GLADSTONE---The last time the Gladstone Braves did not win a district championship in softball, George W. Bush was just starting his first term in the White House.
The Braves extended their championship streak to eleven straight seasons by blanking the Negaunee Miners, 4-0, Saturday at the Gladstone High School. Alison Austin pitched the entire game for the win, and Jordan Kowalski hit a solo home run for the Braves.
"We didn't hit the ball too good today," Gladstone Manager Jerry Smith said. "But Alison threw well and we did enough to get the win."
Earlier in the day, Negaunee beat Houghton, 1-0, to earn the right to face the Braves.
In the championship game, Austin helped her own cause in the fourth inning with a single that drove home Alexis St. Cyr with the Braves' first run. Then in the fifth inning, the Braves scored three runs to put the game away. Kowalski highlighted that inning when she smacked a shot that hit the fence and bounced over for a home run.
And so the Braves (26-1) advance to another regional tournament. This one will be held in Traverse City on Saturday, June 8th. Unless there is an upset in the regional semifinals, the Braves would have another battle with Tawas in the regional final.
"If we play our game, we should be all right," Smith said.
The Braves extended their championship streak to eleven straight seasons by blanking the Negaunee Miners, 4-0, Saturday at the Gladstone High School. Alison Austin pitched the entire game for the win, and Jordan Kowalski hit a solo home run for the Braves.
"We didn't hit the ball too good today," Gladstone Manager Jerry Smith said. "But Alison threw well and we did enough to get the win."
Earlier in the day, Negaunee beat Houghton, 1-0, to earn the right to face the Braves.
In the championship game, Austin helped her own cause in the fourth inning with a single that drove home Alexis St. Cyr with the Braves' first run. Then in the fifth inning, the Braves scored three runs to put the game away. Kowalski highlighted that inning when she smacked a shot that hit the fence and bounced over for a home run.
And so the Braves (26-1) advance to another regional tournament. This one will be held in Traverse City on Saturday, June 8th. Unless there is an upset in the regional semifinals, the Braves would have another battle with Tawas in the regional final.
"If we play our game, we should be all right," Smith said.
