Escanaba Minor LL softball wins 2024 District 10 championship | News, Sports, Jobs

The 2024 Escanaba Minor All-Star softball team poses for a photo with their district championship banner on July 17, 2024 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. Escanaba defeated Gladstone 12-5 in a winner-take-all matchup. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg Daily Press)

ESCANABA – Winner takes all.

It’s a scenario the Escanaba and Gladstone minor league softball teams faced on Wednesday at Abrahamson Field in Lemerand Park.

Gladstone had ruined Escanaba’s chance at a district title the day before with a 5-3 win, setting up a make-or-break game for the District 10 title.

Escanaba struck out six runs in the second inning, had 15 hits and struck out 12. Pitcher Amaya Humbert proved instrumental in the 12-5 victory and the 2024 District 10 title.

“It’s so much fun,” Esky coach Danicia Humbert said. “All their hard work is paying off. It’s always a good game when Esky and Gladstone play each other. It’s fun to be a part of it.”

Leading 2-0 after the first inning, Escanaba opened the floodgates in the second inning.

Amaya Humbert extended the lead to 4-0 with a two-run single that sneaked past the glove of Isabell Kidd at second base. Then Harper Adiska, Maci Engebretson, Haylee Trombley and Barlow Bosk came up with RBI knocks to extend the lead to 8-0.

Gladstone clawed back the first run of the match when Nora Nastoff capitalized on an Esky miscue. The lead shrank to 8-2 in the bottom of the third when Gianna Briere capitalized on another Esky miscue.

Esky added a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI poke by Adiska to extend the lead to 9-2. Gladstone struck back with a two out, two run double to put the Purple in Whites up 9-4 after four.

Haddee Mokszycke added an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 10-4 halfway through five frames. Esky’s lead grew to 12-4 on a two-run single by Gen Fields. Gladstone scratched out its final run in the bottom of the sixth when Emmeryn Whitney’s groundout scored Paisley Branstrom from third.

Evie Young and Ruby Johnson each had three hits.

Escanaba now advances to the state tournament in Sparta, which starts on July 26.

“I’m excited for them to participate, to see how a state tournament is run and to see different teams,” said Danicia Humbert. “The children are given plenty of time to bond, make friends and create lifelong memories.”