Indians In, Cubs Out, At Legion State Championship

ESCANABA --- The Gladstone Indians advanced to the Class A American Legion Baseball State Championship Game Friday behind a gutsy performance on the mound by Jake Peterson and a two run home run by Hunter Garling.

Escanaba won the second game of the day facing elimination and beat Hudson Post 180 4-2 behind a three-run home run by Brandon Punzel and a good pitching performance by Tyler Skufca. But the Cubs ran out of pitching and were eliminated in the semifinals by Marquette 12-4.

In the first game, Gladstone rallied from down three runs to advance to the championship by beating Marquette 4-3.

Marquette struck first in the first inning off Indians starting pitcher Jake Peterson. Shortstop Hunter Larson doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by McKinley Larson to put Marquette on the board.

They added onto their lead in the third, scoring two more runs to make the score 3-0. Larson singled and center fielder Riley Lynch walked to set up first and second and one out. McKinley Larson then came to the plate and ripped one to left center scoring them both and Marquette had a 3-0 lead.

Gladstone answered back with one more run as Peterson was battling on the mound to keep his team in it. Second baseman Ben Schwalbach singled to begin the inning for Gladstone. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored from there on an RBI single by the Gladstone catcher Braden Lamberg.

Gladstone scored three more runs and took the lead against Marquette. Schwalbach singled to start off the inning. Center fielder Hunter Garling roped a two run homer to right field and the game was tied at 3.

That gave Gladstone all the momentum, and third baseman Lucas Weinert doubled, and sc0red on an infield single by Christian Tackman to give the Indians the lead.

It was all Jake Peterson needed on the mound as he went all seven innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Losing pitcher for Marquette was Trevor Bratonia who went five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on ten hits while walking four Gladstone batters.

In the second game, it was a pitcher's duel between Cubs starting pitcher Tyler Skufca and Hudson's starting pitcher Dax Meredith for the first four innings. But a big three run inning was the difference in the outcome.

Escanaba struck first in the first inning off Meredith, as center fielder Tyler Hardwick walked to begin the game. He was sacrificed to second by second baseman Parker LaMarch and advanced to third on a wild pitch and score on another wild pitch by Meredith.

Hudson tied the game in top half of the second, Hudson shortstop Kalen Sechler reached on an error, and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Logan Dewey.

Escanaba scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead 4-1. First baseman Bailey Lamb walked to start the inning. Hardwick singled to left center to set up first and second with no outs. Second baseman Parker LaMarch struck out looking, and catcher Sean Bissell popped out so the Cubs were looking like no runs would score in the inning.

But Brandon Punzel got ahold of a 2-1 pitch from Meredith and sent it over the left center field fence, giving Escanaba the lead 4-1.

Hudson would score one more run in the sixth off Skufca but it wouldn't matter as the home run for Punzel was all he needed on the mound.

Winning pitcher for Escanaba was Tyler Skufca who went seven innings giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out five and walking one.

Losing pitcher for Hudson was Dax Meredith who went four and two thirds innings, giving up five hits while striking out five and walked three.

In the third game, Marquette avenged their 16-6 loss in the U.P championship to beat Escanaba 12-4 and knock them out of the Michigan Class A State Championship. Marquette scored eleven runs on eight hits as they batted through the order twice against Cubs starting pitcher Justin Popelka.

Escanaba tried to muster a comeback with two runs in the first and fifth innings but it wasn't enough to make it a close game, and Escanaba lost to Marquette 12-4.

Losing pitcher for Escanaba was Popelka who gave up ten earned runs on seven hits, while walking three Marquette batters in two thirds innings.

Alec Slaga pitches three and a third innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three batters. Sam Hall pitched three scoreless innings in relief.

Winning pitcher for Marquette was McKinley Larson who went all seven innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking five.

The Gladstone Indians play Marquette in the Michigan Class A State Championship in Escanaba at noon on Saturday. That game will be broadcast live on AM (600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the above thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Jodi Slaga and Sheila Olsen.