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Escanaba Delivers Memorable D2 Encore
June 15, 2019
By Perry A. Farrell
Special for Second Half
EAST LANSING – Two rarities happened in the first inning of the MHSAA Division 2 softball championship game Saturday at Michigan State’s Secchia Stadium.
The first was Escanaba all-state pitcher Gabi Salo allowed a walk against Stevensville Lakeshore. The second was Salo gave up a run.
Salo entered the championship game with a 25-2 record, 0.24 earned run average and 337 strikeouts and just 21 walks.
If that’s not enough, she had given up only six earned runs all year.
She gave up three runs – two earned – in the championship game, but contained the Lancers enough to secure a 7-3 victory that clinched the Eskymos’ second straight Division 2 title.
“I thought I had my best stuff today,’’ said the junior pitcher. “I thought I went out strong.
“This means so much. Our school went without a state title from 1981 until last year. For us to bring home another one, I don’t have words. This one feels even better than last year.’’
The Lancers surprisingly struck early when Salo surrendered a two-out walk and Meghan Younger drove her home on a double just out of the reach of the centerfielder. It was just the seventh earned run Salo had given up this season.
She finished Saturday with 11 strikeouts while allowing seven hits. Escanaba finished the spring 34-3, while Lakeshore ended 33-11.
Salo helped her own cause in the second inning with a game-tying sacrifice fly, scoring Lexi Chaillier, who had walked, stolen second base and was sacrificed to third.
Escanaba took advantage of two walks and a bounce out to first by Chaillier to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Younger was able to solve Salo with two singles and a double, but her teammates mostly were stifled until the sixth.
Meanwhile, Escanaba loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out on a walk and singles by Heather Bergstrom and Carsyn Segorski. Chaillier popped out, but Nicole Kamin and the Eskymos took advantage of a fly ball dropping out of an outfielder’s mitt that allowed three runs to score and gave the reigning champ a 5-1 lead.
A four-run cushion with three innings left was all Salo needed.
Lakeshore put together a threat in the top of the sixth inning on a single by Younger and fielder’s choice and error by Salo.
Shelby Grau singled, but rightfielder Chaillier threw out a Lakeshore runner at home to negate a potential run. However, Anna Chellman came through with a two-run single to left field to make it 5-3. Salo got out of trouble with a strikeout with two runners on.
“Originally, I was going to throw it to first because I’ve gotten a few girls out at first on those kinds of hits,’’ said Chaillier. “I saw the girl running from third, and I knew I had to go home with it.’’
Said winning coach Gary Salo: “(Chaillier) better be on some all-state teams. I’m going to be upset if she isn’t. She does everything for us. That was a great throw.”
Escanaba sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth inning when a Lakeshore wild pitch allowed two runs to score.
“All week we just kept saying we’re three wins away from going to Wienerlicious (restaurant in Mackinaw City) … (then) we’re two wins away,” Gary Salo said. “We’re going to go back home and celebrate there. We haven’t been home all week.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Escanaba's Georgia Lehto connects with a pitch during Saturday's Division 2 Final. (Middle) The Eskymos' Gabi Salo fires toward the plate.
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Highlight Reel: Division 1-2 Softball Semifinals
June 12, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
The first sessions of MHSAA Softball Semifinals were played Thursday at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University. Caledonia and Warren Regina in Division 1 and Frankenmuth and Wayland in Division 2 advanced to Saturday’s championship games.
Click the headings below for highlights from all four Semifinals broadcasts on MHSAA.tv.
Division 1
Caledonia 5, Farmington Hills Mercy 2
Miller Triples For Caledonia Caledonia extended its lead on Farmington Hills Mercy with two runs in the fifth inning, the first coming home on this triple by Ashley Miller.
Butgereit Blasts One McKenzie Butgereit hits a solo home run for Caledonia in the sixth inning.
Have Mercy! An Inside The Park Homer! Farmington Hills Mercy scored its two runs in the sixth on this inside-the-park home run by Nicole Belans.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Warren Regina 7, Mattawan 1
Wildcats Score First Mattawan broke through with the game's first run in the fourth inning when Amber Mazahem delivered an RBI single.
Saddelites Take The Lead Warren Regina took the lead with two runs in the top of the first inning, the second coming on an RBI single by Riley Hison.
Hison Hits The Gap For Two Riley Hison drove in two more runs in a five-run fifth inning for Warren Regina.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 2
Frankenmuth 4, Carleton Airport 0
Wright Helps Her Own Cause Frankenmuth scores first on this third inning RBI single by pitcher Amariah Wright, driving in Ivy Holland.
Eagles Pull Off Double Steal The second run in the third inning for Frankenmuth came on a double steal with Makenzie Sipes scoring.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Wayland 11, St. Clair 0 (5 inn.)
Houck Ignites Big Wildcat Inning Wayland scored seven runs in the fifth inning against St. Clair, the first coming on this RBI double by Hailey Houck.
Wayland Doubles Its Pleasure Wayland got back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the fifth inning against St. Clair off the bats of Morgan Winger and Leigha Morse.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.