Adam Hinch Daily Press
Gladstone’s Braden Sundquist delivers a pitch in Wednesday’s regional action.
GLADSTONE — The Gladstone Braves faced off in a regional semi-final game against the Iron Mountain Mountaineers on Wednesday with Gladstone taking the contest 17-5.
Gladstone jumped on Iron Mountain early and never looked back. Braves junior Nate Young had a pair of doubles in the game and the team had 11 hits total.
The Braves drew a lead off walk to start the game followed by an RBI double by Nate Young to give Gladstone the quick 1-0 lead. Gladstone sophomore Issac Ketchum singled to bring in another run. Iron Mountain would walk the next six batters and lead to three more Gladstone runs, extending the lead to 5-0. Young would get up to bat for a second time in the first inning and blasted a huge double that brought in three RBIs and Gladstone led 8-0 after one inning.
“We wanted to get on them early and take away any momentum they may of had coming into the game. Now we go down state to play some new teams im exited to see what we can do,” Young said.
Iron Mountain would cut into the lead in the second inning. Sophomore Jacob Powell hit a lead-off single to start the inning for the Mountaineers. Then back to back hits by Ezekiel Runsat and Cooper Pigeon loaded the bases. With one out, freshman Max White hit a sacrifice fly to score a run and a bad throw in would result in a second run scoring for the Mountaineers. Iron Mountain senior Carson McLean came through with an RBI double to cut the Gladstone lead to 8-3.
Gladstone continued to pour it on in the third inning, scoring five runs on five hits in the inning including a two RBI single by Casey Alworden and the Braves led 13-3 after three innings.
“The team did good today. I came out in the third inning but Braden was sharp and Brennan came in and hel it down in relief,” said Braves senior Tyler Darmogray.
Iron Mountain continued to fight back in the bottom of the third with two runners on base. Senior Luke Decker hit a two RBI single to cut the Gladstone lead to 13-5.
“We got behind early. Gladstone is a top program. I wish them the best of luck going forward and hopefully we can use this to learn and improve on going into next season,” said Iron Mountain coach Jeff McLean.
Gladstone put the game away in the fifth inning after one run scored and two runners left on base. Senior Aedan Creten blasted a three run home run to give the Braves a 17-5 lead.
“The home run was awesome feels a little better to get one during tournament time, also happy we got out to the early lead and got the win,” Creten said.
“We did not want to let them build off of districts. We came in got the bats going had good pitching from Braden and Aedan and Nate hit the ball incredibly well. Now we go downstate. This is what we prepared for from day one of the season,” said Gladstone coach Joe Darmogray.
The Braves will play Benzie Central in the Regional Final Saturday at noon in Traverse City.
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