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Groleau Leads Indians Into Soo Tourney Semifinals
 SAULT STE. MARIE---It was quite the day for Christian Groleau as the Gladstone Indians played in the Sault Ste. Marie Baseball Invitational on Saturday. The center fielder/pitcher led the Indians in more ways than one as Gladstone rallied to beat Petoskey, 4-3, to earn a spot in Sunday's semifinals. Earlier in the day, the Indians beat Sault Canada, 8-3, to finish pool play with a 3-1 record. Groleau got the victory on the mound in the game against the Black Sox. Then, in the game against Petoskey, Groleau grabbed a long fly ball that was going over the fence for a home run. Then, with the bat, he got a double and scored what would be the game winning run. Groleau also served as the Indians' coach during the Petoskey game. WHAT??? Well, Groleau's dad, Jim, argued a little too loudly about a called third strike that he thought was a foul ball. So, when the umpire ejected Jim Groleau, the Indians had a problem. Assistant Coach Rob Hardwick couldn't make the trip and was back home in Delta County. What would the Indians do? Forfeit? Nope! Christian Groleau became the head coach, and teammate Justin Jurek, who already calls the pitches for the Indians pitchers, became the assistant coach. And this odd arrangement worked, as the Indians rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win, 4-3. Gladstone will face Sanford in one semifinal, while Marquette takes on the host Sault Ste. Marie EUP Travelers in the other semifinal. The Escanaba Cubs began the day with a 2-0 record and were in good shape to also reach the semifinal round. But things did not go well on Saturday, as the Cubs lost to Petoskey, 4-3, and then fell to Sanford, 9-1. Ironically, Escanaba Manager Tom Ohman was also ejected for arguing with the umpires in the first inning against Sanford. Posted below are game summaries for the Indians, written by Jim Groleau. We did not receive specific information about the Cubs' games on Saturday. GLADSTONE 8, SOO CANADA 3---Gladstone exploded for eight runs on eight hits in the fifth inningto erase a 2-0 deficit. RBI singles by Ben Schwalbach, Christian Tackman, Hunter Garling, Jake Pearson, and Hayden Hardwick...alomg with a two-run triple by Sam Pouliot put the Indians on top. Christian Groleau got the mound win going the distance, allowing just four hits. He walked seven and struck out two. Brock Barry took the lose for the Canadians. Tackman had two hits for Gladstone. GLADSTONE 4, PETOSKEY 3---Gladstone again fell behind 2-0 after three innings as Petosky scored twice in the third inning. Jim Groleau's ejection in the fourth inning seemed to ignite the Indians players. Jurek's RBI double scored Jake Peterson (who led off the fifth with a single), to cut the deficit to 2-1. Christian Groleau then made the defensive play of the day as lead off hitter Tommy Budnick launched a deep drive to center field. Groleau raced to the wall and scaled the fence to rob Petosky of a home run and keep the deficit at 2-1. In the top of the sixth, Pearson and Hardwick had lead off singles, and after one out, Groleau ripped an RBI hit to score Pearson to tie the game. Peterson then laid down a perfect bunt single, scoring Hardwick with the go-ahead run. Tackman later singled home Groleau for a 4-2 Gladstone lead. Petoskey rallied in the final inning, scoring one run before Garling struck out the final batter to end the game. Garling gets the win in relief, throwing three innings. Pearson threw the first four innings. "I was just so proud of the guys the way they stepped up and came together today," said Jim Groleau, who will be allowed to coach on Sunday. "The really came alive and proved to one another that with a little fire and intensity, good things will happen". |
