MARQUETTE---The Gladstone Indians watched their perfect season come to an end on Tuesday as the Marquette Blues posted a 5-2 win over the Indians at Haley Field.
The Indians fell behind early in the game, closed to within a run, but then gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and lost for the first time after nine victories.
In that sixth inning, Marquette's Spencer Larson led off with a double and stole third base. Ryan Wachter walked and he stole second in the old "first-and-third" situation.
That's when Indians pitcher Jake Pearson struck out Alex Baker, but the ball got away from catcher Cody Frazer. Frazer threw to first base in time to get Baker, but Wachter raced home to give Marquette a 5-2 lead.
But then, controversy reigned, going back to an incident earlier in the game.
In the bottom of the second inning, Marquette's Nathan Mutch hit a sharp ground ball which hit Pearson in the knee.
Pearson recovered in time, but his throw was wide of the bag at first, and Gladstone first baseman Hayden Hardick reached for the ball as Mutch ran through the bag, colliding with Hardwick and forcing him to the bench with an elbow injury.
"At the time I gave the runner the benefit of the doubt," Indians Manager Jim Groleau said. "I know plays like this happen but Mutch never made an effort to avoid contact either."
Mutch later scored on a two-out single by Riley Lynch giving the Blues the early lead. Well, fast-forward to the sixth inning, with Marquette still batting and leading, 5-2.
Pearson struck out Jared Wales for the second out of the inning, bringing Mutch to the plate again. Mutch tapped one back to the mound and Pearson made the routine play, throwing out Mutch at first.
But Groleau says that as Mutch crossed the bag at first he threw an elbow at Gladstone's new first baseman Christian Groleau (who is Jim Groleau's son, by the way).
"It was an intentional elbow and just happened to be the same runner who collided with Hardwick back in the second inning," Jim Groleau said. "Makes you wonder about the intent earlier in the game. I made sure Coach (Derek) Swajenen knew I didn't care for it."
Jim Groleau says that the play earlier in the game that sidelined Hardwick cost his team throughout the rest if the game, even before the incident with his son.
The Indians fell behind early in the game, closed to within a run, but then gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and lost for the first time after nine victories.
In that sixth inning, Marquette's Spencer Larson led off with a double and stole third base. Ryan Wachter walked and he stole second in the old "first-and-third" situation.
That's when Indians pitcher Jake Pearson struck out Alex Baker, but the ball got away from catcher Cody Frazer. Frazer threw to first base in time to get Baker, but Wachter raced home to give Marquette a 5-2 lead.
But then, controversy reigned, going back to an incident earlier in the game.
Indians pitcher Jake Pearson took the loss.
Pearson recovered in time, but his throw was wide of the bag at first, and Gladstone first baseman Hayden Hardick reached for the ball as Mutch ran through the bag, colliding with Hardwick and forcing him to the bench with an elbow injury.
"At the time I gave the runner the benefit of the doubt," Indians Manager Jim Groleau said. "I know plays like this happen but Mutch never made an effort to avoid contact either."
Mutch later scored on a two-out single by Riley Lynch giving the Blues the early lead. Well, fast-forward to the sixth inning, with Marquette still batting and leading, 5-2.
Pearson struck out Jared Wales for the second out of the inning, bringing Mutch to the plate again. Mutch tapped one back to the mound and Pearson made the routine play, throwing out Mutch at first.
But Groleau says that as Mutch crossed the bag at first he threw an elbow at Gladstone's new first baseman Christian Groleau (who is Jim Groleau's son, by the way).
"It was an intentional elbow and just happened to be the same runner who collided with Hardwick back in the second inning," Jim Groleau said. "Makes you wonder about the intent earlier in the game. I made sure Coach (Derek) Swajenen knew I didn't care for it."
Jim Groleau says that the play earlier in the game that sidelined Hardwick cost his team throughout the rest if the game, even before the incident with his son.
"That play resulted in (us) moving the defense around and having players playing in positions they normally do not play," he said. Groleau also admitted, though, that his team did not play well, committing six errors and walking seven Blues batters.
The Indians actually had a 2-1 lead in the sceond inning after Paul Tomaszewski ripped a two-run double to score Christian Groleau and Justin Jurek. But that will be all that the Tribe would get off of the ace of the Marquette staff, Nick Kamarada.
Kamarada allowd just four hits and one walk in a complete-game effort. He struck out nine Indians batters, and got out of a jam in the sixth inning when the Indians botched a suicide squeeze attempt with men in scoring position.
"Kamarada pitched a great game for them," Jim Groleau said. " He's one of the best pitchers in the U.P. as a sophomore."
Pearson, also a sophomore, took the loss for Gladstone. He allowed just three hits in a complete-game effort, but he walked seven batters. Pearson had five strikeouts.
Gladstone (9-1) was supposed to play Kingsford on Sunday in a doubleheader, but because it is graduation weekend at Gladstone High School (and the Memorial Day holiday), the games have been postponed. No make-up dates have been set.
The Indians will host Ishpeming on Tuesday, May 29, and then travel to Escanaba the next day to face the Eskymos. Both of those games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Indians first baseman Hayden Hardwick.
Kamarada allowd just four hits and one walk in a complete-game effort. He struck out nine Indians batters, and got out of a jam in the sixth inning when the Indians botched a suicide squeeze attempt with men in scoring position.
"Kamarada pitched a great game for them," Jim Groleau said. " He's one of the best pitchers in the U.P. as a sophomore."
Pearson, also a sophomore, took the loss for Gladstone. He allowed just three hits in a complete-game effort, but he walked seven batters. Pearson had five strikeouts.
Gladstone (9-1) was supposed to play Kingsford on Sunday in a doubleheader, but because it is graduation weekend at Gladstone High School (and the Memorial Day holiday), the games have been postponed. No make-up dates have been set.
The Indians will host Ishpeming on Tuesday, May 29, and then travel to Escanaba the next day to face the Eskymos. Both of those games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
