OCONTO FALLS, Wis.---The Gladstone Indians extended their winning streak to seven games on Saturday, sweeping an American Legion Baseball doubleheader in Oconto Falls, Wis., 10-0 and 14-2.
Both games were called by the ten-run mercy rule after the fifh inning.
In the opener, Christian Groleau pitched all five innings to earn the shutout. Groleau still hasn't lost on the mound this spring, having won all eight of his decisions for the Gladstone high school team. He was a Division Two All-District and Region selection.
Gladstone got on the board in the first inning as Groleau walked and Cody Frazer singled. After Hayden Hardwick walked, Jake Pearson singled to left to score Groleau. Frazer was cut down at the plate, though, so and the Indians led, 1-0.
In the second game, Gladstone struck early with three first-inning runs.
Jurek walked, Tackman singled and Frazer doubled home Jurek for the first run. Tackman scored on a Hardwick groundout, then Garling singled home Frazer for a 3-0 lead.
After opening the season with a 2-7 record with a line-up filled with middle school kids, the Indians (9-7) have now won seven straight games with the full line-up.
Gladstone was supposed to play Oconto in a single game Sunday afternoon, but that team did not show up for the contest. The Indians host Channing in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at 5:30. The games will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600).
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos taken from Saturday's games by Kym Frazer.
Both games were called by the ten-run mercy rule after the fifh inning.
In the opener, Christian Groleau pitched all five innings to earn the shutout. Groleau still hasn't lost on the mound this spring, having won all eight of his decisions for the Gladstone high school team. He was a Division Two All-District and Region selection.
Cody Frazer strolls into third base.
Oconto Falls threatened in the the bottom of the first as Cory Giese led off with a single but was cut down trying to steal second base.
Groleau then walked the next two batters, but got the next two outs on grounders to end the threat.
Oconto Falls never threatened again as Groleau retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced, with one of the others reaching on an error.
Groleau then walked the next two batters, but got the next two outs on grounders to end the threat.
Oconto Falls never threatened again as Groleau retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced, with one of the others reaching on an error.
Justin Jurek homered to left (pictured above) to lead off the third inning for a 2-0 Gladstone lead. Later, Christian Tackman singled and scored on Jurek's double.
Gladstone scored seven times in the fifth inning to put the game away on the mercy rule. Frazer and Hardwick had singles, Hunter Garling had a suicide squeeze bunt single, Tackman added an RBI single, and Jurek doubled home two more runs.
Jurek led Gladstone with three hits. Frazer, Hardwick and Tackman all had two hits apiece. On the mound, Groleau went all five innings, allowing just two singles while striking out six and walking two.
Jake Moggard, a freshman at Northland College, took the loss for Oconto Falls.
Jurek led Gladstone with three hits. Frazer, Hardwick and Tackman all had two hits apiece. On the mound, Groleau went all five innings, allowing just two singles while striking out six and walking two.
Hayden Hardwick dives back to first base.
Jurek walked, Tackman singled and Frazer doubled home Jurek for the first run. Tackman scored on a Hardwick groundout, then Garling singled home Frazer for a 3-0 lead.
Oconto Falls plated its first run of the day when Moggard reached on an error with two outs, and scored on a Tyler Magnin triple.
But the Indians scored twice in the second inning when Tackman singled, scoring James Capodilupo, who had singled to start the inning. Frazer's RBI single then made it a 5-1 Gladstone lead.
But the Indians scored twice in the second inning when Tackman singled, scoring James Capodilupo, who had singled to start the inning. Frazer's RBI single then made it a 5-1 Gladstone lead.
Oconto Falls cut the lead to 5-2 in the third inning as Tackman walked the 1st three batters of the inning. Magnin's fielder's choice groundout scored Giese. Then Tackman was able to work out of the jam to preserve the lead through three innings.
Then things got sloppy in the fourth inning as Gladstone added three runs on a pair of wild pitches, and a Garling ground out.
But in the fifth inning, the Indians exploded for six runs to again invoke the mercy rule.
Capodilupo, Jurek, Tackman, Frazer and Hardwick all singled and then Jake Pearson launched a long three-run homer to center field for a 14-2 Indians lead.
Jake Pearson rounds third after his HR
Capodilupo, Jurek, Tackman, Frazer and Hardwick all singled and then Jake Pearson launched a long three-run homer to center field for a 14-2 Indians lead.
Tackman went 4 1/3 innings on the mound, allowing two runs on just one base hit.
He struck out five batters, walked four, and hit a batter to get the win.
Jake Peterson got the final two outs, allowing a Magnin single. Tackman led the Indians with three hits. Frazer, Hardwick, Capodilupo, and Lucas LaCosse all had two hits. Magnin had both hits for Oconto Falls.
He struck out five batters, walked four, and hit a batter to get the win.
Jake Peterson got the final two outs, allowing a Magnin single. Tackman led the Indians with three hits. Frazer, Hardwick, Capodilupo, and Lucas LaCosse all had two hits. Magnin had both hits for Oconto Falls.
After opening the season with a 2-7 record with a line-up filled with middle school kids, the Indians (9-7) have now won seven straight games with the full line-up.
Gladstone was supposed to play Oconto in a single game Sunday afternoon, but that team did not show up for the contest. The Indians host Channing in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at 5:30. The games will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600).
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos taken from Saturday's games by Kym Frazer.
The Indians greet Jake Pearson (21) at the plate after he hit a three-run homer on Saturday.
