Bailey, Garling Lead Braves Past Oconto Falls, 6-4

OCONTO FALLS, Wis.---Tommy Bailey had three hits and three runs batted in and Hunter Garling pitched a complete game as the Gladstone Braves topped the Oconto Falls Panthers, 6-4, in the first game of a doubleheader Friday evening in Wisconsin.

The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled when one of the umpires fell ill. The teams played a three-inning scrimmage with no umps before calling it a night.

Coach Don Lauscher talks with senior Christian Tackman Friday night.

In the opener, Gladstone scored five runs in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie, and then had to hang on as Oconto Falls put on a two-out rally in the sixth inning.

"We did a lot of things right," Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said. "We got our squeezes down, and delayed steals, and made their guys make some mistakes. Ultimately, that's why you do a lot of those things.

"And Hunter pitched a great game."

Hunter, as in the sophomore left hander Hunter Garling, who pitched five scoreless innings before giving up four runs in the sixth inning.

Garling was in a jam in the third inning when Sam Konitzer got a bunt single and Sam Shroyer drew a walk.

But he got a pop up and a strikeout to get out of that inning unscathed.

Tom Bailey two-run single breaks tie

The Braves had plenty of chances to score in the first four innings, but couldn't get the clutch hit and stranded seven batters. Finally, the boys broke through in the fifth inning with five runs.

The first two scored on a single by Bailey, who had three hits.

"Tommy really works hard on his hitting," Lauscher said. "We said 'Tom, we need to get your bat going', and tonight, he's starting to come around. We will really need him down the road, and hopefully, that started tonight."

Jake Peterson (5) had a key bunt Friday.

With two runners on, Lauscher called for the squeeze from lefty Jake Peterson.

The kid better known as "Rizzo" got the bunt down, scoring the third run. The Panthers infielder then threw high to try to get Peterson at first, and another run scored.

"That was outstanding to get that bunt down," Lauscher said. "I mean, that was a low, outside pitch. He went down and actually laid the bat on the ball just to keep it fair. That was an outstanding play on Rizzo's part. He is such a smart ballplayer."

Bailey drove in A.J. Lundberg in the sixth inning to make it a 6-0 game.

But the Panthers came back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning.

Jake Peterson suicide squeeze

A walk and an infield hit put two men on, and Evan Sigmund came off the bench to hit a two-run double to left to make it 6-2. Then Konitzer put down his second bunt single of the game, and it was 6-3.

With runners at the corners, the Panthers sent Konitzer and catcher Sam Pouliot tried to get him at second. The throw was off-target and a run scored, with Konitzer taking third base. Garling was able to get the final out of the inning, and then in the seventh inning, he gave up a walk but got the final three outs to end the ballgame.

Hunter Garling pitched a complete game.

After the game, a lengthy meeting was held between the coaches when one of the umpires had severe chest pains and had to be rushed to the hospital.

With temperatures falling, the coaches decided to play three innings in a scrimmage, and Lauscher used that as a chance to get many of his younger players some playing time.

Gladstone (13-1) will host the Sault Ste. Marie (Ont.) Legion team Saturday morning at 11:00, and then the Braves will host the Stephenson Eagles Tuesday at 5:30.

Those games will not be on the radio.

The Braves' doubleheader on Wednesday at Negaunee will be the next baseball games to be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600). Game time is 4:00.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Lori Jurek, and to hear radio replays from the game.

Braves Freshman second baseman Brandon Cooper gets the force at second base Friday. (Lori Jurek 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