Indians Sweep, Cubs Split At Johnson Tournament

The Gladstone Indians and Escanaba Cubs picked up wins against a downstate team on Friday as the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament continued.

The Indians beat Milford, 11-1, while the Cubs also beat Milford, 7-1.

INDIANS WIN TWICE---Gladstone's victory was completed in four innings on the tournament's ten-run mercy rule. Tyson Seymour pitched all four innings, allowing three base hits and two walks.

Seymour struck out five batters, and he helped his own cause with a two-run home run to left field in the fourth inning.

Ben Schwalbach also went deep with a two-run home run in the third.

Hunter Garling had an RBI single in the first inning and Braeden Lamberg drove in a run with a single in the second inning. Doc McGrew's RBI single in the third inning was the only run for Milford. McGrew was the losing pitcher, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. Gage Bitzer finished on the mound for Milford.

Gladstone later shut out the Eastern U.P. Travelers out of Sault Ste. Marie, 8-0, as Elliot Danhoff tossed a two-hitter on the mound. The Indians are 3-0 in the tournament, and have clinched a spot in Sunday morning's semifinal game at Don Olsen Field.

CUBS GET JB'S FIRST WIN---The Milford team, from a downstate community about an hour west of downtown Detroit, got in its cars and headed to Escanaba to face the Cubs about an hour later. The Cubs won, 7-1, giving new Jon Bintner his first win as the club's manager. Bintner is taking over for longtime Manager Tom Ohman this year.

Cubs ace pitcher Justin Popelka struck out eight batters and got to within one out of a complete game before being relieved by Noah Lancour in the seventh inning.

Escanaba took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a groundout by Drew Serrer and a Milford throwing error. They added three more runs in the third inning when Popelka doubled home one run and Sam Hall came through with a two-run single to right field.

The Cubs scored an unearned run in the fourth inning, and then Popelka had his second run-scoring hit of the game to close the scoring in the sixth inning.

Tyler Willette led the Cubs with three base hits, a sacrifice bunt, and two runs scored.

A couple of oddities in this game: Cody Frappier flew out four straight times to left field, and the game ended on a walk. The Milford runner at third base thought the bases were loaded, so he trotted home. The bases weren't loaded, and he was tagged out.

The Cubs lost the late game to the Marquette Blues, 9-5.

FRIDAY'S OTHER GAMES---Kingsford lost a pair of games to DePere, 12-1, and Copper Country, 11-3....Blissfield, from southern lower Michigan, won twice, beating Marinette, 8-4, and topping Copper Country, 6-5, in nine innings. Logan Fish had a home run for Copper Country in that loss to Blissfield...Marquette lost to the EUP Travelers, 11-3, despite a home run by Holden Shaneberger in the second inning.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from the Escanaba-Milford, Gladstone-Milford, and Kingsford- Copper Country games. Thanks to Laura Lamberg and Sheila Olsen.