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ONE UP, ONE DOWN: Gladstone Tops Tecumseh
 TECUMSEH, Mich.---Montgomery Pepin threw a three-hitter, striking out 13 batters, as the Gladstone Major Girls (age 11-12) softball team won its state tournament opener over Tecumseh, 5-1, Saturday, in downstate Tecumseh. It was a rematch of a game played between these two groups of girls at the Minor softball (age 9-10) state tournament in 2017, a game that Gladstone won, 5-0.  But Gladstone came back quickly. In the fourth inning, Lauren Sundquist led off with a base hit, then Maggie Buckley followed with a single. Pepin put the ball in play with a bouncer that Ketola fielded and got the out at first, but Sundquist sprinted home from third base with the tying run. Rylee Gerow followed with a ground ball that got Buckley home from third, making it 2-1. In the fifth inning, Gladstone put the game away with three runs. Cameron Buckley came off the bench and with two strikes on her, smoked a double to the outfield fence. Tia Schone drew a walk, and with two out, Sundquist came threw with a clucth base hit to drive home a pair of runs.  Sundquist and Maggie Buckley led Gladstone with two hits apiece. Pepin, meanwhile, was in control, striking out seven of the final nine outs she recorded. She walked just one batter, allowed three hits, and there were no errors behind her. Gladstone will face the District 12 champions from Evart on Sunday as pool play continues. Evart defeated St. Clair, 4-0, on Saturday. This will be another rematch from two years ago, when Gladstone also beat Evart, 5-0, in that 9-10 state tournament. Sunday's game starts at 12:00 noon, and the radio broadcast starts at 11:45 on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, taken by Amy Sundquist. Also see and hear interviews with Lauren Sundquist, Montgomery Pepin, and Gladstone Coach Rick Pepin.  |
