Gladstone Wins Two Wild Baseball Games At Dells

MAUSTON, Wis.---It wasn't pretty at times, but the Gladstone High School baseball team pulled out two victories at the Wisconsin Dells Baseball Challenge on Saturday. The Braves outslugged Goodhue, Minn., 13-11, and then beat Prentice, Wis., 11-7.

"I was really impressed with how we hit the ball, for the most part," Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said. "Our first game (on Friday), we had a whole bunch of strikeouts, and backwards K's."

"Today, they really came out and swung the bats well. It was a see-saw game in Game Two, and see-saw game in Game Three, and I was very please. Pitching? We have a long way to go with pick-off moves, and keeping runners close. Little things."

In the game against the Minnesota team, Gladstone fell behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning as A.J. Lundberg struggled on the mound, replaced by Owen Hanson.

In the bottom of the inning, the Braves scored nine times as the Goodhue pitcher threw part of the inning as a right-hander and part of it as a lefty. Clay Cole got the inning off to a good start with a ground rule double, and Braeden Lamberg ripped a shot into the right field corner...and took off running. It was a two-run, inside-the-park home run.

Numerous runs came in on wild pitches and bases loaded walks, and a couple of pop flies were missplayed by the Goodhue outfielders. But the 9-4 lead was shortlived, as the Minnesota squad scored five runs in the top of the second inning to tie the game at 9-9.

Gladstone, however, scored a run in the second inning to regain the lead, and then added three more runs in the middle innings before holding on at the end.

The Braves switched fields to face Prentice, and fell behind 1-0 in the first inning.

This game went back-and-forth from there, but Brandon Cooper came to the mound and gave his team 4 2-3 innings of strong pitching.

With the game tied at 6-6, Elliot Danhoff came off the bench for a clutch RBI hit. Prentice tied the game, but the Braves regained the lead with two runs in the fifth inning and two more runs in the sixth inning.

Cole had the go-ahead hit in the fifth, and Ben Schwalbach had a sacrafice fly to make it 9-7. Jack Stephenson came off the bench in the bottom of the sixth to drive in two runs with a base hit, giving Cooper some breathing room in the final inning.

Overall, Lauscher found plenty to be happy about at this tournament.

"We just have to gel as a team," he said. "Our younger guys are coming through. By the time we get to the state tournament, I think we should be just fine."

FRIDAY NIGHT: LADYSMITH, WIS. 6, GLADSTONE 5:

The game was tied entering the final inning when Lauscher did what he rarely does: call for a suicide squeeze.

Danhoff got it down, scoring Hanson with the run to put Gladstone ahead, 5-4. But Braves reliever Lamberg couldn't hold the lead, giving up two runs on a two hits and a walk in the bottom half.

"We played pretty well defensively, with just a couple micues," Lauscher said. "For our first time outside and seeing some real grass, we did OK."

Danhoff pitched the first five innings, and gets a no decision, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out seven batters. Offensively, Cole led the way with three hits and three runs batted in. Nick Trudeau added two hits (including a ground rule double), and A.J. Lundberg had two hits.

Gladstone finished 2-1 in the tournament. The Braves are on the road again next Saturday with a game at Appleton North. Game time is 1:00 ET. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the games, and hear Coach Lauscher's comments.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/15	4:00 PM	Ladysmith, Wis.	5 - 6 (L)	0-1

4/16	2:00 PM	Goodhue, Minn.	13 - 11 (W)	1-1

4/16	5:00 PM	Prentice, Wis.	11 - 7 (W)	2-1

4/23	1:00 PM	at Appleton North Lightning	2 - 3 (L)	2-2

4/23	3:00 PM	at Appleton North Lightning	3 - 9 (L)	2-3

4/26	4:30 PM	Negaunee Miners	14 - 6 (W)	3-3

4/28	4:30 PM	Norway Knights	3 - 4 (L)	3-4

4/29	5:30 PM	at Green Bay Preble	0 - 3 (L)	3-5

4/30	12:00 PM	at Wausau West Warriors	0 - 4 (L)	3-6

4/30	3:00 PM	at D.C. Everest Evergreens	5 - 10 (L)	3-7

5/2	4:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	14 - 0 (W)	4-7

5/2	6:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	20 - 0 (W)	5-7

5/3	5:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	3 - 3 (T)	RAIN

5/5	4:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	1 - 0 (W)	6-7

5/5	6:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	5 - 2 (W)	7-7

5/6	4:30 PM	Peshtigo Bulldogs	0 - 2 (L)	7-8

5/9	4:00 PM	at Norway Knights	0 - 1 (L)	7-9

5/9	6:00 PM	at Norway Knights	0 - 2 (L)	7-10

5/12	4:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	2 - 1 (W)	8-10

5/13	4:30 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	4 - 0 (W)	9-10

5/13	6:45 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	5 - 3 (W)	10-10

5/14	12:00 PM	at Southern Door H.S., Wis.	6 - 4 (W)	11-10

5/18	4:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	5 - 0 (W)	12-10

5/18	6:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	13-10

5/20	5:00 PM	at Traverse City St. Francis	3 - 5 (L)	13-11

5/21	11:00 AM	at Beaverton	1 - 2 (L)	13-12

5/21	1:00 PM	Big Rapids	4 - 0 (W)	14-12

5/23	4:30 PM	Houghton Gremlins	4 - 0 (W)	15-12

5/23	6:30 PM	Houghton Gremlins	8 - 3 (W)	16-12

5/27	4:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	3 - 2 (W)	17-12

5/27	6:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	- (T)	RAIN

5/30	6:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	4 - 3 (W)	18-12

6/4	11:30 AM	Superior Central Cougars	15 - 0 (W)	19-12

6/4	2:45 PM	Negaunee Miners	13 - 1 (W)	20-12

6/11	12:00 PM	Kalkaska High School	5 - 3 (W)	21-12

6/11	2:00 PM	Boyne City	7 - 2 (W)	22-12