Softball: Eskomos crush Broncos, avenge last year's collapse

A year after blowing a 7-5 lead in the seventh inning and losing 20-8 to the Broncos in the same elimination round as Thursday’s contest, Esko thumped the Falls 22-5 in five innings.

The second-seeded Eskomos (17-5) pounded out the 22 runs on 15 hits, and took full advantage of the Broncos’ six errors. The first 10 runs for Esko were unearned, and they blew the game open in the fourth with 12 runs on 10 hits.

“We hit the ball. That’s how it’s been for us the last two weeks. All of our outs are hit hard,” said Esko head coach Brad Emanuel, who’s in his seventh season. “I don’t know if I’ve had a team hit the ball this hard. And they’re a good team. I’m speechless.”

The No. 3 Broncos (11-6) opened the game with three runs in the first, taking advantage of two Esko errors themselves, but things started going wrong in the bottom of the first. With two outs and two runners on, Esko rattled off three straight hits and two walks on Broncos starter Danika Stelton before leadoff hitter Kortney Lindberg — hitting for the second time in the inning — hit a ground ball to Morgan Bruess at second base. The ball skipped under Bruess’ glove, rolled past two outfielders and allowed Lindberg to clear the bases and score herself for four runs. The official scorer ruled two errors on the play.

“They got eight runs on four hits. That tells the story in the first inning,” said Broncos head coach Kevin Gordon.

The Broncos cut the deficit to 8-5 with two unearned runs on one play in the third when Esko shortstop Sarah Krocka dropped a routine pop up with two outs, but the highlights ended there. It was anyone’s game at 8-5, but Esko scored two unearned runs in the third off relief pitcher Sydney Gordon before dropping the 12-spot in the fourth.

“We were not mentally prepared. We did not make routine plays when we needed to and that lead to the score of the game,” said Broncos senior Danika Stelton, who came back in to pitch for Gordon in the fourth after the Eskomos scored nine runs.

Esko opened the big inning with six straight hits before an RBI ground out ended the streak. With one out and the score 16-5, Esko ended the inning with a triple, walk, RBI fielder’s choice, RBI triple, RBI single, walk, walk, three-run triple, strikeout.

“We gave them too many outs,” coach Gordon said. “They hit the ball, we didn’t make the routine plays.”

Stelton, who took the loss, gave up 10 runs — two earned — on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 2 1-3 innings, while Gordon surrendered 12 runs — 10 earned — on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout in 1 2-3 innings.

“They hit everywhere possible on the field. There was nothing we could do,” said Stelton, who saw an impressive five-year career on varsity come to a close. “We made a lot of errors, that didn’t help, but they hit a lot of gap shots.”

Every starter scored at least one run for the Eskomos, while eight of the nine scored two or more. Kelsey Saralampi finished 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs, Savannah Hanson went 2-for-3 with three runs, two doubles and four RBIs and Steph Miller was 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBIs. Lindberg finished 1-for-3 with a triple and four runs. Saralampi also picked up the win, giving up five runs — zero earned — on six hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in a complete game.

“We’ve been talking since the seeding came out, and quite honestly, this is the team they wanted to see,” Emanuel said.

Kara Kennedy finished 2-for-3 with a run and Monica Hasbargen was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Courtney Scholler finished 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI in her last game. Stelton and Scholler are the only two seniors.

“They’re good. They definitely deserved to win,” Stelton said.

The Eskomos advance to play Hermantown on Tuesday in Cohasset, while Virginia will battle Cloquet.