The 2025 Escanaba softball team poses for a photo with its Lakeshore Championship trophy on April 19, 2025 in Muskegon. (Courtesy photo/Kristen Bowden)

MUSKEGON — Saturday’s trip over the mighty Mackinac Bridge proved to be a successful one for Escanaba softball.

The Eskymos earned three wins while claiming a Lakeshore Tournament championship in Muskegon. Here’s what went down.

Escanaba 5, Muskegon Oakridge 0

Senior Grayson LaMarche was in the circle for Saturday’s opener. What happened next is exactly what Eskymo fans have gotten used to over the last few seasons. But in case you’re tardy to the party, the future University of Michigan Wolverine carried a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings of work in the circle. LaMarche, a two-time First Team All-State selection, surrendered one hit while striking out 16 batters in the win.

The Eskymos (9-1) tacked on three runs in the first with a RBI single from senior Carly Bowden and added two more when a routine groundout by senior McKenzie Engebretson turned into an Oakridge miscue, allowing senior Katey Lamb and junior Breleigh Reinhart, courtesy running for Bowden, to score and take a 3-0 lead.

Junior Cam Buckley added an RBI poke to left field in the fourth and senior Clara Braun followed suit with two outs in the sixth for her second hit of the game.

Junior Chloe Dubord finished 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored.

Escanaba 16, Zeeland East 2

The Eskymos carried a 3-0 lead after one again thanks to an RBI single from Lamb and RBI sacrifice plays from Bowden and Engebretson. Junior Mary Kate Tourangeau added an RBI single in the second for a 4-0 lead.

Then the floodgates opened in the third, leaving the Chix drowning in the metaphorical flood.

Bowden and Engebretson added RBI pokes. Junior Harlee Coolman cranked a two-run home run. Three bases loaded walks, two RBI fielder’s choices, Coolman wearing a pitch with the bases loaded and a two-run double from Tourangeau swelled the lead to 16-0.

Junior Landry Bray earned the win, allowing two earned runs off three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Lamb finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Reinhart went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, a stolen base and an RBI. Tourangeau and Bowden each had multi-hit games.

Escanaba 6, Wayland 3

For the third-straight game the Eskymos tacked on three runs in the first inning. This time it was a two-run home run from Lamb and an RBI single from Coolman.

The Wildcats scored twice in the second and once in the fourth to tie the action at three. Then Braun made a statement to start the orange and black’s half of the sixth.

She cranked the first pitch of her at-bat over the left field fence for a 4-3 lead.

Dubord and Engebretson each added an RBI double in the frame to take a 6-3 lead which held firm for the tournament title.

LaMarche finished 4-for-4 from the plate and allowed three runs (two earned) off seven hits with a walk and 13 strikeouts across seven innings.

Engebretson added three hits and an RBI. Braun finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

What’s next

The Eskymos are scheduled to host Negaunee at 4 p.m. Tuesday for a doubleheader and their home opener.