Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos taken by Brad Landis, and hear post-game comments from Tyler Darmogray, Issac Ketchum, and Indians Manager Scott Kwarchiany
GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Indians American Legion baseball team opened state tournament play Thursday night with a 12-2 win over the Hudson Post 180 Hellcats from southern lower Michigan at Don Olsen Field.
The win moved Gladstone into the Final Three in the state.
Tyler Darmogray battled through five innings that included rain and a small strike zone, and the Indians had timely hits to build an early lead.
"I felt very good today coming into the game," Darmogray said. "The only thing was, it was hot, and I just had to get used to it. The strike zone was smaller than usual. With the home umpires, it's usually bigger. I was trying to adjust to it. I was trying to locate more, up and down and at sides."
Issac Ketchum had a big two-run double in the first inning, followed by an RBI single by Noah Peterson to make it a 3-0 game early on.
"I think it was pretty important to jump out and get the lead first," Ketchum said. "He pitched me for a little bit before I was able to read one up. I saw it right down the middle, and I just crushed it oppo (opposite field)."
Hudson (6-13 overall) managed to get two runs off Darmogray as he uncharacteristically walked three batters while adjusting to the tight strike zone.
But Braden Sundquist delivered an RBI double up the center field gap, and the Indians scored eight runs on walks, wild pitches, and hit batters, as two Hellcats pitchers struggled to throw strikes with the steady rain coming down.
Darmogray helped his own cause by picking off two baserunners at second base, including one that delivered the final out of the ballgame.
Gladstone (10-6 overall) will face defending state champion Trenton (7-0 overall) Friday night at 6:00. Trenton bullied its way to the state title last year on their field, and they won two games here on Thursday.
"Last year is last year," Gladstone Manager Scott Kwarchiany said. "We don't care about that anymore. I got to watch Trenton play twice today. They're a solid team. But we're playing here at home, playing on our field. and we feel that we have the legitimate team that can play any team in this tournament right now."
The game will be broadcast on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
TRENTON 7, NORWAY 0---Earlier in the day, the Upper Peninsula Zone Five champion Norway Vikings had a tough draw, losing to the defending state champions from Trenton, 7-0. Knights pitcher Carson Chartier hung in there, allowing seven runs on twelve base hits, before reaching his 105-pitch count in the sixth inning.
Cameron Varda got the final out of that sixth inning.
Norway managed five hits against Trenton pitcher Nick Mator, one of the guys who are back from last year's dominant state championship team. Mator struck out eight batters and walked four in six innings of work. Ashton Rooney threw the final inning for Trenton. Rooney was also a beast at the plate for Trenton, getting four hits in four at-bats.
Cole Baij had two hits and Chase Carlson had a double for the Vikings (17-7). Norway plays Hudson (6-13) in the loser's bracket Friday at noon ET/11:00 CT. The game will be broadcast on FM-94.3 and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com/breeze/
AMERICAN LEGION CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT'
Thursday's Results
Trenton 7, Norway 0
Hudson 11, Breckenridge 1
Trenton 5, Gaylord 1
Gladstone 12, Hudson 2
Friday's Schedule
Game 5---Gaylord vs Breckenridge, 9 a.m.
Game 6---Norway vs Hudson, noon (LIVE on FM-94.3)
Game 8---Winner 5 vs Winner 6, 3 p.m. (LIVE on FM-94.3)
Game 7---Gladstone vs Trenton, 6 p.m. (LIVE on FM-93.5, AM-600)
Saturday's schedule
Game 9---Winner 8 vs Loser 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10---State Championship Game, 1 p.m.
Sunday's Schedule
Game 11---State Championship Game #2 (IF NEEDED), 1 p.m.
GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Indians American Legion baseball team opened state tournament play Thursday night with a 12-2 win over the Hudson Post 180 Hellcats from southern lower Michigan at Don Olsen Field.
The win moved Gladstone into the Final Three in the state.
"I felt very good today coming into the game," Darmogray said. "The only thing was, it was hot, and I just had to get used to it. The strike zone was smaller than usual. With the home umpires, it's usually bigger. I was trying to adjust to it. I was trying to locate more, up and down and at sides."
Issac Ketchum had a big two-run double in the first inning, followed by an RBI single by Noah Peterson to make it a 3-0 game early on.
"I think it was pretty important to jump out and get the lead first," Ketchum said. "He pitched me for a little bit before I was able to read one up. I saw it right down the middle, and I just crushed it oppo (opposite field)."
Hudson (6-13 overall) managed to get two runs off Darmogray as he uncharacteristically walked three batters while adjusting to the tight strike zone.
But Braden Sundquist delivered an RBI double up the center field gap, and the Indians scored eight runs on walks, wild pitches, and hit batters, as two Hellcats pitchers struggled to throw strikes with the steady rain coming down.
Gladstone (10-6 overall) will face defending state champion Trenton (7-0 overall) Friday night at 6:00. Trenton bullied its way to the state title last year on their field, and they won two games here on Thursday.
"Last year is last year," Gladstone Manager Scott Kwarchiany said. "We don't care about that anymore. I got to watch Trenton play twice today. They're a solid team. But we're playing here at home, playing on our field. and we feel that we have the legitimate team that can play any team in this tournament right now."
The game will be broadcast on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
TRENTON 7, NORWAY 0---Earlier in the day, the Upper Peninsula Zone Five champion Norway Vikings had a tough draw, losing to the defending state champions from Trenton, 7-0. Knights pitcher Carson Chartier hung in there, allowing seven runs on twelve base hits, before reaching his 105-pitch count in the sixth inning.
Cameron Varda got the final out of that sixth inning.
Norway managed five hits against Trenton pitcher Nick Mator, one of the guys who are back from last year's dominant state championship team. Mator struck out eight batters and walked four in six innings of work. Ashton Rooney threw the final inning for Trenton. Rooney was also a beast at the plate for Trenton, getting four hits in four at-bats.
Cole Baij had two hits and Chase Carlson had a double for the Vikings (17-7). Norway plays Hudson (6-13) in the loser's bracket Friday at noon ET/11:00 CT. The game will be broadcast on FM-94.3 and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com/breeze/
AMERICAN LEGION CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT'
Thursday's Results
Trenton 7, Norway 0
Hudson 11, Breckenridge 1
Trenton 5, Gaylord 1
Gladstone 12, Hudson 2
Friday's Schedule
Game 5---Gaylord vs Breckenridge, 9 a.m.
Game 6---Norway vs Hudson, noon (LIVE on FM-94.3)
Game 8---Winner 5 vs Winner 6, 3 p.m. (LIVE on FM-94.3)
Game 7---Gladstone vs Trenton, 6 p.m. (LIVE on FM-93.5, AM-600)
Saturday's schedule
Game 9---Winner 8 vs Loser 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10---State Championship Game, 1 p.m.
Sunday's Schedule
Game 11---State Championship Game #2 (IF NEEDED), 1 p.m.
