Menominee Nation scores in every inning, tops Manawa 19-9

Menominee Nation put a run on the board in every inning and turned a steady spring start into a 19-9 rout of Manawa on Tuesday, April 14, in Keshena. The Eagles finished with 17 hits, scored nine runs in the sixth inning to break the game open, and picked up their first victory of the 2026 season.

The offense was paced by Caleb Grignon, who went 5-for-5 with three runs scored, three RBIs and two stolen bases. His five hits were a new career-high, a sign that Menominee Nation got production from more than one place in the lineup. Craig Penass added a 2-for-4 night with three runs and two doubles, while Anikosaeh Corn went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a double. With Grignon, Penass and Corn all delivering extra-base hits, the Eagles did not have to lean on one big inning alone to take control.

That kind of balance matters for Brandon Frechette’s team. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association lists Menominee Nation as a Division 3 varsity baseball program in the Central Wisconsin-East conference, with a reported enrollment of 376. The Eagles entered the game at 0-2, so the win moved them to 1-2 and offered an early sign that the lineup may be starting to settle in after a rough opening stretch.

The result also carried some added weight. Menominee Nation’s 10-run margin was its biggest since April 14, 2025, when it beat Manawa 15-5. It also served as payback for the Eagles after their previous loss to the Wolves, 13-8. In a small-school setting where one or two players can swing a season, a game like this can matter well beyond a single scoreline.

The schedule pointed to another immediate test, with Bonduel visiting at home on April 16 and a rematch with Manawa set for May 11. If Menominee Nation keeps producing contact, speed and timely extra-base power like it did against the Wolves, this win could become the moment the Eagles began to look like a real presence in conference play.