GLADSTONE---The Gladstone High School girls softball team won its 14th consecutive district championship on Friday, but it wasn't easy.
The Braves had to outlast Negaunee in eleven innings, 5-0, in the semifinals, before beating Manistique in the final, 12-0.
In the semifinal, Gladstone's Tinner Sharon was hooked up in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel with Negaunee's Rosalie Anderson.
The game went scoreless for ten innings, with Sharon working out of several tough spots in extra innings when Negaunee had runners.
Then in the eleventh inning, the international tiebreaker rule kicked in. That's when each team gets a runner on second base to start the inning.
Gladstone was the visiting team in this game, and
the Braves' excellent bunting game took center stage. With that runner on second, Jess Beaudry put down a bunt, and the Miners had trouble fielding it.
With two on, they intentionally walked Jordan Kowalski to load the bases.
Bridget Becker came through with the suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Lexi Hongisto with the go-ahead run. Then the Miners' third baseman couldn't field Lauren Parrett's grounder, and the run scored from third base to make it 2-0.
Later in the inning, with the bases still loaded, Sharon's fly ball was dropped in right field, scoring three runs. That made it 5-0, and the Miners could not recover.
In the other semifinal, Manistique eliminated Gwinn, 16-2. And then the Braves took care of business against the Emeralds in a five-inning game. That 12-0 win sends the Braves to Traverse City for the Division Three Regional Tournament next Saturday.
All of the U.P. Softball District Scores are posted below. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos.
DIVISION THREE at Gladstone
Semifinal: Gladstone 5, Negaunee 0 (11 Inn)
Semifinal: Manistique 16, Gwinn 2 (5 Inn)
Final: Gladstone 12, Manistique 0 (5 Inn)
DIVISION FOUR at Pickford
Semifinal: Rapid River 10, Rudyard 0
Semifinal: Superior Central 8, Newberry 0
Final: Rapid River 5, Superior Central 2
DIVISION FOUR at Ironwood
Semifinal: Norway 7, L'Anse 2
Semifinal: Ironwood 14, Ishpeming 4
Final: Norway 9, Ironwood 5
DIVISION FOUR at Pellston
Semifinal: Indian River Inland Lakes 14, St. Ignace 3 (5 Inn)
Semifinal: Pellston 12, Alanson 0 (4 Inn)
Final: Indian River Inland Lakes 2, Pellston 1
The Braves had to outlast Negaunee in eleven innings, 5-0, in the semifinals, before beating Manistique in the final, 12-0.
Jess Beaudry with the scoop at first base.
The game went scoreless for ten innings, with Sharon working out of several tough spots in extra innings when Negaunee had runners.
Then in the eleventh inning, the international tiebreaker rule kicked in. That's when each team gets a runner on second base to start the inning.
Gladstone was the visiting team in this game, and
the Braves' excellent bunting game took center stage. With that runner on second, Jess Beaudry put down a bunt, and the Miners had trouble fielding it.
With two on, they intentionally walked Jordan Kowalski to load the bases.
Bridget Becker came through with the suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Lexi Hongisto with the go-ahead run. Then the Miners' third baseman couldn't field Lauren Parrett's grounder, and the run scored from third base to make it 2-0.
Bridget Backer squeezes home Lexi Hongisto
In the other semifinal, Manistique eliminated Gwinn, 16-2. And then the Braves took care of business against the Emeralds in a five-inning game. That 12-0 win sends the Braves to Traverse City for the Division Three Regional Tournament next Saturday.
All of the U.P. Softball District Scores are posted below. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos.
DIVISION THREE at Gladstone
Semifinal: Gladstone 5, Negaunee 0 (11 Inn)
Semifinal: Manistique 16, Gwinn 2 (5 Inn)
Final: Gladstone 12, Manistique 0 (5 Inn)
DIVISION FOUR at Pickford
Semifinal: Rapid River 10, Rudyard 0
Semifinal: Superior Central 8, Newberry 0
Final: Rapid River 5, Superior Central 2
DIVISION FOUR at Ironwood
Semifinal: Norway 7, L'Anse 2
Semifinal: Ironwood 14, Ishpeming 4
Final: Norway 9, Ironwood 5
DIVISION FOUR at Pellston
Semifinal: Indian River Inland Lakes 14, St. Ignace 3 (5 Inn)
Semifinal: Pellston 12, Alanson 0 (4 Inn)
Final: Indian River Inland Lakes 2, Pellston 1
