Cloquet Softball Tops Esko 6-3

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Cloquet 6

Esko 3

April 20

Joe Vork-NSO

The Cloquet and Esko girls’ softball teams met Monday at Braun Park with Cloquet coming away with the 6-3 victory. In a strange twist, Cloquet was the visiting team in their home ballpark due to field conditions in Esko. The “visiting” Lumberjacks broke open a close game with a five-run sixth inning to secure their fifth win of the season.

Esko opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Farah Wirtz, who led off the inning with a single, scored when Cloquet pitcher Katrina Korman was unable to handle a Steph Miller hit. It appeared that Esko would take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kari Palmi tagged up and scored on a Kelsey Saralampi fly ball to Cloquet’s left fielder. However, the run was later disallowed when it was determined that the Esko base runner, who was on second base at the time, left early and was called out.

Cloquet would answer Esko’s run in the top of the fifth inning when Dalyce Gustafson led off with her first of two singles of the day. She later scored when Carley Esse singled to left-center field. Esko retaliated with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to gain a 2-1 advantage. Steph Miller scored when teammate Kortney Lindberg lifted a sacrifice fly to the center fielder. The lead, however, was short-lived.

Cloquet would score five runs in an exciting and entertaining top of the sixth inning. Courtney Esse and Katrina Korman opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Shania Paulson filled the base pads when she reached base on an error. With the bases loaded, Dalyce Gustafson pounded a single to left-center field, scoring Esse and Kayla Masessa, who was pinch running for Korman. Cloquet would score and additional three runs before the inning was over. Esko tallied their final run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the final score would be 6-3 on a chilly night in Cloquet.

Katrina Korman, who is undefeated this year, picked up the win for the Jacks who are now 5-0 on the season. Kelsey Saralampi was tagged with the loss for the Eskomos who drop to 2-2 on the year.

Cloquet is back in action tomorrow against Hibbing, Thursday against Grand Rapids, and finish the week against Duluth Marshall. Esko is also back in action tomorrow against Cromwell, Thursday against Carlton, and Saturday against Monticello.