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Darmogray Powers Gladstone Past Escanaba, 10-3
 Click the thumbnails to see videos from the game, and hear post-game comments from Darmogray, Escanaba Coach Jon Bintner, and Gladstone Coach Scott Kwarchiany. ESCANABA---Tyler Darmogray pitched 6 2/3 innings and had four hits at the plate as the Gladstone Indians routed the Escanaba Cubs, 10-3, Friday night at Al Ness Field. Gladstone scored six runs in the third inning to blow the game open, and the Cubs made three errors to help the Indians' cause. "They did a good job of putting the bat on the ball, and we didn't do a good job fielding it," Escanaba Manager Jon Bintner said. "When you give them extra opportunities, they definitely made us pay for it." Darmogray has now had ten hits in his last twelve at-bats as the Indians won their third straight game in a span of 72 hours. "That's pretty good because last week, I wasn't hitting the ball worth a crap," Darmogray said. "So, I switched my swing, shortened my stride, and I'm doing good now. I know how most of them (Esky kids) pitch, since I've played against them pretty much my whole life. So, I was just waiting for the pitch that was coming to me. I was up in the count a lot, so I was waiting for that 2-0 fastball, 2-1 fastball. Throw it right down the middle and just smoke it." Indeed, he did. Darmogray's best hit of the night was his last, a two-run double to the warning track in left field. Did he think he might have gotten a home run? "No," Darmogray said. "Same exact thing happened last night (in Niagara, a 12-3 Indians win), Sadness!" Noah Peterson's two-run double highlighted Gladstone's six-run third inning. Aedan Creten and Isaac Ketchum also had run-scoring hits in that inning. In all, Gladstone pounded out 13 base hits, with Creten getting two run-scoring hits and Casey Alworden adding an RBI double. Ketchum and Creten both ended up with two base hits. "To come back here and get three games and get three straight wins, I mean, this week was about gaining momentum," Gladstone Manager Scott Kwarciany said. "Just feeling good as a team and playing error-free ball as much as you can, and doing the simple things. That's what we really tried to focus on. This was an important one for them." Eli Gardner took the loss for the Cubs, allowing all six runs in that third inning. Ben Johnson relieved him, throwing three innings and allowing one run. Nick Chiu finished up, allowing three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning. Reese Korhonen had a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Cubs, and Chase Cloutier had an RBI single in the second inning that gave Escanaba a brief 1-0 lead. But Darmogray was tough on the mound, despite struggling with the umpire's strike zone to the tune of an uncharacteristic six walks. He struck out seven batters. Escanaba finished its regular season with a 8-9 record. Gladstone ended up 8-5. The U.P. Zone Tournament starts next Thursday in both Ishpeming and Marquette. Gladstone will be hosting the state tournament and has an automatic bid into that six-team field. ---MORE--- |
