GLADSTONE---Christian Groleau ripped a bases-clearing triple in the fifth inning, and then pitched two scoreless innings, to lead the Gladstone Braves to a 6-4 win over the Negaunee Miners Tuesday night at frigid Don Olsen Field. Temperatures were in the 30's, with windchill factors in the 20's, so the second game of the twinbill was cancelled.
Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said this was a big win, considering the Miners are the team that knocked the Braves out of the playoffs last season.
"We talked about that when we first got together this season, that we want to get out of the districts," Lauscher said. "(Tyler) Jandron is a top-quality pitcher, and we put the bat on the ball pretty good against him, better than we have in the past."
"This is a start, and of course, this is his first outing, too, so we understand all of that," Lauscher continued. "But we fought back, and we made some good plays."
Negaunee took the lead in the top of the first inning off Braves starter Christian Tackman. Chad Larson singled and Jandron walked.
They both rode home on a home run to left field by Cole Francis, who had fought back from an 0-2 count.
Gladstone got a run back in the bottom of the second inning as Sam Pouliot walked on a 3-2 pitch with two out, stole second, and then scored on a single by Groleau.
The Braves had a chance to even things up against Miners ace Tyler Jandron in the third inning when Jake Peterson and Hunter Garling got back-to-back singles. But Jandron struck out Tommy Bailey and Justin Jurek to keep his team in a 3-1 lead.
Gladstone also had a chance to score against Jandron in the fourth inning as Christian Tackman led off with a two-base hit off the glove of a streaking right fielder Eric Wideman. But Tackman was caught trying to steal third base moments later.
Sure enough, Groleau pounded his second hit of the game...this one a double...and then Ben Schwalbach was safe on an error.
James Capodilupo struck out to end the Gladstone threat.
In the fifth inning, Negaunee tacked on a run on a sacrafice fly by Jandoron.
The Braves, though, took advantage of some poor defense in the bottom of the fifth inning against Miners reliever Luke Hill.
Peterson was safe on an error and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. Garling walked, and Bailey's ground ball was missplayed by Jandron at short. And Jurek walked to load the bases with no outs.
Tackman hit a ground ball that should have been a simple force play on Garling at the plate. But Garling went back to third, and pinch runner Nick Trudeau got confused as he went from second to third, and then stepped off of third base back toward second.
Francis tagged both Garling and Trudeau for an unassisted double play at third.
Lauscher says that the play was disappointing, but he was not angry at the kids.
"Actually, Kurt (his son and assistant coach) did most of the talking," Lauscher said. "I think that I'm at the point in my career where...I used to rant and rave and scream and holler...but now, I make a point, and then I just get off the point, and we work on it at practice."
It looked like Negaunee might dodge the bullet with a 4-2 lead, but Hill hit Pouliot to re-load the bases. And then Groleau came up and smacked a long drive over the outfielder's head to the fence.
It cleared the bases, and the three runs that scored gave Gladstone a 5-4 lead. Schwalbach singled home Groleau to make it 6-4.
"He struggled a bit from time to time in practice," Lauscher said of Groleau. "He was kind of down on himself because his shoulder is hurting. Christian did a nice job tonight. He put the bat on the ball pretty good. He was definately the Player of the Game."
So, what was Groleau thinking when he came to the plate with the bases loaded?
"Just do what I did the first two times (base hits)," Groleau said. "You know, level swing, through the zone, whatever happens, happens. All I can do is put the ball in play, and hope that something good happens."
Tackman had pitched the first five innings for the Braves, and Groleau came in to finish up. He got behind in the count to nearly every batter, and he walked a couple of batters in the top of the sixth inning. But Groleau picked off a runner with his lefty move in the sixth, and then worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to earn the save for Tackman.
And Groleau did this with a bum shoulder that has not allowed him to throw the way he did last year when he was an All-District and All-Region pitcher in Division Three.
"It's a work in progress," Groleau said. "It's definately frustrating, not being able to throw as hard as I once was. And not being able to throw as accurately. I'm having a hard time finding the 'slot' without getting pain. It's a work in progress."
Tackman earned the win, allowing four earned runs on four hits and five walks in five innings of work. He fanned four batters.
Jandron got a no-decision for Negaunee, allowing one run on five hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out seven. But Gladstone was happy to compete well against Jandron, who knocked the Braves out of the playoffs last year with a district tournament win.
