SOGGY WIN: Gladstone Beats Weather, Cheboygan

TECUMSEH---The Gladstone Major Little League All-Star (age 11-12) softball team jumped to a big early lead and cruised to a 15-5 win over Cheboygan on a rainy afternoon Tuesday in Tecumseh. The win moves the Gladstone girls to the state semifinals on Wednesday against Grandville.

The game was played in a steady rain, but the field held up well, with very few puddles to be found. But the ball was certainly tough to grip, and that could be why there were multiple wild pitches and passed balls throughout the contest.

After going through three tight games in pool play, the 4-0 lead after the first inning was a welcome change for Gladstone pitcher Montgomery Pepin, who, for the most part, handled the slippery situation well. It appeared that she would have a four-inning, 10-0 shutout, but three errors kept the fourth inning going and Cheboygan scored five runs.

The big hit for the District 13 chapions was a bases-loaded double by right fielder Marley Couture, bringing home three of the Chebougan runs. Couture also ripped a double off a Pepin change-up in the third inning, but that hit did not lead to a run.

Gladstone's lead was down to 10-5, but the girls scored five runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game on the mercy rule. Tia Schone had the big hit that inning: a bases-loaded single that brought home two runs. The game ended, naturally, on a wild pitch.

Earlier, Reese Herioux had a two-run single in the first inning, and Lauren Sundwuist had a run-scoring single in the third inning.

Gladstone also ran the bases aggressively, with numerous stolen bases (although one runner was thrown out trying to steal home).

Gladstone leadoff hitter Addie Trombley had three hits, including a bunt single, and she scored three times. Sundquist also scored three times and had two hits.

Pepin allowed just three hits, and three of the five runs against her were unearned. She struck out eight batters and walked just one.

Amelia Johnson took the loss for Cheboygan, as she went just two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk. She also hit two batters. Libby Van Fleet threw the final three innings, allowing eleven runs on seven hits.

In the other quarterfinal games on Tuesday, Grandville mercied Grosse Pointe, 12-2; Evart shut out Clare, 3-0; and Vicksburg topped Kalamazoo Westwood, 10-2.

Gladstone will face Grandville in the semifinal at 11:00 Wednesday morning. The game will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

The other semifinal will see Vicksburg play Evart, and then the championship game will be played Wednesday at 2:30. The winner of this tournament advances to the Central Regional in Indianapolis, starting next Monday.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights taken by Amy Sundquist.

Also see post-game interviews with Addie Trombley and Samantha Drielick, and listen to post-game comments with Coach Rick Pepin.