GLADSTONE---If the Gladstone Indians are going to win the Mid Pen League title this summer, they will have to find ways to pull out close victories.
The team has done a good job of doing that so far this season, and Tuesday night, the Indians managed to squeak past the Kingsford Blues, 4-3, at Don Olsen Field.
Cody Frazer hit a three-run homer to give the Indians an early lead, and Blake Ballard seemed to be in complete control on the mound. But the Blues put on a late-inning rally to almost steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
Gladstone scored all four of its runs against Kingsford pitcher Nick Swieg in the bottom of the third inning, and all with two outs.
Matt Weyers led off with a walk, but Christian Groleau failed to bunt him over, popping up to the pitcher. Weyers was doubled off first, so there were two outs and no base runners.
But Paul Tomasewzski walked and Justin Jurek was hit by a pitch. That's when Frazer lined the second pitch he saw over the 350 sign in left center field for a three-run homer.
Jared Stenson then doubled and Jake Pearson delivered an RBI single to increase the lead to 4-0. That was it for Swieg, who was replaced on the mound by C.J. Qualley on the mound.
And the Indians did not score off him the rest of the game in almost four innings of work.
Still, it appeared that the four-run lead would be enough, as Ballard allowed just two base hits in five innings of work. But in baseball, things can change quickly.
And in the top of the sixth inning, Kingsford made a comeback as Ian Wienke lanuched a three-run homer, scoring Matt Wiitanen and Shawn Sexton. It was 4-3, and in the seventh inning, the Blues threatened against Indians reliever Jake Pearson.
Kyle Sexton led off with a routine fly to left that Weyers lost in the night sky.
Qualley bunted Sexton to second, but Pearson got Austin Murdock to fly to right for the second out. Sexton went to third on a passed ball, but Wiitanen flew out to end the game.
Ballard earned the win on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits in six innings of work.
He struck out five and walked five. Pearson tossed one inning and got the save.
Gladstone (17-2) hosts the Marquette Blues Thursday night at 6:30.
The team has done a good job of doing that so far this season, and Tuesday night, the Indians managed to squeak past the Kingsford Blues, 4-3, at Don Olsen Field.
Cody Frazer hit a three-run homer to give the Indians an early lead, and Blake Ballard seemed to be in complete control on the mound. But the Blues put on a late-inning rally to almost steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
Gladstone scored all four of its runs against Kingsford pitcher Nick Swieg in the bottom of the third inning, and all with two outs.
Gladstone's Cody Frazer rounds first base.
But Paul Tomasewzski walked and Justin Jurek was hit by a pitch. That's when Frazer lined the second pitch he saw over the 350 sign in left center field for a three-run homer.
Jared Stenson then doubled and Jake Pearson delivered an RBI single to increase the lead to 4-0. That was it for Swieg, who was replaced on the mound by C.J. Qualley on the mound.
And the Indians did not score off him the rest of the game in almost four innings of work.
Still, it appeared that the four-run lead would be enough, as Ballard allowed just two base hits in five innings of work. But in baseball, things can change quickly.
And in the top of the sixth inning, Kingsford made a comeback as Ian Wienke lanuched a three-run homer, scoring Matt Wiitanen and Shawn Sexton. It was 4-3, and in the seventh inning, the Blues threatened against Indians reliever Jake Pearson.
Blake Ballard earned the pitching win.
Qualley bunted Sexton to second, but Pearson got Austin Murdock to fly to right for the second out. Sexton went to third on a passed ball, but Wiitanen flew out to end the game.
Ballard earned the win on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits in six innings of work.
He struck out five and walked five. Pearson tossed one inning and got the save.
Gladstone (17-2) hosts the Marquette Blues Thursday night at 6:30.
