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Bolo, Wonders Help Iron Mountain Major Boys Win
 IRON MOUNTAIN---C.J. Bolo hit a home run and pitched a complete game four-hitter as the Iron Mountain North Major Boys (age 11-12) beat Gladstone, 8-3, in the district finals Friday night at Barkle Field in Iron Mountain.  Gladstone's Justin Malmstead started on the mound, but was hit hard in the first two innings. Fortunately for him, his defense was strong behind him, making several tough plays to keep the game scoreless. In the third inning, though, Bolo smashed one over the fence in center field to put Iron Mountain North on the board. That was all for Malmstead, and Ian Schwalbach came in to pitch. He walked Marcus Johnson, and then served up a long two-run home run to Foster Wonders. That bomb put Iron Mountain ahead, 3-0.  Gladstone managed to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning, even though Bolo was overpowering at times on the mound. Ian Terrian led off with a bunt single, and then Zach Hanson got an infield hit. The next two batters struck out before Schwalbach walked to load the bases. Bolo then faced Cole Hansen, and got ahead in the count. Hansen got a two-out, two-strike base hit to right field to score Terrian and Hanson. Then, a wild pitch brought Schwalbach home, tying the game at 3-3. Perhaps the turning point of the game came in the top of the fourth inning when Iron Mountain brought two kids off of the bench. Instead of being two easy outs on Little League's mandatory play rule, Sonny Tolenen singled and went to second on a wild pitch. He scored on a hit over the third base bag by Eli Loftholm.  He intentionally walked Wonders to load the bases. That brought up Caleb Johnson, and he smoked one down the left field line. Gladst0ne left fielder Peyton Fedell stretched out and made a spectacular diving catch for the second out. Unfortunately for Gladstone, two runners tagged up as Fedell laid out for that catch in left field. They both scored, giving Iron Mountain a 6-3 lead. The boys in Black and Gold added two more runs in the sixth inning off Gladstone's fourth pitcher, Drake Forrest. Gladstone faces Norway in a knockout game Saturday night at 7:00 ET/6:00 CT in Iron Mountain. Norway beat Munising, 11-0, in Friday's first game. Iron Mountain North sits idle and waits for Saturday's winner in Sunday night's title game (6CT, 7ET). Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos, and listen to audio highlights. FRIDAY's 9-10 BOYS DISTRICT SCOREBOARD Munising 7, Gladstone 3 Tri-County 24, Manistique 3 Norway 9, Kingsford 6 Menominee vs Iron Mountain North, no report FRIDAY's 13-14 GIRLS DISTRICT SCOREBOARD Escanaba 7, Gladstone 0 Iron Mountain North 14, Norway 10  |
