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Gladstone 9/10 Boys Win Wild District Title, 15-13
 IRON MOUNTAIN---The Gladstone Minor Boys won a district championship Friday night, but it sure wasn't easy. The boys outlasted Norway, 15-13, in seven innings, at Iron Mountain's Barkle Field, to earn a trip to the state finals in Midland. Gladstone raced out to an 8-2 lead in the third inning, as Casey Alworden had a two-run single and Austin Solis ripped a two-run triple as part of a five-run inning. But in the bottom of the inning, Norway came right back as Blake Holmes had a two run double and Hayden Amundson hit his second RBI double of the game. That made it an 8-5 game. When Amundson came up again in the fourth inning, he launched a long three-run homer that gave Norway a 10-9 lead heading into the final two innings. But the Norway defense, which committed ten errors in the game, made three errors in the fifth inning to help Gladstone regain the advantage, 12-10. Tucker Carlson had an RBI hit in that inning. Norway battled back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Bryce Adams singled, Alex Ortman doubled, and Ryan Erickson brought them both home with a base hit. But the umpires ruled that Ortman had missed touching home plate, so his run did not count. Norway eventually did tie the game at 12-12, however, on a Gladstone error...one of four Gladstone errors on the night. Norway had a chance to win the game and force an additional championship game on Sunday when the boys put runners and second and third with two out. But Gladstone wiggled off the hook, and then scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Tyler Darmogray had a base hit to get it going, then Solis brought in the go-ahead run with a single. Nathan Young's RBI double made it a 15-12 game. Erickson doubled in a run for Norway in the bottom of the seventh, but they could get no further offense against Gladstone pitcher Thomas Tackman. Tackman went 3 and 1/3 innings in relief, allowing five hits and one walk, but striking out six batters. John Soderman and Luke Bracket pitched earlier in the game for Gladstone. Amundson took the loss for Norway. In Marquette on Friday, Portage Lake beat Ishpeming, 18-3, to win the District Eleven title, so it will be Gladstone and Portage Lake representing the U.P. at the state tournament. |
