Kingsford's McCole Shuts Down Gladstone Braves

GLADSTONE---Gladstone Braves manager Don Lauscher scheduled a baseball game on Memorial Day so that his kids would get in some work before the start of the district tournaments later this week.

Gladstone's Lucas LaCosse takes a swing.

The boys did get seven innings of work, but the innings weren't as successful as Lauscher envisioned as the Braves lost to the Kingsford American Legion Blues, 5-1, at Don Olsen Field.

Gladstone managed just six base hits against Kingsford pitcher Mike McCole, and for the first time this season, failed to get the leadoff man on base in all seven innings.

Gladstone actually took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Justin Jurek got a one-out single, but was forced out at second on a Blake Ballard grounder. Christian Groleau came through with a hit as Ballard was stealing second base.

The ball handcuffed Kingsford center fielder Cole Tengesdahl as he tried to scoop it out of the grass. The error allowed Ballard to come all the way around from first base to score the game's first run. But that would be the last run the Braves would put onto the scoreboard, and they never got more than one man on base in any inning the rest of the way.

Anthony Forrest played briefly at second base for the Braves Monday night.

The closest thing the Braves had to a rally was in the fifth inning, when Christian Tackman got a base hit and Jurek followed with his third hit of the game. Unfortunately for the Braves, Tackman tried to advance to third base on that play and was tagged out to end the inning.

McCole tried to pitch a complete game, but when he walked Jake Peterson with one out in the seventh inning, Austin Murdock was brought in to pitch.

The 19-year-old UW-Oshkosh student needed only seven pitches to strike out Lucas LaCosse and Tom Bailey to end the game.

Kingsford's offense came in two innings.

In the third inning, Jurek had trouble getting the "big pitch". He had two strikes on every batter in the inning, but yielded three runs. C.J. Qualley led off with a double, then Bryce Kerscher drew a walk. Tengesdahl followed with an RBI single to tie the game, and then Brian Johnson followed with a two-run single to put Kingsford in front, 3-1.

Kingsford's Cole Tengesdahl makes a catch as teammate Connor Berndt backs up.

It stayed that way until the seventh inning because Jurek settled down and matched McCole pitch for pitch. Jurek ended up working six innings and striking out nine batters, while walking just two. Jurek gave up five hits in those six innings.

Freshman Hunter Garling came on to pitch the top of the seventh inning, and he walked Qualley and Kerscher. And Murdock made him pay with a double to the right-center field fence, scoring two runs and giving Kingsford a 5-1 lead.

McCole allowed just the one run (it was unearned) on six hits. He walked only one, striking out four batters. Kingsford has played just four games this season and is now 3-1.

The Blues also have three Iron Mountain boys on their team, as the Golds are not going to have a program this summer.

Was Kingsford's C.J. Qualley safe at 3rd? See for yourself.

Gladstone's record fell to 17-9 in the school's first season of varsity baseball since 1959.

The Braves will close the regular season on Tuesday at home, with a make-up game against the Escanaba Eskymos. Game time is 6:30. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the game, taken by Lori Jurek.

Gladstone's Justin Jurek (2) tries to pitch out of a jam during Monday night's game. (Lori Jurek photos)

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/20	12:45 PM	at Remus Chippewa Hills	0 - 4 (L)	0-1

4/20	3:00 PM	at Whitehall Vikings	4 - 6 (L)	0-2

4/26	4:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	4 - 3 (W)	1-2

4/26	6:30 PM	Negaunee Miners	5 - 0 (W)	2-2

4/27	12:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	11 - 1 (W)	3-2

4/27	2:30 PM	Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	10 - 1 (W)	4-2

4/29	4:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	4 - 2 (W)	5-2

4/29	6:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	12 - 1 (W)	6-2

5/2	4:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	10 - 2 (W)	7-2

5/4	10:00 AM	Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	8-2

5/4	5:45 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	1 - 5 (L)	8-3

5/6	4:30 PM	Norway Knights	4 - 3 (W)	9-3

5/6	6:45 PM	Norway Knights	7 - 1 (W)	10-3

5/9	6:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	8 - 14 (L)	10-4

5/10	5:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	5 - 10 (L)	10-5

5/10	7:30 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	13 - 3 (W)	11-5

5/15	4:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	5 - 7 (L)	11-6

5/15	6:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	4 - 2 (W)	12-6

5/18	10:00 AM	Cheboygan Chiefs	2 - 3 (L)	12-7

5/18	12:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	6 - 7 (L)	12-8

5/18	2:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Black Sox	13 - 3 (W)	13-8

5/20	4:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	9 - 4 (W)	14-8

5/20	6:00 PM	at Superior Central Cougars	8 - 0 (W)	15-8

5/24	4:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	10 - 4 (W)	16-8

5/24	6:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	7 - 0 (W)	17-8

5/27	6:30 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	1 - 5 (L)	17-9

5/28	6:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	3 - 3 (T)	17-9-1

5/31	4:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	8 - 0 (W)	18-9-1

6/1	1:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	2 - 3 (L)	18-10-1