SAULT STE. MARIE----Jim Groleau is not a big fan of the American Legion pitching rules for the Upper Peninsula Zone Championships that are under way in Sault Ste. Marie.
First of all, these are nine inning games, rather than the usual seven. And the tournament is scheduled to be over in three days, with several possible doubleheaders. And a kid can only pitch 12 innings in the entire tournament. Total.
So the Gladstone Indians manager tried to conserve the innings-pitched of his ace, Blake Ballard on Thursday, and it almost cost him.
The Indians nearly blew a 4-0 lead, but hung on to beat Hancock, 9-6, at Sault Ste. Marie's James Field.
"I had Blake cruising along with a four-hitter through five innings, but I had to pull him or burn him for the entire tournament," Groleau said. "It makes it really tough."
What was also tough was the relief pitching that he brought in had trouble throwing strikes. Matt Weyers gave up a hit and then walked three straight Hancock players, so it was 4-1.
Then, Justin Jurek came in and walked two more, and so it was 4-3. The 15-year-old Jurek was able to compose himself, however. With the bases loaded and no outs, he got two strikeouts and a come-backer to the mound, so the threat was over.
Gladstone then scored four runs in the seventh inning, with Paul Tomaszewski ripping one off the third baseman's glove for an RBI hit. And Peyton Jurek came through with a single that scored two runs, giving Gladstone a seemingly-safe 8-3 lead.
But in these nine-inning games, no lead is safe. Hancock closed to within 9-6 and had runners at first and third, but Jurek got a grounder to end the ballgame.
"A win is a win," Groleau said. "But when you give up ten hits and walk nine more, there's a lot of luck involved too."
Earlier in the game, the Indians scored three runs in the first inning on RBI hits by the Rapid River boys, Hayden Hardwick and Jake Pearson.
Ballard pitched five innings to get the win. Justin Jurek threw the final four innings to get a save.
Tomaszewski led the Indians with three hits, while Cody Frazer, Pearson, and Peyton Jurek all getting two hits. Gladstone had 13 hits in all.
Tyler LaDuron had four base hits to lead the Hancock offense.
The Indians (36-9) play twice on Friday. The first game is against Kingsford at 9:00 in the morning. Then the Tribe will play Channing at 3:00. We will continue to post updates on this web site throughout the weekend tournament.
2012 Upper Peninsula Zone Tournament
At Sault Ste. Marie
Pool A (Top 2 advance)
Menominee.....................................1-0
Eastern U.P.....................................1-0
Escanaba........................................1-1
Marquette.......................................0-2
Pool B (Top 2 advance)
Kingsford........................................1-0
Gladstone........................................1-0
Hancock..........................................0-1
Channing.........................................0-1
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Escanaba 13, Marquette 3
Kingsford 3, Channing 1
Gladstone 9, Hancock 6
Menominee 5, Escanaba 2
Sault Ste. Marie 2, Marquette 1
Friday, July 27, 2012
9:00 am @Soo---Gladstone vs Kingsford
9;30 @Rudyard---Hancock vs Channing
Noon @Soo---Escanaba vs Sault Ste. Marie
2:30 @Rudyard---Marquette vs Menominee
3:00 @Soo---Gladstone vs Channing
5:30 @Rudyard---Sault Ste. Marie vs Menominee
6:00 @Soo---Hancock vs Kingsford
Saturday, July 28, 2012
10 a.m.---Semifinal: Pool B #1 vs Pool A #2 @Rudyard
10:30---Semifinal: Pool A #1 vs Pool B #2 @Soo
1:30---Championship Game @Soo
NOTE----An additional game may be needed to determine the fourth U.P. team to make it to the state tournament. This would happen if Marquette is amongst the Final Four. This game would be played at 1:30 in Rudyard.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more pictures, taken by Kym Frazer. Thanks again!
First of all, these are nine inning games, rather than the usual seven. And the tournament is scheduled to be over in three days, with several possible doubleheaders. And a kid can only pitch 12 innings in the entire tournament. Total.
Blake Ballard threw five shutout innings.
The Indians nearly blew a 4-0 lead, but hung on to beat Hancock, 9-6, at Sault Ste. Marie's James Field.
"I had Blake cruising along with a four-hitter through five innings, but I had to pull him or burn him for the entire tournament," Groleau said. "It makes it really tough."
What was also tough was the relief pitching that he brought in had trouble throwing strikes. Matt Weyers gave up a hit and then walked three straight Hancock players, so it was 4-1.
Then, Justin Jurek came in and walked two more, and so it was 4-3. The 15-year-old Jurek was able to compose himself, however. With the bases loaded and no outs, he got two strikeouts and a come-backer to the mound, so the threat was over.
Gladstone then scored four runs in the seventh inning, with Paul Tomaszewski ripping one off the third baseman's glove for an RBI hit. And Peyton Jurek came through with a single that scored two runs, giving Gladstone a seemingly-safe 8-3 lead.
Jared Stenson is off and running.
"A win is a win," Groleau said. "But when you give up ten hits and walk nine more, there's a lot of luck involved too."
Earlier in the game, the Indians scored three runs in the first inning on RBI hits by the Rapid River boys, Hayden Hardwick and Jake Pearson.
Ballard pitched five innings to get the win. Justin Jurek threw the final four innings to get a save.
Tomaszewski led the Indians with three hits, while Cody Frazer, Pearson, and Peyton Jurek all getting two hits. Gladstone had 13 hits in all.
Tyler LaDuron had four base hits to lead the Hancock offense.
The Indians (36-9) play twice on Friday. The first game is against Kingsford at 9:00 in the morning. Then the Tribe will play Channing at 3:00. We will continue to post updates on this web site throughout the weekend tournament.
2012 Upper Peninsula Zone Tournament
At Sault Ste. Marie
Pool A (Top 2 advance)
Menominee.....................................1-0
Eastern U.P.....................................1-0
Escanaba........................................1-1
Marquette.......................................0-2
Pool B (Top 2 advance)
Kingsford........................................1-0
Gladstone........................................1-0
Hancock..........................................0-1
Channing.........................................0-1
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Escanaba 13, Marquette 3
Kingsford 3, Channing 1
Gladstone 9, Hancock 6
Menominee 5, Escanaba 2
Sault Ste. Marie 2, Marquette 1
Friday, July 27, 2012
9:00 am @Soo---Gladstone vs Kingsford
9;30 @Rudyard---Hancock vs Channing
Noon @Soo---Escanaba vs Sault Ste. Marie
2:30 @Rudyard---Marquette vs Menominee
3:00 @Soo---Gladstone vs Channing
5:30 @Rudyard---Sault Ste. Marie vs Menominee
6:00 @Soo---Hancock vs Kingsford
Saturday, July 28, 2012
10 a.m.---Semifinal: Pool B #1 vs Pool A #2 @Rudyard
10:30---Semifinal: Pool A #1 vs Pool B #2 @Soo
1:30---Championship Game @Soo
NOTE----An additional game may be needed to determine the fourth U.P. team to make it to the state tournament. This would happen if Marquette is amongst the Final Four. This game would be played at 1:30 in Rudyard.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more pictures, taken by Kym Frazer. Thanks again!
