Tackman Goes Deep; Braves Overwhelm Gremlins

GLADSTONE---It's been a long time since Christian Tackman hit a home run.

But the Gladstone Braves senior was in the spotlight on Tuesday as the Braves played the new Houghton High School baseball team at Don Olsen Field.

Freshman Nick Trudeau gets an at-bat

Tackman connected with a three-run shot in the first game of the doubleheader, and then hit a rare inside-the-park home run as the Braves beat Houghton, 11-3.

Gladstone also won the nightcap, 7-3, as Manager Don Lauscher got everybody into the line-up.

"CT crushed the ball today," Lauscher said. "He's really coming around and he's leading this team. "I put him in the lead-off spot today (in the batting order) and he's telling me that he doesn't want to lose that spot."

So, when was the last time that Tackman hit a home run?

"Not since Little League," he said. "Like, not on the big field (from age 13 and up)."

Tackman's home runs backed up the pitchibng of Jake Peterson, who pitched six innings and struck out five batters along the way. Peterson also had two hits at the plate.

Sam Pouliot and Ben Schwalbach catch man stealing

Brad Juntunen took the loss for the Gremlins, tossing four innings. Reid Pietila threw the final two innings for Houghton, which is in its first year of high school ball.

But Lauscher, who has seen other Upper Peninsula high school teams begin play in recent years, was impressed with the Gremlins.

"They certainly put the bat on the ball today," Lauscher said. "They didn't have very many strikeouts. They came and swang the bats well, they pitched well. If somebody takes them lightly in the districts, they're gonna be in for an eye-opener."

Hunter Garling throws in second game.

It was Houghton's second trip to Delta County this week. The Gremlins lost to Escanaba and to Alpena during a tournament Saturday afternoon in Escanaba.

In the second game, it was Pitching By Committee for the Eskymos, as Christian Groleau started and went four innings.

He was relieved by Hunter Garling, who threw 2 1/3 innings, and then Tackman finished the final inning, getting the final two outs.

Offensively in that game, Garling had four hits and two runs batted in to lead the Braves.

Juntunen had three hits for the Gremlins. Justin Ruotsala took the loss on the mound for Houghton, tossing a complete-game in defeat.

Lauscher was happy with his team's effort both Monday and Tuesday, in the wake of Saturday's humbling 11-1 loss at Green Bay Notre Dame. However...

Jack Stephenson base hit

"Last night (at Superior Central) they really came focused," Lauscher said. "Today, they were, but I thought they lost it for a little bit because we made mental mistakes."

"Not so much physical mistakes, but those mental mistakes, we really have to clean up if we're gonna do anything in the districts."

Gladstone (21-2) plays at Stephenson Thursday night, and then the Braves will host Marquette in a doubleheader on Friday.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see more photos and videos from Tuesday night's game.

CLICK HERE to see all of the statistics from Tuesday's first game.
CLICK HERE to see all of the statistics from Tuesday's second 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