GLADSTONE---It took three hours and 19 minutes, and twelve innings, but the Gladstone Braves earned the first victory in the program's history Friday evening.
The Braves outlasted the Negaunee Miners, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader at the Don Olsen Field. Gladstone also won the second game of the twinbill, 5-0.
Lucas LaCosse's sacrafice fly in the bottom of the 12th inning clinched the win for the Braves in the opener, in a a game filled with missed opportunities and mental mistakes.
"As a coach, that first game was very frustrating," Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said. "We missed so many signs, and the little fundamental things that we missed.:
"But to hang in there for twelve innings, and do the job that they did, I compliment the kids."
The Braves were playing their first-ever home game, and the Miners were playing outside for the first time this season.
There are still about 22 inches of snow on the IronTown Field, so Negaunee won't be playing...or practicing...at home anytime soon.
But for their first time on grass, the Miners gave the Braves quite a battle.
Blake Ballard threw well for Gladstone, striking out the side in the second inning and keeping the Miners scoreless through five innings.
Then Ballard helped his own cause with an RBI single in the third inning, putting the Braves in front, 1-0. Gladstone took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when freshman Hunter Garling singled, stole second, went to third on a Justin Jurek hit, and then scored on a high throw to the plate from Miners shortstop Tyler Jandron on a stolen base attempt.
That 2-0 lead looked safe, but in the sixth inning, Tyler Jandron and Dusty Goupille each got hits, then moved into scoring position on stolen bases.
With Eric Lori at the plate, Goupille broke toward third base in an effort to coax a throw from Ballard, with the hopes that Jandron would then score from third.
Ballard ran toward Goupille, then as Jandron came home, the throw to the plate was missed by the catcher (Jurek). The ball went to the backstop, and nobody backed up the play.
So, two runs scored, and the game was tied at 2-2. Ballard settled down and kept the Miners off the board, but his teammates couldn't get him a run.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Garling was safe on an error and Jurek walked. With the winning run at third base, Ballard popped up and Sam Pouliot grounded out.
Negaunee scored a run in the top of the eighth inning off reliever Pouliot.
Tyler Lajoie was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrafice fly by Jandron.
Then in the bottom of the inning, Jandron, the ace of the Miners pitching staff, came in to try to close out a Negaunee victory.
Jandron struck out James Capodilupo to start the inning, but the ball got away from the catcher and Capodilupo was safe. Then Tom Bailey's ground ball to second base was missplayed, so two were on for the Braves. Capodilupo moved up on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 3-3.
With the potential winning run on base, Jandron struck out the next three batters to send the game into the ninth inning.
Pouliot matched him with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, then the Braves had another chance to win in the bottom half. Jurek walked to start the inning, then he advanced to second and third on wild pitches.
With his team struggling at the plate, Lauscher tried to squeeze home the winning run. But Pouliot missed the sign, and Jurek was hung out to dry between third and home.
In the tenth inning, both teams went out 1-2-3. Jandron ended up striking out eight Braves in the three innings that he pitched during "extras".
In the top of the 11th inning, Pouliot gave up a hit and a walk, but got a big strikeout to end the inning. Then in the bottom half, the Braves got a hit and stolen base from Christian Groleau. But Jurek grounded out to end that frame. So, on to the 12th!
Pouliot set the Miners down 1-2-3, and then in the bottom of the 12th, the Braves went to work against Negaunee's fourth pitcher, Tony Zampese.
With one out, Pouliot walked. He moved to second when Capodilupo was safe on an error, and then kept running to third base when the Miners couldn't corral the ball.
That brought up LaCosse, and he hit one far enough to center field to score Pouliot with the first victory in Braves modern history.
The kids partied like it was 1959!
"I knew that we had a runner on third there, and I needed to get the ball out of the infield so he could come in and score," LaCosse said. "It was real frustrating (to not win earlier), but it was really intense. We kept the tempo up."
