Sweet Saturday For Tri-County, Munising All-Stars

GLADSTONE----Alger County went two-for-two on Saturday as the Major Little League (age 11-12) district tournaments got under way at Gladstone's Don Howes Field.

The Munising boys scored two runs in the ninth inning to beat Gladstone, 7-5, and then Tri-County mercied Escanaba, 14-2, in five innings in Saturday's second game.

Munising catcher Josh Houtari.

The opening game saw Munising take an early lead, but Gladstone battled back in the final inning to tie the game and force extra innings.

Gladstone had several chances to win it in extra innings, but the Munising boys were able to get the job done in the ninth inning to post the opening-round district tournament victory.

In the ninth inning, Anthony Mattson and Clayton Smith led off with base hits against Gladstone relief pitcher Ethan Nelson.

With runners at second and third, Mason Scheiding hit a ground ball to short, scoring Mattson with the go-ahead run.

Smith scored on a wild pitch, and Munising had a 7-5 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth. The first two Gladstone boys went down against Mattson, the third Munising pitcher used in the game. But Cooper Cavadeas kept the game alive with a base hit, and then Ian Schwalbach got a base hit. Schwalbach stole second, but runner Tyler Barteld was tagged out between third and home, ending the game.

Quinn Downey threw 4 2/3 innings.

That was the fourth Gladstone runner to be thrown out on the basepaths in the game.

In the eighth inning, Gladstone relief pitcher Ethan Nelson worked out of a bases-loaded jam when he got Dayne Murck to pop up to catcher Brody Sanville in foul territory.

It looked like Gladstone would win the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when Nelson beat out an infield hit and Daniel Martin smoked one to the outfield fence.

Nelson tried to score all the way from first, but he did not slide into home plate and was tagged on the leg as he reached the dish. Sanville then grounded out.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Munising got an RBI single from Scheiding and a second run scored on a wild pitch against Gladstone starter Quinn Downey. Gladstone closed to within 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Downey was safe on an error and scored on a wild pitch.

Munising built a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning when Murck doubled and scored on a hit by Anthony Mattson. Smith then doubled Mattson home for the inning's second run, and then in the top of the sixth, Jesse Mattson doubled and scored on a wild pitch.

Gladstone celebrates a late comeback.

That run turned out to be big because Gladstone rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game.

Munising's defense fell apart in that inning, with four errors helping Gladstone to get back to even. Nelson had an RBI triple in that rally.

Smith led the Munising offense by getting four hits in five at-bats, two of them doubles.

Anthony Mattson had three hits while Jesse Mattson had a hit and three walks.

For Gladstone, Nelson and Martin both had two hits. Gladstone used both Downey and Nelson to their maximum "pitch count" limit, meaning they won't be available to pitch unless Gladstone makes it to the district finals.

Munising threw Smith for just 20 pitches, so he can pitch on Sunday as Munising faces Schaffer in the second round. Jesse Mattson threw 88 pitches and is done, while Anthony Mattson also will have to wait until later to pitch again.

TRI COUNTY 14, ESCANABA 2---The boys from southern Alger, northern Delta, and northern Marquette Counties scored four runs in the first inning and cruised to a mercy-shortened win over Escanaba.

Tri-County led, 6-0, in the second inning, and after Escanaba scored an unearned run, Tri-County scored three more runs in the fourth inning and plated five runs in the top of the fifth. Beau Roundeau led the way with three hits, a walk, and four runs batted in.

Dennis Johns had two Tri-County hits.

Dennis Johns had a single, double, one RBI and two runs scored. Jake Rogers had a two-run hit, and three total RBI. Four pitchers threw for Tri-County in the game.

Escanaba's runs scored in the third inning when Spencer Brunell was hit by a pitch and later came home on a wild pitch. Then in the fifth inning, D.J. Bourdeau led off with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Escanaba's highlight came in the fourth inning when big Mitchell Flath smoked one to the right field fence. He motored his way to third base for a triple, but after a walk and infield hit loaded the bases, Zeke Strand struck out to end the inning.

Escanaba used three pitchers in the game. The boys face an elimination game against Gladstone at 3:00 Sunday afternoon in Gladstone. Tri-County will play on Monday in the winner's bracket final, with the chance to advance to the district finals.

WESTERN BRACKET: In Dickinson County, two lopsided games opened the area tournament there. Iron Mountain North mercied Iron County, 17-0, while Norway dismissed Kingsford, 13-3. The winners and losers will play Sunday at Marion Park.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from the Gladstone-Munising game, and of the Tri-County All-Stars. Photos of the Escanaba boys will be posted Sunday night.

Top photo: Tri-County's Beau Roundeau goes for a shot up the middle.