Indians Open Season With Win Over Marquette HS

GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Indians opened the 2012 baseball season Wednesday night with an 11-1 win over the Marquette High School team at Don Olsen Field.

The Indians smacked 13 base hits while the Redmen got just one hit off Gladstone pitcher Blake Ballard. The game was stopped in the fifth inning on the mercy rule.

The game was actually tied in the third inning, as Ballard and Marquette's Gabe Apple both got off to a good start, with each allowing no hits early on. But the bottom of the third inning saw the Indians explode for five runs on six straight hits.

Peyton Jurek lead off the third with a single and then stole second. Justin Jurek, Cody Frazer, Jared Stenson, Jake Pearson, and Ballard all followed with singles before Hayden Hardwick drove in the inning's final run with a groundout. It was 5-0.

In the fourth inning, the Indians scored five more runs. Peyton Jurek led off with a double, and after a groundout, Frazer doubled him home. Stenson, Pearson and Ballard all singled (Ballard's hit brought home two runs). 

Colin O'Neal singled Ballard home and Gladstone had a 10-0 lead after four innings.

The Redmen (7-5) managed to stay alive in the top of the fifth inning when Collin Schweminen broke up Ballard's no-hitter with a double. He stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

But in the bottom of the fifth inning,  Justin Jurek reached on a fielders choice, stole second and scored as Frazer knocked in his third hit of the night.

Ballard got the win on the mound, allowing just the one hit. He threw just 60 pitches in his five innings of work, striking out five batters and walking three. Apple took the loss for the Redmen, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks.

Defensively, the game was well-played, with the Indians not committing an error and the Redmen having just one miscue. The Indians stole nine bases in the contest, with Justin Jurek getting three of them.

Offensively, Frazer led the way by going 3-for-4 with three runs batteed in. Ballard helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two stolen bases. Pearson wenr 2-for-3 with two RBI and two steals. Stenson and Peyton Jurek also had two hits.

The win was the first for Jim Groleau, the longtime Little League and travel ball coach who took over the Indians program after Dennis Darling resigned last fall.

The Indians are back in action on Sunday, with a doubleheader against the Channing Railroaders at Don Olsen Field. Game time for the opener is 1:00.

The Indians were supposed to play Stephenson High School on Sunday, but the Eagles did not have enough players available to make the trip to Gladstone.

You can listen to both of Sunday's games live on WCHT-AM (600), and the games will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.rrnsports.com.