PITCHER'S DUAL: Kelly, Schlenvogt Throw Gems

ESCANABA---It was an old fashioned pitcher's dual late Thursday night as the Gladstone Indians beat the Escanaba Cubs, 1-0, at Al Ness Field.

Ben Kelly threw a no-hitter for Gladstone, while Escanaba's Johhny Schlenvogt allowed just one disputed infield base hit in a losing effort.

"For me, it was a ton of defense," Kelly said. "I didn't strike that many people out, but I had super-solid defense behind me. Johnny, on the other hand, threw lights out. I've gotta hand it to him. He pitched phenominally."

"We both said (before the game), hey, let's both just throw perfect games," Schlenvogt said. "We were talking in the dugout, if you take away one decently-poor call, and we both had no hitters."

The game, scheduled for a 7:00 start, didn't begin until 8:38, because of an extra-long junior game between Escanaba and Gladstone that took three hours to play. But for those who stayed, it was worth the wait as both pitchers, and both teams, played well.

Gladstone got its only base hit in the third inning when Ean Terrian was called safe at first base after hitting a chooper over Schlenvogt's head. Cubs Manager Jon Bintner argued the call, but to no avail. Schlenvogt walked the next man, Caden Alworden, but got out of the inning when Carson Shea popped up and Terrian got doubled off of second base.

It stayed0-0 into the fifth inning, with Schlenvogt and Kelly matching each other pitch for pitch. Parker Frappier led off the fifth inning with a nine-pitch at-bat and drew a walk, and he was bunted to second by Terrian. Alworden laced a line drive to left field that Drew Rodman appeared to have a beat on, but he missed the ball, and the run scored.

"Drew thought he was right on it, and he just took his eye off it right at the last second," Schlenvogt said. "It went right off his glove. He apologized to me, and I said, hey, you know, we should be in this game, because we have to be able to get some hits."

Escanaba (2-13) had a final chance in the bottom of the seventh inning as Riley Lamb walked to lead off and Noah Lancour drew a two-out walk.

Ayden Hanson got ahead in the count, 3-1, but Kelly got two high strike calls to end the game on the strikeout.

"I was kind of aiming them," Kelly admitted. "Throughout the night, they were swinging at a lot of high stuff, and I knew I wanted to push it up in the zone, and in, if I could. So, I was kind of focusing too much on that."

"I kind of got to the point where I was, alright, I've just got to throw. I know how to throw. So, I pretty much just did that, and it went where I wanted it."

Kelly struck out seven batters, five of them in the final two innings. He walked three batters, and the Gladstone defense was flawless behind him.

For Schlenvogt, it was a bitter loss after his best pitching performance of the season. He walked five batters and allowed just that one disputed infield single. He fanned five batters. The Cubs committed two errors on defense.

Gladstone (11-6) travels to Green Bay again on Sunday to face the Green Bay Shockers in a 2:00 ET game at Joannes Park. Escanaba is off until next week.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Sheila Olsen, watch a video of the final out, and listen to post-game comments from Schlenvogt and Kelly.