No. 3 Braves Bundle Up, Rally Past Stephenson 15-5

GLADSTONE---The weather was more suited for cross-country skiing, or maybe for some hockey. But with snow falling and gusty winds howling, the Gladstone Braves and Stephenson Eagles hooked up for a game of baseball Thursday night in Gladstone.

Gladstone's Jake Peterson gets a base hit.

The teams met for the first-time ever in high school ball, and the Braves posted a 15-5 win in a contest that ended on the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth inning.

But the final score is deceptive, as the Eagles held a 4-2 lead over the Braves in the fourth inning.

Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher chose to field a line-up that was full of freshmen and sophomores, in an effort to give them some real-game experience.

That strategy didn't quite work out, as the Eagles took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning. So, Lauscher brought in his regulars, and the tide turned in the bottom of the inning as Justin Jurek slammed a two-run home run to left field to tie the game.

Moments later, Hunter Garling lofted a two-run homer of his own to right field, putting Gladstone in front, 6-4. And then Christian Tackman slapped a double to bring home two runs. It was a six-run bottom of the fourth, putting Gladstone in front, 8-4.

Justin Jurek two-run home run.

The two teams exchanged runs in the fifth inning, and then, in the sixth inning, with the Braves up, 9-5, Gladstone's bats went to work again. The Braves scored six runs in that inning, with Garling driving home two with a single that gave him four RBI on the night.

With the score 11-5, Braves freshman Ben Schwalbach ripped one to the fence for a bases-clearing double. That made it 14-5.

And then moments later, the final run of the game scored on an error as a pop fly was not caught on the Stephenson infield.

Drake Draze got his first high school pitching victory for the Braves, throwing four innings, allowing four runs and striking out five batters.

Tommy Bailey pitched the final two innings, getting four strikeouts amongst those six outs.

Stephenson's Trevor Christopherson pitched all 5 2/3 innings before the mercy rule was invoked. Nate Rasner had two hits for the Eagles.

CLICK HERE to see more game statistics.

Gladstone improved to 17-1 on the season. The Braves learned earlier in the day on Thursday that the team moved up a spot in the Michigan High School Baseball Coach's Association poll. Gladstone is now ranked #3 in the state in Division Three.

Hunter Garling two-run home run

Gladstone and Stephenson will meet again next week in a newly-scheduled game. The teams will play a single game in Daggett next Thursday afternoon.

The first pitch is set for 5:30 ET/4:30 CT. Before that, the Braves will travel to Green Bay on Saturday to face the Notre Dame Tritons in a doubleheader.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS above to see photos and videos taken during Thursday's game.

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