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MATTAWAN, Mich.---The Gladstone 10u Minor Little League All-Star softball team opened the state tournament Thursday night with an easy 16-0 win over Swan Valley at the Mattawan Little League Complex in southwest Lower Michigan.

The District 14 champions from Saginaw made nine errors and Gladstone pounded out ten base hits, including a pair of home runs.

“I'm excited and I'm ready for tomorrow,” Gladstone Coach Kelly Carter said. “This was a warm-up. That;s how we'll look at it, anyway. We worked on a lot of batting (in practices). We were doing two-a-days. Our morning practice was all batting. And out afternoon was all fielding.”

Her daughter, Reagan, set the tone on the first at-bat of the day as she smoked a shot past the center fielder. Reagan Carter ran all the way around the bases for the Little League-brand home run.

“I don't know, I just hit the ball,” she said. “Then, I just ran. I'm happy that we're here. And excited.”

Later, Jayla Hughes clubbed a long shot to the right field corner, and she circled the bases for a three-run homer.

“Felt good,” Hughes said. “I don't know how to explain it. I started running. Just having fun and playing ball.”

Kamryn Ayotte had two doubles, including one in the third inning that drove home two runs. She pitched the first two innings, allowing no hits, and striking out five batters. Carter threw the last two innings, allowing one base hit and also striking out five.

Gladstone will play its second pool game Friday afternoon against Rogers City. The District 13 champions pulled out a great 4-3 win over Jackson Southwest on Thursday. The game on Friday starts at 4:30 and will be broadcast on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

MARQUETTE LOSES OPENER---The Marquette 10 u All-Stars could not get much going in their state tournament opener against Grayling, losing 10-0. Marquette had a runner at third base in each of the first two innings, but could not get the big hit.

“The girls are having a lot of fun, we started out well, and they did some mingling with the other girls, making some new friends,” Marquette Manager Justin Gustafson said. “It's nice to see the smiles on their faces. We just, mentally, kind of got behind after the second inning (when Grayling scored five runs), and we have to be mentally-stronger.”

Marquette faces the District 16 champions from Blissfield Friday night at 6:30 as the 16-team tournament continues.