Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos taken by RRN intern Braden Kerr
KENTWOOD, Mich.---The Gladstone Major Little League All-Stars (age 11-12) lost their second straight game Saturday at the Michigan State Tournament in suburban Grand Rapids, falling to Petoskey, 11-1, in five innings.
It's the second straight loss by the same score for Gladstone.
Gladstone was able to get through the first inning with no damage, but in the top of the second inning, Petoskey scored four times, three of them on a double to the center field fence by Parker Ward.
In the bottom of the inning, Gladstone got their first hit when Nick Proehl smoked a double to the fence, but he was stranded there when Petoskey pitcher Brock Jeffers struck out the next three Braves.
Gladstone trailed 5-0 in the fourth inning when Carter Sanville worked Jeffers for a walk.
Proehl blasted another shot to the fence, but Sanville fell down halfway between second and third. He made it to third, but Proehl had to hold at first base.
Landon Pepin's grounder brought Sanville home to make it 5-1.
Things fell apart for Gladstone in the top of the fifth inning when Petoskey scored six times, with three Gladstone errors contributing to the scoring. And Ward got up again with the bases loaded and crushed a triple to the fence for three more RBI. He ended up with six runs batted in on those two extra base hits.
Jeffers ended up throwing a complete game three-hitter (Henry Sholten had Gladstone's other hit besides Proehl's two hits). Jeffers struck out 12 Gladstone batters.
Gladstone will finish the state tournament on Sunday with a game against fellow UP team Negaunee. The game is set for 10 am and it will be broadcast on FM-107.3 and radioresultsnetwork.com.
