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Indians Top Kingsford In Rain-Shortened Twinbill
 GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Indians swept an American Legion Baseball doubleheader from the Kingsford Blues, 5-2 and 5-0, Sunday afternoon in Gladstone. The second game of the doubleheader was called in the bottom of the fourth inning as heavy rain hit the area for the second time on the day.  In the first game, Indians starting pitcher Hunter Garling struggled to throw strikes. He walked a man in the first inning, but got a 5-3 double play to end the threat. Then in the second inning, Kingsford loaded the bases on an error and two walks. Garling got a pop up to the first baseman, in foul ground, to end the inning. Gladstone scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take control of the game. Tom Bailey had an RBI double, and Christian Groleau's fly ball was dropped in center field, allowing anoher run to score. Kingsford pitcher Cole Michaud struck out the next two batters, and then Christian Tackman hit a fly ball to right-center field.  In the top of the third inning, Kingsford threatened as Wes Paupore got a base hit and Garling walked two batters. A passed ball scored a run for the Blues, and the threat ended when catcher Duane Englund caught one in foul ground for the Indians. Gladstone led, 4-1, into the sixth inning, as Groleau came on to pitch after Garling managed to make it just 2 1/3 innings. Kingsford brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth as Cole Michaud singled and Connor Beradt walked. But Kyle Henes grounded out to end the Kingsford rally. The Blues also had two men picked off base earlier in the game.  In the seventh, Sam Santi singled, stole second, and scored on a hit by Brandon Kowalkowski. That, however, ended the game. Groleau got the pitching win, in relief, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk. Garling had a no-decision, allowing one hit and five walks in 2 1/3 innings. Kingsford's Michaud pitched all the way, allowing six hits and one walk. In the second game, Gladstone scored four runs in the second inning, after scoring once in the first inning but squandering a chance for more runs with a double play. One run scored on an error on a Jack Stephenson ground ball to third base. Then Christian Tackman's blooper to the outfield scored a run, and Garling ripped a two-run single to make it 5-0. That was plenty of run support for Sam Pouliot, who tossed four innings on the hill before the rain. He allowed only a one-out single to Johnson in the second inning. Pouliot only gave up one other baserunner (Kowalkowski walk and stolen base). The second game was called by weather in the bottom of the fourth inning. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos.  |
