Menominee Nation erupts late, tops Manawa 19-6 to end skid

Menominee Nation turned a one-run game into a statement with a 14-run burst over the final two innings, burying Manawa 19-6 and snapping a skid that had hung over the Eagles’ early season. The game was still within reach after three innings, with Menominee Nation holding only a 4-3 lead, before the offense surged for two runs in the fifth, seven in the sixth and seven more in the seventh.

The outburst gave Brandon Frechette’s team its clearest sign yet that the rebuilding effort at Menominee Nation High School in Keshena may be starting to take shape. The Eagles finished with 18 hits, their highest total in a game this season, and stole eight bases as they kept pressure on the Manawa defense from start to finish.

CJ Pyawasay set the tone at the plate with two doubles and a triple, finishing with seven total bases. Craig Penass and Caleb Grignon also delivered big nights, adding to an attack that repeatedly found gaps and forced the Wolves to keep making plays. The combination of contact, speed and extra-base power was enough to turn a close contest into a lopsided result by the end of the night.

The pitching side was just as important. August Nahwahquaw and Pyawasay combined for 10 strikeouts, helping keep Menominee Nation in front long enough for the offense to break open the game. That balance mattered after a difficult stretch, because the Eagles were not just winning with one big inning. They were controlling the game on both sides.

The win lifted Menominee Nation to 4-11 overall in Central Wisconsin-East and Division 3, according to the WIAA listing for the program. Manawa fell to 0-12, and the loss extended its road frustration to 18 straight defeats away from home dating back to last season.

For Menominee Nation, the result carried more weight than a single line in the standings. The Eagles entered 2026 looking to rebuild after a 3-17 season in 2025, and they had already shown an offensive ceiling against Manawa earlier this spring in a 19-9 win on April 14. This time, the late surge looked even more complete, giving the program a needed confidence boost and a benchmark for the stretch ahead.