Groleau Leads Braves To District Win Over Cougars

GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Braves opened their post-season run with an 8-0 win over the Superior Central Cougars Friday at Don Olsen Field. That's the good news.

The bad news is that the boys made four errors and a hard time hitting the ball at times against the Cougars. Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher says that his team must play better in the district championship game on Saturday against the Negaunee Miners.

Jake Peterson takes a pitch on Friday.

"We didn't come out with a lot of energy again today," Lauscher said. "I just don't quite know why. Tomorrow, they're really going to have to step it up because Negaunee's going to be gunning for us.

"To move on, you've got to beat the best," Lauscher continued. "Unless things change, it's going to be a short tournament run."

The Cougars had a chance to grab the early lead against Braves lefty Christian Groleau.

Cody Maki and Ian McGuinis had back-to-back singles and Tyler Kinnitz was safe on an error to load the bases. Groleau got Jacob Aho to pop up to end the threat.

Superior Central (3-16) never really threatened the rest of the way.

Christian Groleau picks off Cougar base-runner.

"I didn't come out throwing the ball hard right away," Groleau said. "I had to focus on my mechanics, following through."

The Braves scored in the bottom of the first inning when Hunter Garling hit a triple down the right field line, and he came home on a Justin Jurek sacrafice fly.

Hunter Garling on third after his triple.

"He threw it inside, and Coach has been telling me that I have to pull the ball more," Garling said. "So that gave me the great opportunity to try it, and I guess I just capitalized on it."

Gladstone added a run in the third inning when the Cougars made three errors. And then in the fourth inning, Blake Ballard walked and scored on a Sam Pouliot double to make it 3-0.

Gladstone's lead grew to 4-0 in the fifth inning when Jurek doubled and scored on a hit by Tom Bailey.

The Braves scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning as the Cougars chose to bring in a new pitcher and played several freshmen and sophomores.

For the third time this season, the Braves had a hard time hitting Cougars starting pitcher Cody Maki. But just like in the other two meetings, the Braves were able to eventually do just enough to win the game. Maki was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings of work. He fanned three and walked two.

Christian Groleau tossed a three-hitter.

Groleau was in control after that rocky first inning. He ended up throwing six innings, giving up three hits and no walks. Groleau struck out seven batters.

"Christian threw the ball well," Lauscher said. "Early on, he kept the ball up. Superior Central's kids really put the bat on the ball. One through nine in their order, it's hard to fool them. Then Christian got his curveball working for him."

Jake Peterson came on to throw a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and the Braves won.

Gladstone (18-9-1) will host Negaunee in the district championship game Saturday afternoon at 1:00.

Negaunee beat Pickford-Cedarville, 14-1, in Friday's other district semifinal.

The Braves will likely face Miners ace Tyler Jandron on Saturday, who pitched twice against Gladstone this season, but only for three innings each time.

Tom Bailey with the RBI base hit for the Braves.

"I think we'll do fine," Lauscher said. "It's a matter of can he really be consistent over seven innings? I'm not sure. The biggest thing is that we've got to put the bat on the ball early. And then maybe he'll get wild and some things can happen from there."

"We've really got to clean it up (defense)," Groleau said. "Tomorrow is going to be a really close game. Whoever makes the plays and hits the ball is going to win."

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the game, taken by Lori and Ron Jurek.

Gladstone's Justin Jurek dives back into first base as Cougar Ian Stampfly takes the throw Friday night.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/20	12:45 PM	at Remus Chippewa Hills	0 - 4 (L)	0-1

4/20	3:00 PM	at Whitehall Vikings	4 - 6 (L)	0-2

4/26	4:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	4 - 3 (W)	1-2

4/26	6:30 PM	Negaunee Miners	5 - 0 (W)	2-2

4/27	12:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	11 - 1 (W)	3-2

4/27	2:30 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	10 - 1 (W)	4-2

4/29	4:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	4 - 2 (W)	5-2

4/29	6:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	12 - 1 (W)	6-2

5/2	4:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	10 - 2 (W)	7-2

5/4	10:00 AM	Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	8-2

5/4	5:45 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	1 - 5 (L)	8-3

5/6	4:30 PM	Norway Knights	4 - 3 (W)	9-3

5/6	6:45 PM	Norway Knights	7 - 1 (W)	10-3

5/9	6:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	8 - 14 (L)	10-4

5/10	5:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	5 - 10 (L)	10-5

5/10	7:30 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	13 - 3 (W)	11-5

5/15	4:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	5 - 7 (L)	11-6

5/15	6:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	12-6

5/18	10:00 AM	Cheboygan Chiefs	2 - 3 (L)	12-7

5/18	12:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	6 - 7 (L)	12-8

5/18	2:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	13 - 3 (W)	13-8

5/20	4:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	9 - 4 (W)	14-8

5/20	6:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	8 - 0 (W)	15-8

5/24	4:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	10 - 4 (W)	16-8

5/24	6:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	7 - 0 (W)	17-8

5/27	6:30 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	1 - 5 (L)	17-9

5/28	6:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	3 - 3 (T)	17-9-1

5/31	4:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	8 - 0 (W)	18-9-1

6/1	1:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	2 - 3 (L)	18-10-1