Lake Linden pitcher Peyton Goldsworthy pitches in the first inning against Hancock in the final game of the Division 4 District 98 Tournament at The Boneyard in Lake Linden on Friday, May 31. (Daver Karnoski/Daily Mining Gazette)
NEW LONDON, Wis. — The Escanaba Heartbreakers 14U softball team participated in a tournament in New London two weekends ago and won two of three matches to take first place in their age group. The team defeated Oakfield Crush Black 14U 15-1, then lost to Suburban Athletics 14U 6-1, but defeated the Bulldogs 14U 18-0 to win the tournament.
Against Oakfield, Lake Linden’s Peyton Goldworthy started for the Heartbreaks and pitched three innings. She struck out six, allowed two hits, one run and no walks.
He had no hits in one at-bat, one walk, and one run.
As a team, the Heartbreakers scored four runs in the first inning, seven more in the second, and four more in the fourth to seal the victory.
Escanaba took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Anna Martin was out on a grounder and scored one run, Avery Fisher was out on a grounder and scored one run and Bella Noblett singled to score two runs.
Lake Linden pitcher Peyton Goldsworthy waits to hit the ball during a game against Hancock in the finals of the Division 4 District 98 Tournament at The Boneyard in Lake Linden on Friday, May 31. (Daver Karnoski/Daily Mining Gazette)
In the bottom of the second, Escanaba only allowed two hits but struck out seven. Ava Hanford walked and scored one run, and Martin grounded out to score two. Hanford tagged up and scored one run on a wild pitch. Finally, Eden Risch tripled to score two runs.
Emma Palat took over for Goldsworthy for the Heartbreakers and pitched one scoreless inning. She allowed one hit, struck out zero and walked one.
Escanaba combined for eight hits in the game. Richet, Abby Darkos and Noblett each had two hits. Richet, Martin and Noblett each had three RBIs.
Palat led the team with three walks. Overall, the team showed strong eyes at the plate, earning seven walks in the game.
Delcos also stole two bases in the game.
In the second game against the Suburban Athletics, Palat started and pitched three innings, giving up three hits and four runs, two of which were earned. Goldsworthy came in as a relief pitcher, striking out five batters and giving up two hits and two runs in two innings, earning the loss.
At the plate, Goldsworthy was 1-for-2 with a hit.
Darkos scored the Heartbreakers’ only run in the top of the first inning when she drew a walk and two batters later Martin hit a fly ball, reached first base on a defensive error and scored from third base.
Suburban Athletics scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and, although they didn’t score any more until the fourth inning, it was enough to hold off Escanaba.
In the third game on Saturday, Goldsworthy ignited the Heartbreakers’ offense with two home runs and finished with five RBIs as Escanaba cruised to an easy victory in just two innings.
Goldsworthy hit his first home run, an inside-the-park home run in the first inning that scored two runs, and his second in the second inning, also an inside-the-park play, that scored three runs.
Escanaba took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Martin scored two runs on a double, Fisher scored one on a single and Goldsworthy hit a home run.
In the top of the second inning, the Heartbreakers scored 13 points.
Ava Hanford hit a grounder to score one run, an error scored another, and Goldsworthy hit her second inside-the-park home run to score three runs.
Risch singled to score one run. Gabby Parlato singled to score one run. Hanford singled to score two more runs. An error scored one run. Emma Parlato singled to score two runs. Finally, Fisher singled to score the final run.
Goldsworthy was great at the plate but was just as good at the pitching end, holding the Bulldogs hitless over two innings of work and striking out four.
Escanaba had 15 hits in the game. Delcos, Martin, Fisher, Emma Parlato, Noblett and Goldsworthy each had two hits.
