GLADSTONE---Cody Frazer looked like he had just come out of a shower, only there is no shower at the Gladstone Sports Park. The Gladstone Indians catcher had just caught five innings against the Channing Railroaders, in stifiling heat and humidity.
But Frazer and his teammates made it through the 88 minutes of baseball and beat the Railroaders, 10-0, at Don Olsen Field. Justin Jurek threw four innings of one-hit ball and Levi Cunningham tossed a scoreless fifth inning to wrap up the victory.
"This wasn't one of my most plesasant catching experiences," Frazer said. "But you've got to do what you've got to do. You just can't 'not play' because it's hot out."
The game time temperature was 93 degrees with a heat index of 103.
"I think it got hotter as the game went on," Indians Manager Jim Groleau said. "The kids did a good job. We did what we could to keep them hydrated throughout the game."
Gladstone scored five runs in the first inning as Channing starting pitcher Noah Berg had trouble throwing strikes. He walked four batters in the first inning and the Indians scored on RBI hits by Frazer, Jared Stenson, and Blake Ballard.
Berg, in a bright orange uniform that absorbs heat, managed to throw three innings, but had to give way to Logan O'Neil in the fourth inning. Gladstone scored five more runs off of him, with Jake Pearson getting a two-run single, Frazer got another RBI single, Stenson added an RBI hit, and Ballard chipped in with a sacrafice fly.
Gladstone had six hits in the game, and all six of the hits drove home runs. Frazer and Stenson both had two hits apiece while Ballard had three runs batted in altogether.
"It's a conference game, so we had to get a win," Frazer said. "I just knew that I had to get some hits. The first pitch he threw me, I hit it, and it worked out."
And that was plenty of support for Justin Jurek, who threw four innings, allowing only a single to Berg and a walk to Carl Issacson.
"Gus threw a good game," Groleau said. "He hasn't thrown much because he's been hurt (wrist injury). We're definitely gonna need him on the mound come playoff-time."
Gladstone beat Channing for the fifth time this season. The Indians face a tougher task on Sunday when Hancock comes to town for a doubleheader. It will be a battle between the top two teams in the Mid Peninsula Conference.
"Hancock has a good team," Groleau said. "We just told the kids that we can't take them lightly. If we do, it won't be a good day for us on Sunday."
Game time on Sunday is 12:00 noon. WCHT-AM (600) plans to broadcast the opener of the twinbill, although that could change if Little League tournament games on Friuday or Saturday get rained out. We will post any change on this web page.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos, taken by Kym Frazer, and to listen to some of the radio highlights.
But Frazer and his teammates made it through the 88 minutes of baseball and beat the Railroaders, 10-0, at Don Olsen Field. Justin Jurek threw four innings of one-hit ball and Levi Cunningham tossed a scoreless fifth inning to wrap up the victory.
Cody Frazer sweats as he catches.
The game time temperature was 93 degrees with a heat index of 103.
"I think it got hotter as the game went on," Indians Manager Jim Groleau said. "The kids did a good job. We did what we could to keep them hydrated throughout the game."
Gladstone scored five runs in the first inning as Channing starting pitcher Noah Berg had trouble throwing strikes. He walked four batters in the first inning and the Indians scored on RBI hits by Frazer, Jared Stenson, and Blake Ballard.
Berg, in a bright orange uniform that absorbs heat, managed to throw three innings, but had to give way to Logan O'Neil in the fourth inning. Gladstone scored five more runs off of him, with Jake Pearson getting a two-run single, Frazer got another RBI single, Stenson added an RBI hit, and Ballard chipped in with a sacrafice fly.
Gladstone had six hits in the game, and all six of the hits drove home runs. Frazer and Stenson both had two hits apiece while Ballard had three runs batted in altogether.
Paul Tomaszewski scored two runs.
And that was plenty of support for Justin Jurek, who threw four innings, allowing only a single to Berg and a walk to Carl Issacson.
"Gus threw a good game," Groleau said. "He hasn't thrown much because he's been hurt (wrist injury). We're definitely gonna need him on the mound come playoff-time."
Gladstone beat Channing for the fifth time this season. The Indians face a tougher task on Sunday when Hancock comes to town for a doubleheader. It will be a battle between the top two teams in the Mid Peninsula Conference.
"Hancock has a good team," Groleau said. "We just told the kids that we can't take them lightly. If we do, it won't be a good day for us on Sunday."
Game time on Sunday is 12:00 noon. WCHT-AM (600) plans to broadcast the opener of the twinbill, although that could change if Little League tournament games on Friuday or Saturday get rained out. We will post any change on this web page.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos, taken by Kym Frazer, and to listen to some of the radio highlights.
Justin Jurek avoids the tag of Channing catcher Logan O'Neil as ump John Ziemba watches.
