LONG TIME COMING: Kingsford Beats Gladstone

Click the thumbnails to see photos, videos. And listen to post-game comments from Flivvers' Nolan Lavarnway and Sawyer Pugh.

QUINNESEC---The Kingsford High School baseball team beat the Gladstone Braves for the first time in program history Tuesday night, 7-6.

Nolan Lavarnway's two-run, walk-off base hit gave the Flivvers the win in a sloppy game which featured multiple defensive errors.

"It's exciting," Lavarnway said. "I know they're usually a tough team and we've had some trouble with them in recent years. But I thought the team played great today. We definitely came together as one. Put the bats on the ball, the pitching was great."

Gladstone led 6-4 entering the bottom of the sixth in a six-inning game, but relief pitcher Braeden Sundquist ran into trouble. Andrew Paupore was safe on an infield error, then #9 hitter Nathan Bousley battled for a wal on a 3-2 pitch. Sawyer Pugh followed with a base hit, then Sundquist walked Dennis Neuens with the baaes loaded to force in a run.

That brought up Lavarnway, and he ripped a shot down the left field line that just went foul. Seconds later, he lofted one into center field that landed in front of a charging center fielde Cam Kelly. The ball skipped by Kelly and the runners all came around to score.

"That's just what a hitter wants right there," Lavranway said. "You're excited, bases juiced. And I mean, when he gives you one right down the middle, you have to make him pay."

Kingsford (7-3) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run single by Pugh, after an error and hits by Connor Erickson and Paupore loaded the bases.

"That felt really good," Pugh said. "He gave me the perfect pitch. It was my pitch and I just drove it back up the middle. It was a great win. Gladstone is a really great-coached team. We came out on top today so it felt good today."

Gladstone got on the board in the third inning when Tyler Darmogray walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Trevor Hanson. Then in the fourth inning,

Kingsford's pitching ace, Paupore, ran into problems when he hit a batter and walked another. Ryan Polley's suicide squeeze scored the tying run, and then an error on a Hanson grounder brought home two runs, putting Gladstone in front, 4-3.

Kingsford tied the game in the bottom of the inning thanks to more leaky defense by the Braves, as they committed three errors in the inning. They had seven errors in the game, leading to five of the Flivver runs being unearned runs against starting picther Carter Vanbroklin and reliever Sundquist.

Gladstone (9-5 on the season) grabbed the lead in the fifth inning when Nick Martin got an infield hit and rode home on a triple to the fence by Blake Krouth. He was the only Brave with two hits in the contest. Krouth scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Kelly.

But the Braves could not hold onto that 6-4 lead, and Sundquist took the loss, allowing those three runs without recording an out in the final inning.

Paupore got a no-decision on the mound for Kingsford, pitching four innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks. He struck out six batters.

VanBrocklin got a no-decision for the Braves, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.