Gladstone Cruises Past Mistake-Prone Broncos, 11-0
Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos taken by Brad Landis, and to hear post-game comments from Noah Peterson and Aedan Creten
GLADSTONE---The Gladstone High School baseball team took advantage of seven Bark River-Harris errors and posted an 11-0 victory Tuesday afternoon at Don Olsen Field.
It was a typical early-season game with the teams not having any practice time outdoors thanks to lingering winterlike conditions. It was especially true for the Broncos, who struggled to judge (and catch) fly balls, something that can't be practiced very well inside of a gym.And BR-H Manager Al Botwright has an almost entirely new line
up after having many top players graduate last year.
It was only the second game of the season for both teams, and the Braves seemed to handle it much better than their rocky outing last week against Iron Mountain.
Noah Peterson limited the Broncos to one base hit in his two innings of pitching, and Gavin Frossard threw the final two innings, allowing one base hit as well.
The game was called by the mercy rule after four innings.
Aeden Creten had a two-run single to left field in the second inning after getting behind two strikes in the count.
"It felt great," Creten said. "We came out hot and the bats were hot. Much better than last week. Less errors, better hitting, I felt I hit pretty good. I wasn't as nervous at the plate. I was way more relaxed."
"I just threw fastball, curveball," Peterson said. "The curveball was working well, so I was just doing my thing. And I knew I would have good defense behind me and they'd have my back. I stayed warm through most of it. I was sweating at some points. I just didn't want my arm to get cold."
Peterson, and all of Gladstone's pitchers, are being directed by Don Lauscher, who started the Braves baseball program in 2013 and won 158 of 209 games in his six years as manager.
Lauscher retired in 2018, after leading the Braves to five regional championships and three appearances in the state semifinals.
Four years after retiring as manager, he's back, solely as a pitching coach for new Braves Manager Joe Darmogray.
"It's absolutely amazing," Peterson said. "He's taught me many things. He's helping with all of us."
On Tuesday, the Braves scored three runs in the first inning and seven more in the second to quickly remove any suspense about the outcome. The Broncos struggled to catch fly balls, starting with Tyler Darmogray's fly to center field that was misjudged and ended up in three bases. Nick Martin then hit a pop fly that nobody could catch between short and second.
It was that kind of day for the Broncos, and hard-luck pitcher Travis Mack, who was tagged for nine runs in 1 2/3 innings of work. Only three of those runs were earned.
Mack is one of the few veteran players on this year's BR-H roster.
BR-H started the game against Peterson with a Joe Javurek base hit and a walk to Mack, but Peterson got the next three outs.
The only other Bronco to reach base was Mason Bower, who singled against reliever Frossard in the fourth inning. He was later thrown out trying to steal second base by Gladstone's catcher, Martin.
By that time, Gladstone already had more than enough runs to earn its first win of the season after nearly erasing an 8-0 deficit in a 9-8 loss to Iron Mountain last week.
Braden Sundquist and Martin both had two hits for Gladstone.
Creten says the boys are still trying to get into "baseball mode" after a long winter that just doesn't want to end.
"We've been practicing in the Turf (Wells indoor facility) and we've only been on the field once, and we just did fly balls," Creten said. "Mostly just hitting in the Turf and taking ground balls. It's hard with the weather, when we can't get on the field."
The Braves have some big early-season games later this week, hosting potential district tournament opponent Negaunee on Thursday and traveling to Escanaba on Friday.
Negaunee lost its season opener in Kingsford Tuesday night, 5-0, as Sawyer Pugh handcuffed the Miners.
Escanaba split two games in Wisconsin Dells April 9. The Eskymos haven't played since, with multiple cancellations. They will play Thursday in Manistique before facing the Braves.
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