Gladstone Indians Drop Opener At State Tourney
Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Gladstone Manager Joe Darmogray. Also click to see videos of the Breckenridge vs Three Oaks game, won by Three Oaks, 9-2.
MARQUETTE---The Gladstone Indians American Legion baseball team had one bad inning of defense and couldn't get the big hit on offense, and lost to the Gaylord Baseball Club, 3-2, in the first game of the Michigan Class A state tournament Thursday in Marquette.
Isiah Brow pitched a complete game for the Indians, allowing four hits, but three unearned runs against him in the fifth inning told the tale of the game.
Gladstone managed only three hits against two Gaylord pitchers, and failed to fully take advantage of six walks that gave the Indians plenty of scoring chances.
“That's been the story of the middle part of our season,” Gladstone Manager Joe Darmogray said. “It's like, when we get guys in scoring position, every single time, we get up there, we pop up the ball. We have miscues on bunts. If you're gonna bunt, you can't bunt it right back to the pitcher.”
Gladstone's only runs came thanks to the speed of four-year player Tyler Darmogray. In the third inning, he was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and slid home after a ground ball by Casey Alworden.
The 1-0 lead lasted only until the fifth inning, when the Gladstone defense fell apart. With one out, Ethan Ford hit a fly ball to left field. Gavin Frossrd appeared to lose it in the sun, and Ford cruised into second base. On the next play, Peyton DeWeerd put down a perfect up the third base line. Brow fielded it, and threw it away for an error that tied the game at 1-1.
That brought up the top of the order, and Torino Lamerato punched a base hit through a shifted infield, bringing in the go-ahead run for Gaylord. And Gaylord scored an insurance run Rylan Rosso popped up to Aedan Creten at firsr base. Creten tried to get a second out at third base, but his throw went off of Austin Pepin's glove, allowing Lamerato to score.
Trailing 3-1, the Indians had a chance to get even in the bottom half. Darmogray walked, and it looked like Alworden would have a solid base hit to left field. But Rosso dove, stabbed the ball, and threw across the diamond just in time to retire Alworden, and Darmogray raced over to third base.
Darmogray then scored on a Creten sacrifice fly, cutting the Gaylord lead to 3-2.
Isaac Ketchum followed with a base hit, but pinch hitter Cooper Curtis flew out to end the inning.
In the sixth inning, Trevor Throbahn walked, stole second, and went to third on a grounder. But Johnny Soderman popped up to end that threat,
Earlier in the game, Gladstone had runners at first and second with no outs twice, but didn't score either time. The second time, Thorbahn bunted, but right back to the pitcher.
Brow deserved better, walking only one batter while striking out five batters.
“Isaiah pitched a hell of a game for us,” Coach Darmogray said. “You can't ask for anything more. But we have one bad inning and have three errors because we want to throw the ball around. And, you're just never going to beat anybody with three hits. That's that it boils down to.”
For Gaylord, J.T. Greenier got the start and threw three innings, allowing one run on two hits and four walks. Ford ended up the winning pitcher in relief, allowing one run on one hit in four innings.
Gaylord improved to 15-9 on the season, and will face the host Post 44 Blues Thursday night. Gladstone fell to 12-10 and will play in a loser's bracket game Friday morning at 9 am against Breckenridge.