"It took forever, but Luke hit a great shot, we scored the run, and it was awesome," Ballard smiled. "Coach really helps us a lot on hitting. It's helping out a lot."
Lauscher was happy, and relieved to get the win. And he praised his pitchers.
"Blake was lights out again," Lauscher said. "And Sam Pouliot, I can't believe how well that young man is playing. Sam just did a great job. Some of these guys are stepping up."
Pouliot earned the win on the mound, allowing only one base hit in five innings of relief work. Ballard got a no-decision, but pitched quite well, scattering five hits over seven innings.
Ballard struck out eight batters and did not allow an earned run.
"I get nervous before every game, especially when I'm pitching," Ballard said. "Sometimes my curve didn't work, but I could hit my fastball in the spots that I wanted to, so that helped a lot."
In the second game, Christian Groleau pitched all six innings as the Braves won, 5-0.
He struggled at times, walking five batters, but the lefty seemed to get stronger as the game went on. Groleau allowed only four hits, and he struck out eight Negaunee batters.
Gladstone took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Jurek. Jurek, a sophomore, had a hit and four walks in the first game, and got on base twice in the nightcap.
The Braves added four runs in the third inning to take control of the game. Ballard had a two-run single and Christian Tackman added an RBI double to the fence in that inning.
Pouliot had an infield hit and two walks in that second game. Zampese pitched the first two innings of the second game for Negaunee, after throwing the final two innings of the opener. He takes the loss in both games.
The Miners, with 18 boys on the roster, used six of them in the doubleheader.
And the Braves made history with two wins on a chilly night in Gladstone. "It was awesome," Ballard said. "It was our opener, and we won. It was sweet!"
"We did not want to lose this game," LaCosse said. "It felt like we were playing for the districts."
For Lauscher, this was a homecoming. He coached the American Legion Indians in 2005 and 2006, and spearheaded the fundraising effort to install lights on Don Olsen Field.
The bricks that he and his brother, Brian, sold, along with Jay Kirby and others, still line the area behind the backstop to this day, eight years later.
"I don't have any ill feelings toward Escanaba," Lauscher said, referring to where he coached for five seasons. "But I just feel more comfortable here. This is where I started way back in 1996 (as a Little League coach). I like it here."
Gladstone returns to action Saturday afternoon as the Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox come to town for a doubleheader. Game time is 12:00 noon. The games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the doubleheader, and to listen to highlights and interviews.
The Braves outlasted the Negaunee Miners, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader at the Don Olsen Field. Gladstone also won the second game of the twinbill, 5-0.
James Capodilupo concentrates at second.
"As a coach, that first game was very frustrating," Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said. "We missed so many signs, and the little fundamental things that we missed.:
"But to hang in there for twelve innings, and do the job that they did, I compliment the kids."
The Braves were playing their first-ever home game, and the Miners were playing outside for the first time this season.
There are still about 22 inches of snow on the IronTown Field, so Negaunee won't be playing...or practicing...at home anytime soon.
But for their first time on grass, the Miners gave the Braves quite a battle.
Lucas LaCosse Game-Winning RBI celebration.
Then Ballard helped his own cause with an RBI single in the third inning, putting the Braves in front, 1-0. Gladstone took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when freshman Hunter Garling singled, stole second, went to third on a Justin Jurek hit, and then scored on a high throw to the plate from Miners shortstop Tyler Jandron on a stolen base attempt.
Jake "Rizzo" Peterson in left field Friday.
With Eric Lori at the plate, Goupille broke toward third base in an effort to coax a throw from Ballard, with the hopes that Jandron would then score from third.
Ballard ran toward Goupille, then as Jandron came home, the throw to the plate was missed by the catcher (Jurek). The ball went to the backstop, and nobody backed up the play.
So, two runs scored, and the game was tied at 2-2. Ballard settled down and kept the Miners off the board, but his teammates couldn't get him a run.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Garling was safe on an error and Jurek walked. With the winning run at third base, Ballard popped up and Sam Pouliot grounded out.
