THREE-PEAT! GLADSTONE GIRLS WIN STATES!
WYOMING, Mich.---The best summer in more than a decade for the Delta County Little League teams got even better on Wednesday as the Gladstone 9-10 Girls won a state championship in suburban Grand Rapids. The girls' victory followed just days after the Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) and Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) won their own state championships. Those two teams play in the regionals this weekend in Ohio and Indiana, respectively. The 9-10 age group does not compete at the regional or World Series levels.
Andie Balenger celebrates after catching the final out of the championship game.
"Right from the warm-ups, and into the dugout, they were locked and loaded and ready to go," he said. "We tell them that as soon as they take the field that it's 'fangs and claws', and they were ready today." Brittany Schwartz pitched a complete-game two-hitter, and she drove in the winning run with a triple, to lead Gladstone to a 2-0 win over Freeland. "I feel awesome," she said after the game. Schwartz allowed only two base runners: a one-out single to Jess Kelsey in the fourth inning, and a one-out single to Lily Beyer in the sixth. She struck out eight batters and did not issue a walk. So, what was her pitching plan in this championship game? "Just to strike them out, and then we could get done with the game!" Schwartz said. Schwartz helped her own cause when Gladstone scored its only runs in the fourth inning. Andie Balenger drew a walk to start the inning, and then she stole second base. Schwartz hit one over the right fielder's head, and then she started running. It ended up being a triple, and Balenger scored.
Brittany Schwartz was in control.
Schwartz scored moments later on a close play at the plate after a passed ball. Freeland's pitcher, Cat Talaga, threw well. She struck out 12 batters, and Schwartz's triple was the only hit she allowed. Talaga also walked two batters. But Schwartz was in complete command in the circle, and when Freeland did hit the ball, her defense was solid. Maddie Ahlgren made a sweet catch in center field, Taelor Zeise had three plays at first, and the game ended when Balenger caught a soft line drive at second base. A total team effort for the Purple and White. "They (Freeland) had some pretty good bats," Coach Schwartz said. "Brittany was hitting her spots and kind of kept them off-balance a little bit. And we made some really nice defensive plays in the field." And when it was over, the girls grabbed the big ice water bucket and tracked him down. "It actually felt good," he said. "It was pretty warm out here today." The girls got their individual trophies, the state championship trophy, and the state championship banner. The awards were presented on the field by Judy and Jim Tochterman, who were instrumental in starting softball in Delta County in 1978. Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos taken by Kammie Burks, along with celebration videos and audio replays. |