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Englund Brothers Lead Bark River Bucs Into Semis
 GLADSTONE---Zach Englund threw 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball and his older brother Duane got things started with a solo home run as the Bark River Bucs beat the Gladstone Indians, 4-1, at the U.P. Zone Tournament Friday in Gladstone. Later, Bark River held off Menominee, 7-6, to clinch a spot in the U.P. semifinals. Duner Englund threw 6 1/3 innings to earn the victory against the Red Wave.  He eventually left the game in the seventh inning when he reached his 105-pitch limit, and Duner Englund came in to get the final three outs. It was a wild ride for the Mott Co0mmunity College sophomore, however, as he had to face Gladstone’s Braeden Lamberg with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the seventh. He was able to get Lamberg to bounce out to end the game. “Logan (Heim) just called a great game,” Zach Englund said. “He was mixing it up on them. Inside and outside. My curveball was working the best.” Duner Englund’s home run in the first inning off Gladstone pitcher Cooper Cavadeas sailed over the left field fence. Not as dramatic as his two-run homer in the seventh inning of the Sault Ste. Marie tournament semifinals, but this was still sweet for him.  “I was just happy we got the early lead on them,” Zach Englund said. “I had some room to work with.” And facing Lamberg, who has committed to Delta College next fall, was not in his plans. But after he walked #9 hitter Zach Hanson to load the bases, that’s what he had to do. “I didn’t want to face Braeden at all,” Englund said. “He is such a great hitter, and I’m actually going to face him next fall (in college). He’s not somebody to mess with, and I threw two curveballs and two fastballs, then when he rolled over, I threw a curveball at him (for the out).” Kadin Mustafa’s two-out, two-run single gave Bark River a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning. “It means everything to beat them,” Mustafa said. “There’s a few people on that team who have talked about their previous state championship, and pretty much told me straight to my face that they were going to beat us, like it’s nothing." "So, it feels good to get the win.”  Cavadeas threw well in a losing effort, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned). Zach Englund ended up allowing two hits and two walks, withy three strikeouts. BARK RIVER 7, MENOMINEE 6---In the evening game, Bark River jumped to an early lead with two runs off Menominee pitcher Bryce Tharp. The Red Wave turned double plays in each of the first two innings, but fell behind 4-0 before Jason Janquart hit a three-run homer to make it 4-3. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Logan Heim ripped a two-run homer to make it 6-3. An unearned run in the fifth inning gave the Bucs a four-run lead, and then after Duner Englund ran out of pitches, Matt Richer came on and gave up three runs. With the bases loaded, he got Janquart to bounce out to end the game. FRIDAY'S OTHER GAMES---Earlier on Friday, Gladstone finished off a 9-2 win over Menominee, in a game that was suspended in the fourth inning Thursday night when rains flooded the Don Olsen Field. Then Menominee defeated Copper Country, 10-2, in Friday’s first full game. Jason Janquart threw 6 2/3 innings to get the win and Kyle Rivard drove in four runs on a pair of hits for the Red Wave. In Escanaba, the Cubs lost to the Marquette Blues, 12-0, and Sault Ste. Marie edged Negaunee, 3-2. Negaunee then topped Marquette, 6-2, in the day's third game. SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE Bark River vs Copper Copuntry, 10 a.m., make-up game in Gladstone Semifinal in Escanaba: Gladstone vs Marquette, noon Semifinal in Gladstone: Bark River vs Sault Ste. Marie, noon Championship in Escanaba, TBA Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos, and listen to interviews with Mustafa and the Englund brothers.  |