Negaunee scored a run in the top of the eighth inning off reliever Pouliot.
Lucas LaCosse Game-Winning RBI IN 12th.
Then in the bottom of the inning, Jandron, the ace of the Miners pitching staff, came in to try to close out a Negaunee victory.
Jandron struck out James Capodilupo to start the inning, but the ball got away from the catcher and Capodilupo was safe. Then Tom Bailey's ground ball to second base was missplayed, so two were on for the Braves. Capodilupo moved up on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 3-3.
Don Lauscher was happier than he looks.
Pouliot matched him with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, then the Braves had another chance to win in the bottom half. Jurek walked to start the inning, then he advanced to second and third on wild pitches.
With his team struggling at the plate, Lauscher tried to squeeze home the winning run. But Pouliot missed the sign, and Jurek was hung out to dry between third and home.
In the tenth inning, both teams went out 1-2-3. Jandron ended up striking out eight Braves in the three innings that he pitched during "extras".
In the top of the 11th inning, Pouliot gave up a hit and a walk, but got a big strikeout to end the inning. Then in the bottom half, the Braves got a hit and stolen base from Christian Groleau. But Jurek grounded out to end that frame. So, on to the 12th!
Pouliot set the Miners down 1-2-3, and then in the bottom of the 12th, the Braves went to work against Negaunee's fourth pitcher, Tony Zampese.
With one out, Pouliot walked. He moved to second when Capodilupo was safe on an error, and then kept running to third base when the Miners couldn't corral the ball.
Lucas LaCosse had the big Sac Fly.
The kids partied like it was 1959!
"I knew that we had a runner on third there, and I needed to get the ball out of the infield so he could come in and score," LaCosse said. "It was real frustrating (to not win earlier), but it was really intense. We kept the tempo up."
"It took forever, but Luke hit a great shot, we scored the run, and it was awesome," Ballard smiled. "Coach really helps us a lot on hitting. It's helping out a lot."
Lauscher was happy, and relieved to get the win. And he praised his pitchers.
"Blake was lights out again," Lauscher said. "And Sam Pouliot, I can't believe how well that young man is playing. Sam just did a great job. Some of these guys are stepping up."
Blake Ballard two-run single in Game #2.
Ballard struck out eight batters and did not allow an earned run.
"I get nervous before every game, especially when I'm pitching," Ballard said. "Sometimes my curve didn't work, but I could hit my fastball in the spots that I wanted to, so that helped a lot."
Negaunee's Eric Lori bats as Gladstone catcher Justin Jurek sets up.
He struggled at times, walking five batters, but the lefty seemed to get stronger as the game went on. Groleau allowed only four hits, and he struck out eight Negaunee batters.
Gladstone took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Jurek. Jurek, a sophomore, had a hit and four walks in the first game, and got on base twice in the nightcap.
The Braves added four runs in the third inning to take control of the game. Ballard had a two-run single and Christian Tackman added an RBI double to the fence in that inning.
Pouliot had an infield hit and two walks in that second game. Zampese pitched the first two innings of the second game for Negaunee, after throwing the final two innings of the opener. He takes the loss in both games.
The Miners, with 18 boys on the roster, used six of them in the doubleheader.
Justin Jurek RBI single.
"We did not want to lose this game," LaCosse said. "It felt like we were playing for the districts."
The bricks that he and his brother, Brian, sold, along with Jay Kirby and others, still line the area behind the backstop to this day, eight years later.
"I don't have any ill feelings toward Escanaba," Lauscher said, referring to where he coached for five seasons. "But I just feel more comfortable here. This is where I started way back in 1996 (as a Little League coach). I like it here."
Gladstone returns to action Saturday afternoon as the Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox come to town for a doubleheader. Game time is 12:00 noon. The games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the doubleheader, and to listen to highlights and interviews.
