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Sundquist, Schone, Pare Send Braves Into Regional
 Click the thumbnails to see video highlights and the radio broadcast from the semifinal game. GLADSTONE---The Gladstone High School softball team cruised to another district championship on Friday, beating Cheboygan, 6-0, in the semifinals, and then crushing Menominee in the final, 15-0. The Braves (29-4, ranked No. 2 in the state in Division Three), advance to the regional tournament on Saturday, June 7, in Boyne City. Gladstone was not able to put away Cheboygan in the semifinal game, as Chiefs freshman pitcher Lydia Kosanke kept the Braves hitters off-balance. Braves senior Lauren Sundquist, however, was NOT kept off-balance, as she went 4-for-4, with five runs batted in. Sundquist, who has signed with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), hit a three-run homer to left field to break a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning. Sundquist added another solo home run, and an RBI single, as well as a double. Lauren Pare added a solo home run for the Braves, backing up the pitching of Tia Schone. Schone, who has signed with Grand Rapids Community College, allowed three base hits but was in complete control on Friday, striking out 15 batters. Tessa Lake had two hits for Cheboygan (14-16 overall). The second semifinal saw Menominee beat Manistique, 12-3, as Kadyn Olsen hit a home run and added a single and a double. She drove in three runs altogether. Jazmine Jasenovsky also homered for Menominee. The Manistique Emeralds finished their season with a 17-15 record. In the championship game, the Braves took control right away, scoring four runs in the first inning and adding five more in the second inning. Tiahna Reynolds finished with three runs batted in, and Pare had another two-run homer. Sundquist continued her hot hitting with two more hits. Ava Johnson took the pitching loss in the circle for Menominee, which fell to 12-22 on the season. It was Gladstone’s 12th consecutive district championship, and the Braves will look for a third straight regional championship next weekend in Boyne City. |
