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GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Indians American Legion Baseball team played four tight games at the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament this weekend, and ended up losing three of them. The result means Gladstone will not advance to the semifinals.

On Thursday, the Indians blew a 5-0 lead and lost to Escanaba, 6-5. Then on Friday, the Indians dropped a close 3-2 decision to DePere. And on Saturday, the Indians pulled out a 3-2 win over Norway before nearly coming from behind to beat Plover, Wis., before losing, 3-2.

That loss assured the Indians of finishing out of the Final Four in this ten-team tournament. There will be four Wisconsin teams in the semifinals on Sunday.

"Even though we didn't advance, I think we leave here on a high note," Gladstone Manager Scott Kwarciany said. "They're (Plover) just a really good ballclub. There were a lot of shots that we hit hard that against a lot of teams, they fall in. But when you play a good team, you've got to play perfect."
 

On Saturday, the Indians threw ace pitcher Tyler Darmogray against Norway ace Alex Ortman. And it was a pitcher's duel all the way, and the defensive errors played a big role in the game. Norway took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Nolan Amundson walked and eventually scored on an error by third baseman Gavin Frossard.

But Gladstone scored three unearned runs to take the lead in the third inning. Darmogray was hit by a pitch, then Casey Alworden put down a nice bunt.

Third baseman Carson McLean fielded the ball and rushed himself, and threw it away. Darmogray came all the way around to score. Then Ortman made a bad throw on a pick-off attempt, and Alworden scored, sending Braden Sundquist to third base. Isaac Ketchum followed with a ground ball to short that scored Sundquist, making it 3-1.

It stayed that way late into the game as Darmogray and Ortman matched each other pitch-for-pitch, and they both had to do it to cover up even more errors. Gladstone and Norway combined to commit seven errors in the game.

The Vikings scored a run in the sixth inning on a missed fly ball in right field, after Carson Chartier hit a line drive that hit Gladstone third baseman Noah Peterson, knocking him out of the game.

In the seventh inning, Darmogray reached his pitch count with one batter to go, so Ketchum came in to pitch. With two out, Brent Lagina put down a sweet bunt, but Sundquist pounced on it and threw strong to first base, ending the game.

"It was a choice between me and Johnny (Soderman) to pitch, so when I got it, I knew I just had to throw strikes," Ketchum said. "That's what it took. I told Braden 'you've got it all the way'. I just threw a fastball. I wasn't going to throw my curve at all."

That win kept Gladstone alive with a 1-2 record, but they would have to beat an undefeated Plover, Wis., team to do it. The Black Sox had already wrapped up the top seed in pool play, but still threw a strong pitcher in Matt Glodowski.

Glodowski carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Frossard broke it up with a solid single to left field. Besides two Plover errors, that was Gladstone's only base runner in the first five innings of the game.

Gladstone threw freshman pitcher Trevor Thorbahn, and he was able to keep the talented Plover batting order in check, for the most part. The Black Sox did, however, string together four straight hits in the third inning to plate three runs against Thorbahn.

“They hit the ball well, like really well,” Thorbahn said. “That's the best team I've ever pitched against. I just step off the mound, take a couple deep breaths. My Coach (Tyler) Swanson tells me to just slow down, take a deep breath, and throw strikes.”

The Indians' bats woke up in the sixth inning against reliever Kaleb Thauer. With one out, Darmogray smacked a double, then Alworden ripped a single to left field. Darmogray, though, was called out on a close play at third base.

Sundquist followed with a base hit, so the Indians had two men on again. But Ketchum grounded out to shortstop, ending the threat, keeping it a 3-0 Plover lead.

In the seventh, Frossard, who came on in the fifth inning for Thorbahn, got a big boost when Thorbahn, playing third base, got a screamer off the bat of Braylen Nystrom. He touched the bag at third base, and threw to first for the inning-ending double play.

“The ball was coming in hot,” Thorbahn said. “They were cranking the ball over there. I just played it, calmed down, and threw it.”

In the bottom of the inning, the Indians went to work against Nystrom, who was on to preserve the 3-0 lead for the Black Sox. Davin Mattonen drew a walk to start the inning, and then Frosard got his second hit of the game. Then Johnny Soderman hit a fly ball that was misplayed in right field, bringing Mattonen home with the first run.

With two out, Darmogray drew a walk to load the bases, and then Alworden also walked, forcing in Gladstone's second run. With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Sundquist grounded to short to end the game with a tough loss.

"It was a great effort," Kwarciany said. "We talked to the boys about refocusing after yesterday and Thursday, and just playing with some heart. They did that today. They responded today and they had fun. We'll bring that and carry that forward."

On Friday, the Indians also had a chance to walk it off against DePere. They trailed, 3-1, entering the seventh inning, but Mattonen was safe on an error to start the inning. After two flyouts, Frossard singled to bring home the Indians' second run. Thorbahn walked, and that brought up Darmogray with the bases loaded.

Darmogray, however, swung at a second-pitch curveball and popped it up, ending the game.

Gladstone finished with a 1-3 record in the tournament. The Indians return to action Wednesday night at home with a rematch against the Norway Vikings.