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Gladstone Falls One Game Short in Semifinal Loss
 This story was written by RRN Intern Braden Kerr GLADSTONE--- The Gladstone Indians American Legion season came to an end in the Zone Five semifinal game after they fell to the Marquette Blues by a score of 10-3. Gladstone fell just short of making the state tournament while Marquette will advance downstate to defend their state championship. Gladstone tied the game at three in the top of the fourth inning, but the tie would not last as Marquette put up six runs in the bottom of the inning enroute to a 10-3 victory. In the bottom of the first inning Pete VandenAvond hit a two-out double that drove in Kyle Frusti who had drawn a leadoff walk. Aedan Creten walked, and Jonny Soderman doubled to put runners on second and third for Casey Alworden. On a 3-1 pitch Alworden laid down the suicide squeeze to score Alworden, and Soderman never stopped rounding third and scored on the throw to first. In the bottom of the inning Logan Peterson and Isaac Sarles singled with a walk sandwiched in the middle to load the bases for the Blues. Kyle Frusti drew a one out walk to tie the game and Brody caster scored on a fielder’s choice to restore the lead for Marquette. Aedan Creten once again reached base to start the fourth with a singled and scored on a Noah Peterson sacrifice fly to tie the game. The mistakes piled up for the Indians in the bottom of the inning when Marquette scored six runs on zero hits. Four walks and four errors allowed the Blues to run wild on the bases and put them firmly in control of the game. Gladstone was never able to respond to the big inning from Marquette. Keith Judici put his stamp on the game when he hit a big homerun to right field in the bottom of the sixth. Parker Maki picked up the win in an almost complete game for the Blues going 6 2/3 scattering 9 hits allowing three runs, all earned, while striking out six and walking three. Pete VandenAvond got the final out via the strikeout. Jonny Soderman took the loss for Gladstone allowing eight runs, three earned, on only three hits while walking six and striking out two in 3 1/3 innings. Aedan Creten and Cooper Sanville pitched in relief each allowing one run on one hit. Aedan Creten had two hits and scored twice, Jonny Soderman had a hit and scored, Noah Peterson had a hit and drove in a run, and Casey Alworden drove in two runs and had a hit for Gladstone. The Blues scored 10 runs on only five hits thanks to walks and errors from Gladstone. Keith Judici drove in two runs and scored twice, Pete VandenAvond had a double that drove in a run, and Kyle Frusti walked three times and score twice. Marquette secures their spot both in the state tournament and the UP-Championship Game against the Escanaba Cubs. The Blues head downstate to defend their State Championship from 2021. Gladstone’s season comes to an end just short of their goal to make the State Tournament. The Indians were able to win games by manufacturing runs and playing their brand of small ball to put pressure on their opponents. In the end one big inning put them in a position they could not battle out of. |
