NORWAY---It's been nearly two weeks since the Gladstone Braves and Norway Knights met on a cold, windy night in Gladstone. Would you believe that since that time, the Knights have not played a single baseball game? And had only a few outdoor practices
Well, believe it.
The Braves and Knights met again Monday night, and Norway's lack of playing time showed as Gladstone blasted the Knights, 13-0, in the first game of a doubleheader at Marion Park.
The Knights played better in the second game, and the Braves got out of town with a 4-1 victory to post the doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, there was not much suspense as the Braves scored five runs in each of the first two innings to grab a huge 10-0 lead.
In the first inning, Gladstone had six base hits, with Justin Jurek and Ben Schwalbach each driving in a run and Sam Pouliot driving home two. In the second inning, Jurek had another RBI double and Christian Tackman had a two-run double.
In the third inning, Tommy Bailey had an RBI single, and in the fifth, Schwalbach drove in two more runs with a double. In all, the Braves had 12 hits, and five of them were doubles.
Bailey threw the first two and two-thirds innings, allowing only one infield hit. He did walk six batters, so Hunter Garling was brought in to get out of a bases-loaded situation in the third inning, and he struck out Jake Rehn to keep the score 11-0.
Garling ended up going 2 1/3 innings, allowing only an infield hit to Caleb Tinkey.
The Knights used three pitchers, with John Edwardsen giving up ten runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. Edwardsen took the loss.
In Monday's second game, Gladstone scored in the first inning when Jake Peterson walked, went all the way to third on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Bailey.
Norway starter Mike Faull kept the Braves off the board in the second inning, and then Alex Carlson retired the Braves in the third inning.
Carlson was helped by his defense, as right fielder Garrett Bonetti tracked down Garling's long fly ball, battled the sun, caught the ball, and crashed into the fence. Then, Bailey smoked a line drive that was caught by third baseman Kevin Evosevich.
For the Braves, Peterson was strong on the mound, keeping the Knights hitters off-balance. Norway had at least one hit in every inning except for the first, but over the first five innings, baserunning mistakes and other problems plagued the Knights.
Gladstone added to its 1-0 lead with three runs in the fourth.
Jurek led off with a single, and then Tackman pounded a double to the fence. One out later, Schwalbach walked to load the bases.
The Knights brought in their infield, and Christian Groleau hit a sharply-hit ball to first base. It went right through the boy's legs into right field, and two runs scored to make it 3-0. Peterson's sacrafice fly made it a 4-0 game.
Norway did not give up. The Knights got a leadoff single in the sixth inning from Austin Grayvold, and then he stole second base. Tinkey struck out, but the ball went to the backstop and he was safe.
With runners at the corners, Tinkey tried to steal second base, but was thrown out by catcher Hunter Garling on a close play.
Nick Pearman's grounder scored Grayvold from third to make it a 4-1 game.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning as Norway tried to rally against a tiring Peterson. Peterson walked Bryce Plante on a 3-2 pitch to start the inning, then Jordan Neumann made contact with a half-swing and got a base hit.
With one out, Jake Rehn hit a pop fly over Schwalbach's head at third, and Norway had the bases loaded.
That's when Jurek was brought in to save the game, and he did his job, striking out Dane Vandenheuvel and Grayvold to finish the contest.
Gladstone, ranked No. 4 in the state in the most recent Division Three coaches poll, improved to 11-1 on the season. Norway, meanwhile, has had 22 games cancelled already due to weather and scheduling issues. The Knights are 0-3.
The Gladstone team will now have some fun, as the boys will head to Milwaukee on Tuesday to watch the Miwaukee Brewers face the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Gladstone returns to action on Thursday with a home game against the Escanaba Eskymos. Game time is 4:30. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and coon-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Brandi Jurek, and listen to audio highlights and interviews.
Braves freshman Nick Trudeau (6) bats.
The Braves and Knights met again Monday night, and Norway's lack of playing time showed as Gladstone blasted the Knights, 13-0, in the first game of a doubleheader at Marion Park.
The Knights played better in the second game, and the Braves got out of town with a 4-1 victory to post the doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, there was not much suspense as the Braves scored five runs in each of the first two innings to grab a huge 10-0 lead.
In the first inning, Gladstone had six base hits, with Justin Jurek and Ben Schwalbach each driving in a run and Sam Pouliot driving home two. In the second inning, Jurek had another RBI double and Christian Tackman had a two-run double.
Don Lauscher Post-Game Comments
Bailey threw the first two and two-thirds innings, allowing only one infield hit. He did walk six batters, so Hunter Garling was brought in to get out of a bases-loaded situation in the third inning, and he struck out Jake Rehn to keep the score 11-0.
Jake Peterson tossed 6 1/3 innings.
The Knights used three pitchers, with John Edwardsen giving up ten runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. Edwardsen took the loss.
In Monday's second game, Gladstone scored in the first inning when Jake Peterson walked, went all the way to third on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Bailey.
Norway starter Mike Faull kept the Braves off the board in the second inning, and then Alex Carlson retired the Braves in the third inning.
Carlson was helped by his defense, as right fielder Garrett Bonetti tracked down Garling's long fly ball, battled the sun, caught the ball, and crashed into the fence. Then, Bailey smoked a line drive that was caught by third baseman Kevin Evosevich.
Jake Peterson post-game comments.
Gladstone added to its 1-0 lead with three runs in the fourth.
Jurek led off with a single, and then Tackman pounded a double to the fence. One out later, Schwalbach walked to load the bases.
Braves senior Christian Groleau bats.
Norway did not give up. The Knights got a leadoff single in the sixth inning from Austin Grayvold, and then he stole second base. Tinkey struck out, but the ball went to the backstop and he was safe.
With runners at the corners, Tinkey tried to steal second base, but was thrown out by catcher Hunter Garling on a close play.
Nick Pearman's grounder scored Grayvold from third to make it a 4-1 game.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning as Norway tried to rally against a tiring Peterson. Peterson walked Bryce Plante on a 3-2 pitch to start the inning, then Jordan Neumann made contact with a half-swing and got a base hit.
Sam Pouliot post-game comments
That's when Jurek was brought in to save the game, and he did his job, striking out Dane Vandenheuvel and Grayvold to finish the contest.
Gladstone, ranked No. 4 in the state in the most recent Division Three coaches poll, improved to 11-1 on the season. Norway, meanwhile, has had 22 games cancelled already due to weather and scheduling issues. The Knights are 0-3.
Justin Jurek Gets The Save
Gladstone returns to action on Thursday with a home game against the Escanaba Eskymos. Game time is 4:30. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and coon-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Brandi Jurek, and listen to audio highlights and interviews.
