Gladstone's Young Guns Shine In Win Over Norway

GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Braves scored four runs in the first inning and then coasted to a 5-1 win over the Norway Knights in a nine-inning baseball game Wednesday night at Don Olsen Field.

The Braves had a line-up that was mostly filled with rookies, and they performed well.

Gladstone senior Sam Pouliot at the plate.

Freshman third baseman Ben Schwalbach had a two-run single during that first inning, and Bark River-Harris transfer, sophomore Drake Draze, followed with an RBI single of his own.

Freshman Nick Trudeau had two hits and a walk, and freshman Brandon Cooper put down a nice sacrafice bunt and made several plays at second base.

And freshman A.J. Lundberg got the start behind the plate and caught all nine innings.

The rookies all played because Manager Don Lauscher wanted an opportunity to see how they would perform in a game situation.

Assistant Manager Kurt Lauscher was impressed.

"They did a very good job," he said. "I'm very happy with them."

The kids were happy to have their opportunity, albeit a little nervous and anxious.

Ben Schwalbach drives home two runs

"I was excited," Cooper said. "It was my first time out on the field. I was a little nervous when I got in there, but after a couple of ground balls, I was alright."

"Today was my first game starting in my high school career," Trudeau said. "I got up to the plate and just tried to do the best that I could do. And I just put the bat on the ball and got a couple of nice hits. I'm hoping to see to see the field a little bit more."

Nick Trudeau (6) leads off base as Norway's Mike Faull (23) plays first on Wednesday.

The Knights were playing their first game of the season, so Coach Tony Adams wanted to get all of his kids in, which he did. The two managers agreed before the game to play two extra innings after the regulation seven, so that everyone could get some reps.

After Gladstone scored those four runs in the first inning, they had a hard time doing anything else offensively against four Knights pitchers.

They had plenty of baserunners, but stranded 14 of them in the first seven innings, including the bases loaded twice.

"We need to do a better job of getting the guys in," Kurt Lauscher said. "We stranded too many guys. We did the same things last night (against Negaunee). But, it's early yet."

The five runs were enough, though, because Jake Peterson pitched a gem. He retired the first seven men he faced, and worked seven innings, allowing just four base hits. Peterson struck out twelve batters and did not issue a walk.

Jake Peterson strikes out Bryce Grayvold

"I just wanted to throw strikes, keep the ball in the zone, and try to get ground balls," Peterson said, adding that he liked the umpire's strike zone. "It was nice! I threw fastballs and curveballs, and a few change-ups too."

Braves Jake Peterson threw a four-hitter.

"I never have any worries when Jake's pitching," Kurt Lauscher said. "You know that he's going to throw strikes. They may get a couple of hits from time to time, but he can throw every one of his pitches for strikes. Even his curve. Today, I on 3-2 (count), I called a curve, and he threw it for a strike."

Hunter Garling pitched the two extra innings, and did not allow a run or a hit.

It turned out that Schwalbach's hit in the first inning was all that Gladstone needed.

"I have two strikes on me, so I crowded the plate and choked up," Schwalbach said.

Norway's only run came in the third inning on an RBI single by John Edwardsen.

Gladstone (5-1) will not host Rudyard this weekend as was planned. That's because of a cold, gloomy weather forecast. Instead, the Braves will travel downstate on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Charlevoix Rayders. Game time is 2:00.

Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box above to see photos and videos taken by Dallas Potvin and Kim Lauscher, and to hear audio highlights and post-game interviews.

Gladstone freshman Brandon Cooper runs hard as the throw comes to first base. (Kim Lauscher photo)

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/18	4:00 PM	at Reed City High School	12 - 2 (W)	1-0

4/18	6:00 PM	at Reed City High School	9 - 0 (W)	2-0

4/19	11:00 AM	at Kingsley Stags	5 - 1 (W)	3-0

4/19	1:30 PM	at Kingsley Stags	6 - 7 (L)	3-1

4/22	4:30 PM	Negaunee Miners	6 - 4 (W)	4-1

4/23	4:30 PM	Norway Knights	5 - 1 (W)	5-1

4/26	2:00 PM	at Charlevoix Rayders	8 - 4 (W)	6-1

4/26	4:00 PM	at Charlevoix Rayders	9 - 6 (W)	7-1

4/28	4:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	22 - 4 (W)	8-1

4/28	6:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	12 - 1 (W)	9-1

5/5	4:00 PM	at Norway Knights	13 - 0 (W)	10-1

5/5	6:00 PM	at Norway Knights	4 - 1 (W)	11-1

5/8	4:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	1 - 0 (W)	12-1

5/9	4:30 PM	at Oconto Falls Panthers	6 - 4 (W)	13-1

5/10	11:00 AM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	7 - 3 (W)	14-1

5/14	4:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	16 - 6 (W)	15-1

5/14	6:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	16-1

5/15	5:30 PM	Stephenson Eagles	15 - 5 (W)	17-1

5/17	12:00 PM	at Green Bay Notre Dame	1 - 11 (L)	17-2

5/19	4:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	15 - 0 (W)	18-2

5/19	6:30 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	14 - 3 (W)	19-2

5/20	4:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	11 - 3 (W)	20-2

5/20	6:30 PM	Houghton Gremlins	7 - 3 (W)	21-2

5/22	5:30 PM	at Stephenson Eagles	7 - 4 (W)	22-2

5/23	4:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	2 - 3 (L)	22-3

5/23	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	12 - 4 (W)	23-3

5/26	6:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	3 - 1 (W)	24-3

5/27	6:30 PM	at Green Bay Preble	3 - 6 (L)	24-4

5/30	1:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	25-4

5/30	7:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	10 - 0 (W)	26-4

6/7	10:00 AM	at Traverse City St. Francis	10 - 2 (W)	27-4

6/7	4:00 PM	Boyne City	5 - 2 (W)	28-4

6/10	12:00 PM	Muskegon Oakridge	3 - 2 (W)	29-4

6/13	2:30 PM	Decatur Raiders	1 - 2 (L)	29-5