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DOWNSTATE AGAIN: Braves Pull Out Late Victory
 Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos taken by GHS student Jayger Quinn, and click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Austin Pepin, Johnny Soderman, and Braves Manager Tyler Swanson.
GLADSTONE---Survive and advance.
That's what the Gladstone High School baseball team did Wednesday night in the MHSAA Division Three regional semifinals against the Houghton Gremlins.
The Braves eeked out a 6-3 win against a depleted Gremlins team, which had burned its top three pitchers in a marathon district tournament on Saturday. The Braves lost a two-run lead in the sixth inning, but regained it with a big three-run rally in the bottom of the inning to punch their ticket to the Super Regionals in Traverse City.
“We seem to not do anything the easy way,” Gladstone Manager Tyler Swanson said. “It makes it that much sweeter. Johnny (Soderman) really stepped up for us today. I can't say enough about what he did. He's a senior, this was his last game on this field. He's played a lot of ball on this field. He got us (with his pitching) all the way there, and then Pep (Austin Pepin) got us over the finish line.”
Soderman threw six innings, scattering seven hits and walking just two batters on 91 pitches. Pepin gave up a one-out single to Hudson Marhkam, but got the next two outs on a strikeout and groundout, ending the game with a Braves victory.
“I felt great,” Pepin said. “I had confidence in everyone, and in myself. I was just told to pitch strikes, and that's what I did, and everyone made the plays that they needed to.”
Pepin also delivered at the plate after the Gremlins had tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. He smoked an RBI base hit to left field to bring home Trevor Thorbahn, and then Casey Alworden followed with a run-scoring single to right to make it 5-3.
Nate Young's sacrifice fly made it a more comfortable 6-3 Gladstone lead.
“Honestly, I think the keys were just scoring however we can,” said Pepin, who was 2-for-3 in the #9 hole for the Braves. “We don't need to crank home runs, doubles, anything. Just get some pokes out there. As long as we're scoring.”
Soderman, meanwhile, threw four shutout innings before yielding a run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth. He allowed seven hits, but walked only two.
“I came locked in,” Soderman said. “Coach told me last night that I was pitching, so I made sure that I got some sleep, iced my arm really well, and came locked in. I don't have a curveball and the change-up wasn't hitting, so I had to throw just nothing but gas. Thank you for my teammates for making all of those plays (on defense).”
Houghton (16-13) got two hits apiece from Markham and Eli Heathman. And after playing 19 innings of pressure baseball on Sunday, the Gremlins had to dig deep into the bullpen, and Henry Switzer did an admirable job, throwing six innings, giving up six runs on six hits and five walks. He used 97 pitches in the loss.
And now the Braves head to Traverse City Central High School for the regional championship game on Saturday against the Charlevoix Rayders. The Rayders (27-10-1) have had a strong season, including a 10-0 win over Grayling in Wednesday's semifinal.
Gladstone (22-13) came out of the game in good shape, though, on the mound, getting through the game without burning its top pitchers.
“You've got to take it one step at a time, and Johnny did enough for us,” Swanson said. “He's the only one who isn't eligible (to pitch Saturday) so I think we managed it right. We rode the wave up and down all season. We had games where we made five or six errors and it cost us some wins early in the year. We struggled with the mental side of coming ready to play. But, now, we seem to have cleaned it up. I'm happy with where we're at.” |
