HISTORY MADE: Miners Take Regional Semifinal

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GLADSTONE---The Negaunee Miners made history Wednesday night, picking up their first regional win in school history, 12-0, in a MHSAA Division Three semifinal over the Gladstone Braves.

Tristan Slater threw four innings of no-hit ball and he drove in the first run of the game for Negaunee. Slater got out of a jam in each of the first two innings when the Braves had two men on base thanks to walks and Miner errors.

Slater took advantage of a strike zone that frustrated some Braves hitters.

“I feel amazing,” Slater said. “I felt that my off-speed did really well. The outside corner wasn’t going my way, so I had to work inside at the knees and that went pretty good. Us, as a team, have been hitting the ball really well lately. It’s sure coming around at a good time.”

“I’m so proud of our kids for being focused,” Negaunee Manager Jason Siik said. “We had a game plan, and we stuck to it. Tristan pitches to contact, and his ball moves enough where guys have a hard time squaring up against him. He’s been crafty all year.”

Slater helped his own cause with an RBI single to left field that broke the scoreless tie against Braves starting pitcher Isaac Ketchum in the second inning. Devin Jurmu followed with an RBI single, another run scored on a wild pitch, and Owen Cardinal singled in a run to make it 4-0.

A seven-run fourth inning saw things unravel for the Braves, with errors, hit batters, and stolen bases helping to balloon the score.

Cardinal had another run-scoring hit, Jack Siik smacked a two-run single after launching a foul ball in a bid for a grand slam home run.

“He threw a fastball and I was just a little bit out front,” Jack Siik said. “Then he came at it again, and I was a little late. He came up again with it and I went up the middle for two RBIs. I’ll take the two RBIs.”

Evan DellAngelo brought home two runs with a hit (a third run scored on an error). All of that added up to a bigger-than-expected Miners win.

Ketchum took the loss on the mound, with Cooper Sanville finishing up in relief. Landon VanTassell had the only Gladstone base hit of the game, in the fifth inning, off of relief pitcher Cardinal. The game ended on the mercy rule, and Gladstone’s season ended with a 17-18 overall record.

For Negaunee, the dream season continues, with a 34-6 record. The Miners will next face state powerhouse Traverse City St. Francis in the regional final on Saturday, in Traverse City. The Gladiators are 27-8-1 after winning their semifinal over Elk Rapids, 11-4, on Wednesday.

“Their history speaks for themselves,” Coach Siik said. “I couldn’t be more excited to go there and to have this opportunity to show that we’re on the map. The kids are excited to travel.”

“I think we’re ready for some good competition,” Slater said. “Teams down there are a lot better, but we’re ready for it.”