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MARQUETTE — Cold, windy and ragged conditions played a role in the first game of the Tri Star Celebration Reds Early Bird American Legion Baseball Tournament between rivals Escanaba and Gladstone on Saturday at Gerard Haley Field in Marquette.


The cold didn’t stop Esky pitcher Jared Dagenais leading his team to a 13-7 win with six strikeouts in 3¢ innings and two triples from the plate.


After Ishpeming and Hancock dropped out of the tournament, the rivals were pitted against each other to start off the day. 


Players did their best to stay warm, dancing around in the infield wearing sweatshirts under their jerseys and replacing their caps with winter hats and ear flaps.


Despite many solid plays throughout the game, the cold conditions contributed to some defensive errors for both teams that resulted in quite a few hits and the high score.


Dagenais picked up his first triple with a line drive to right field in the third inning and ended up scoring. He came up just a few feet short of the home run into center field, with the second triple.


Dagenais wasn’t the only one out there making things happen as Esky’s Dillan Schlenvoht picked up four strikeouts in the opening 3¢ innings.


Esky coach — and Jared’s father — Mike Dagenais said it was great to get out there and get in some swings.


“It was nice to get out here and get some swings, but it was a cold one,” Dagenais said. “I had 13 guys that were willing to come out after Hancock and Ishpeming dropped out of the tournament. It was a good day, aside from the weather.”


Gladstone didn’t go quietly though, after being set back by some weather induced defensive errors early on in the game.