Rizzo's Shutout Leads Indians To Win In Marquette

MARQUETTE---Jake Peterson pitched a complete-game three-hitter and Jake Pearson drove in two runs as the Gladstone Indians beat the Marquette Blues, 3-0, in American Legion Baseball action Wednesday in Marquette.

Peterson...better known as "Rizzo"...struck out nine batters and got some help at the plate from Christian Tackman, who had two hits and two runs scored.

Peterson, who has been nursing a sore elbow since the end of the high school season, was in complete control for most of Wedneday's game.

"Rizzo's command was great," Gladstone Manager Jim Groleau saids. "He hit his spots well. He threw a gem."

The game was scoreless until Tackman led off the Gladstone fourth with a long double to left field. Peterson drew a walk and Hayden Hardwick was hit by a potch to load the bases with no outs.

Jake Pearson's smash up the middle was deflected by Marquette pitcher Ryan Walther to second base and Hardwick was forced at second base, allowing Tackman to score.

But Tommy Bailey hit into a double play to end the Indians' threat.

Tackman again got things started for the second Indian run by leading off the sixth inning with a single. He was bunted to second by Peterson, and scored on Pearson's two-out RBI single.

Gladstone added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Christian Groleau got a lead-off walk. After the second pitch, Marquette starting pitcher Walther was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Groleau stole second, (his second of the game), and was bunted to third by Ben Schwalbach. Groleau broke for home on an attempted squeeze but the pitch was taken by Logan Heim. The return throw to third glanced off Blues third baseman Ryan Hanson and Groleau scored the third Indian run.

But things got interesting when Marquette batted in the bottom of the seventh.

Peters0n got the first two batters. But Marquette pinch hitter Sam Leow singled and then he walked the next two batters to load the bases. Jim Groleau then had to decide whether to take "Rizzo" off of the mound as Derek Stone came to the plate.

"I was going out to get him after the single and first walk but Gus (Justin Jurek) convinced me to let him finish it," Groleau said, referring to his injured player Jurek.

Peterson got Stone to fly out to end the game with an Indians victory.

"Justin called all the pitches tonight and did a fantastic job," Jim Groleau said.

Gladstone improved to 3-4 on the season. "We took a step in the right direction tonight. Playing without three starters, to come up here and get a win, was huge".

Gladstone hosts Escanaba Thursday night at Don Olsen Field. The Junior game starts at 5:00 and the varsity game is planned for 8:00. Catch the broadcast of both games on WCHT-AM (600), and over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.