gladstone now awaits the winner of the losers’ bracket — a game between Norway and Kingsford — for a showdown on Friday.
“We’re going to come out to win the first game,” said Gladstone coach Mike Sanville of the plan for Friday. “If not, we’re going to keep battling. The kids are learning how to battle, so I’m proud of him.”
Jake Hosking hit the first RBI of the game for Norway to drive in Colton Lord in the second. Gladstone struck back in the bottom of the same inning as Logan DeMay batted in Landon Pepin — who will be able to pitch again Friday — and then came home himself moments later when teammate Austin Loehr drew the throw to second which allowed DeMay to score from third.
Norway’s Remi Buchanan hit a single in the fifth to score Lord for the tying run.
“We’ve got to start hitting the ball,” said Norway coach Scott Sternhagen. “Plain and simple, we’re not hitting the ball, and I don’t know why. This is a great hitting team.”
Tyler Sternhagen pitched the entirety of the game for the Norway squad.
“(Tyler) pitched phenomenal, and he got through five and two-thirds,” coach Sternhagen said. “The hit batter at the end hurt, but he pitched phenomenal.”
The nightcap featured the battle between Escanaba and Kingsford for a chance to face Norway today to find out who will face Gladstone in the championship Friday.
Esky put up two runs early as Griffin Johnson and Timothy Robitaille crossed the dish, but Kingsford bounced back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.
Both teams scored one more apiece to end it 6-3.
Dominic Fredrickson took control of the game atop the mound and never relinquished his grip until the last out was made.
“He is a heck of a pitcher,” said Kingsford coach Brent Buchcuski of Fredrickson. “He was one of our studs all year long, and he just wanted that ball. I went out there at 35 pitches to see where his head was at and see if he wanted to keep going in the second inning, and he said, ‘I’m finishing this thing.’ We’ve got all the confidence in the world in him.”
With Norway ahead, the Kingsford All-Stars are preparing for a team they know quite a bit about.
“We’re familiar with Norway. They’re in our league, and we play them,” said Buchcuski. “There are a couple of good teams between Norway and Vulcan and the Niagara guys they’ve got, they’ve got a really good team. So, we’re going to have to play another really good game.”
Escanaba coach Ken Robitaille noted errors as a contributing factor to the loss.
“Up two, nothing for a while, then a couple errors that always come back to haunt you,” Robitaille said. “Only want to give three outs in an inning, and when you give them more than that it ends up coming up and biting you. But, the boys played good, though. Kingsford is a great team. A lot of hard-hit balls, and the kids had to make a lot of tough plays, and they did make some.
“They put the bat on the ball, and they gave it everything they had. That’s all I care about. Baseball is fun. It is. That’s why you call it a game, and these kids take it to heart. But, they’re all going to move on and play baseball, and they’re all going to be better from this.”