Hill took the loss for Negaunee (0-1), although all five runs were unearned against him.
Groleau went 3-for-3, with a single, double, triple, and four runs batted in.
Gladstone (4-1) will host Norway on Wednesday at Don Olsen Field. This was supposed to be a doubleheader on Thursday, but the weather forecast is calling for snow and rain on Thursday. So the teams will play on Wednesday, and it will be a single game.
Game time is 4:30 ET. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 4:15 with the pre-game show.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Lori Jurek, and listen to radio highlights and interviews.
Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said this was a big win, considering the Miners are the team that knocked the Braves out of the playoffs last season.
Hunter Garling with the rally-ending catch
"This is a start, and of course, this is his first outing, too, so we understand all of that," Lauscher continued. "But we fought back, and we made some good plays."
Negaunee took the lead in the top of the first inning off Braves starter Christian Tackman. Chad Larson singled and Jandron walked.
They both rode home on a home run to left field by Cole Francis, who had fought back from an 0-2 count.
Gladstone got a run back in the bottom of the second inning as Sam Pouliot walked on a 3-2 pitch with two out, stole second, and then scored on a single by Groleau.
Christian Groleau Three-Run Triple
Gladstone also had a chance to score against Jandron in the fourth inning as Christian Tackman led off with a two-base hit off the glove of a streaking right fielder Eric Wideman. But Tackman was caught trying to steal third base moments later.
Justin Jurek leads off base Tuesday night.
James Capodilupo struck out to end the Gladstone threat.
In the fifth inning, Negaunee tacked on a run on a sacrafice fly by Jandoron.
The Braves, though, took advantage of some poor defense in the bottom of the fifth inning against Miners reliever Luke Hill.
Peterson was safe on an error and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. Garling walked, and Bailey's ground ball was missplayed by Jandron at short. And Jurek walked to load the bases with no outs.
Tackman hit a ground ball that should have been a simple force play on Garling at the plate. But Garling went back to third, and pinch runner Nick Trudeau got confused as he went from second to third, and then stepped off of third base back toward second.
Francis tagged both Garling and Trudeau for an unassisted double play at third.
Christian Tackman earned the mound win.
"Actually, Kurt (his son and assistant coach) did most of the talking," Lauscher said. "I think that I'm at the point in my career where...I used to rant and rave and scream and holler...but now, I make a point, and then I just get off the point, and we work on it at practice."
It looked like Negaunee might dodge the bullet with a 4-2 lead, but Hill hit Pouliot to re-load the bases. And then Groleau came up and smacked a long drive over the outfielder's head to the fence.
It cleared the bases, and the three runs that scored gave Gladstone a 5-4 lead. Schwalbach singled home Groleau to make it 6-4.
"He struggled a bit from time to time in practice," Lauscher said of Groleau. "He was kind of down on himself because his shoulder is hurting. Christian did a nice job tonight. He put the bat on the ball pretty good. He was definately the Player of the Game."
Ben Schwalbach RBI single
"Just do what I did the first two times (base hits)," Groleau said. "You know, level swing, through the zone, whatever happens, happens. All I can do is put the ball in play, and hope that something good happens."
Tackman had pitched the first five innings for the Braves, and Groleau came in to finish up. He got behind in the count to nearly every batter, and he walked a couple of batters in the top of the sixth inning. But Groleau picked off a runner with his lefty move in the sixth, and then worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to earn the save for Tackman.
Christian Groleau earned the save Tuesday.
"It's a work in progress," Groleau said. "It's definately frustrating, not being able to throw as hard as I once was. And not being able to throw as accurately. I'm having a hard time finding the 'slot' without getting pain. It's a work in progress."
Tackman earned the win, allowing four earned runs on four hits and five walks in five innings of work. He fanned four batters.
Jandron got a no-decision for Negaunee, allowing one run on five hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out seven. But Gladstone was happy to compete well against Jandron, who knocked the Braves out of the playoffs last year with a district tournament win.
Hill took the loss for Negaunee (0-1), although all five runs were unearned against him.
Groleau went 3-for-3, with a single, double, triple, and four runs batted in.
Don Lauscher post-game comments
Game time is 4:30 ET. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 4:15 with the pre-game show.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Lori Jurek, and listen to radio highlights and interviews.
