MARQUETTE----It's not often that the scoreboard reads "11-11-11" at an American Legion Baseball game. But that's exactly what happened on Thursday as the Gladstone Indians battled defending state champion Hudson in the state tournament opener at Marquette's Haley Field. The score was tied at 11-11 in the eleventh inning before the defending champs scored twice to beat the Indians, 13-11.
"We left everything we had on the field today, we just couldn't ever get the lead," Indians Manager Jim Groleau said. "To keep battling back is a credit to our kids...they we're not going to quit. Hudson is a good team and we took them the distance and then some, they knew they were in a ballgame today."
Indeed. Every time it looked like the downstate team would pull away for the win, the Indians battled back. Gladstone came from behind twice from three-run deficits, and then came from five runs down in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 11-11.
Hudson eventually won the game by scoring twice in the top of the eleventh inning. Matt Weyers walked the first batters in the inning, so Groleau brought in his closer, Justin Jurek. Jurek almost worked out of the jam, but Hudson's Tommy Cox lifted a bloop single to left with two outs to score the runs.
Gladstone loaded the bases again in the bottom of the 11th inning on singles by Cody Frazer, Jake Pearson and Jared Stenson. But Blake Ballard lined out to the first baseman to end the game. Those three stranded runners made for 17 stranded runners all told.
"We just can't leave 17 runners on base," Groleau said. "We had the chances but never got the big hit when we needed it."
Hudson took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning by scoring three times (with two outs) off of Indians starter Ballard.
But the Indians tied it in the fourth inning.
Hardwick had a leadoff-double and Pearson was hit by a pitch. Stenson doubled home Hardwick. Then Ballard and Weyers had RBI singles.
The Indians still had the bases loaded wigth no outs but did not score again that inning.
Hudson took a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning on a walk, error, and three straight singles to lead 5-3 after five innings.
Ballard was lifted on the mound for Weyers and Hudson added a run in the sixth inning on a two-out error and an RBI double by Adam Simmons. Simmons had four hits.
Down 6-3, Peyton Jurek's two-out, two-run single brought Gladstone to within 6-5. The Indians tied the game in the seventh inning as Pearson was hit by a pitch and later scored when Weyers drew a bases-loaded walk.
So, it was 6-6 entering the ninth inning, and it appeared that Hudson had the game in the bank when the defending champs scored five runs by playing some "small ball". Several bunts, including a squeeze with the bases loaded, put them in front.
Indeed. Every time it looked like the downstate team would pull away for the win, the Indians battled back. Gladstone came from behind twice from three-run deficits, and then came from five runs down in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 11-11.
Hudson eventually won the game by scoring twice in the top of the eleventh inning. Matt Weyers walked the first batters in the inning, so Groleau brought in his closer, Justin Jurek. Jurek almost worked out of the jam, but Hudson's Tommy Cox lifted a bloop single to left with two outs to score the runs.
Gladstone loaded the bases again in the bottom of the 11th inning on singles by Cody Frazer, Jake Pearson and Jared Stenson. But Blake Ballard lined out to the first baseman to end the game. Those three stranded runners made for 17 stranded runners all told.
Cody Frazer sets up behind the plate.
Hudson took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning by scoring three times (with two outs) off of Indians starter Ballard.
But the Indians tied it in the fourth inning.
Hardwick had a leadoff-double and Pearson was hit by a pitch. Stenson doubled home Hardwick. Then Ballard and Weyers had RBI singles.
The Indians still had the bases loaded wigth no outs but did not score again that inning.
Hudson took a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning on a walk, error, and three straight singles to lead 5-3 after five innings.
Ballard was lifted on the mound for Weyers and Hudson added a run in the sixth inning on a two-out error and an RBI double by Adam Simmons. Simmons had four hits.
Down 6-3, Peyton Jurek's two-out, two-run single brought Gladstone to within 6-5. The Indians tied the game in the seventh inning as Pearson was hit by a pitch and later scored when Weyers drew a bases-loaded walk.
Matt Weyers throws in relief of Blake Ballard.
But the Indians rallied again. Ballard led off with a walk, and with one out, Justin Jurek also walked.
Paul Tomaszewski, Peyton Jurek and Frazer followed with singles to cut the lead to 11-9. Hardwick grounded out to deep short scoring Peyton Jurek.
Then Pearson beat out an infield single to score frazer to tie the game at 11-11. But the Indians couldn't get the winning run home, and ended up with a tough loss.
Besides Stenson's four hits, Pearson and Ballard each had three base hits.
Paul Tomaszewski, Peyton Jurek and Frazer followed with singles to cut the lead to 11-9. Hardwick grounded out to deep short scoring Peyton Jurek.
Then Pearson beat out an infield single to score frazer to tie the game at 11-11. But the Indians couldn't get the winning run home, and ended up with a tough loss.
Besides Stenson's four hits, Pearson and Ballard each had three base hits.
Weyers took the loss in relief of Ballard, with Justin Jurek recording the last three outs in the eleventh inning.
"Blake and Matt kept us in the game," Groleau said. "They both threw well."
Gladstone plays Menominee at 10:00 Friday morning in a loser's bracket game.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos, all taken by Kym Frazer. Thanks, Kym!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Menominee 6, Escanaba 5 (10 Innings)
Hudson 13, Gladstone 11 (11 Innings)
Kingsford 11, Menominee 1 (7 Innings)
Hudson 4, Marquette 3 (10 Innings)
Friday, August 3, 2012
10 a.m.---Game 5: Gladstone vs Menominee
10:30---Game 6: Escanaba vs Marquette
2:00---Game 8: Winner 5 vs Winner 6
6:00---Game 7: Hudson vs Kingsford
Saturday, August 4, 2012
10 a.m.---Game 9: Winner 8 vs Loser 7
2:00---Game 10: Winner 9 vs Winner 7
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Noon----Championship IF NECESSARY
"Blake and Matt kept us in the game," Groleau said. "They both threw well."
Gladstone plays Menominee at 10:00 Friday morning in a loser's bracket game.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos, all taken by Kym Frazer. Thanks, Kym!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Menominee 6, Escanaba 5 (10 Innings)
Hudson 13, Gladstone 11 (11 Innings)
Kingsford 11, Menominee 1 (7 Innings)
Hudson 4, Marquette 3 (10 Innings)
Friday, August 3, 2012
10 a.m.---Game 5: Gladstone vs Menominee
10:30---Game 6: Escanaba vs Marquette
2:00---Game 8: Winner 5 vs Winner 6
6:00---Game 7: Hudson vs Kingsford
Saturday, August 4, 2012
10 a.m.---Game 9: Winner 8 vs Loser 7
2:00---Game 10: Winner 9 vs Winner 7
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Noon----Championship IF NECESSARY
