GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Indians moved to within one game of a Mid Peninsula Conference championship on Sunday by posting a doubleheader sweep of second-place Hancock, 6-2 and 8-3, at Don Olsen Field.
The sweep allows the Indians to close in on accomplishing one of the team goals that were set before the season began: win a conference championship. Gladstone has just one loss in league play this season, and needs just one more win to get the trophy.
The Indians have already clinched the South Division championship and will host that portion of the Mid Peninsula Conference Tournament next Saturday.
In Sunday's first game, Matt Weyers got into trouble early when he walked Mike Saari and gave up a double to Luke Paul. But he struck out Darren Bausano to end the threat.
Gladstone took the lead in the second inning by scoring five runs.
Jared Stenson had an RBI double and Blake Ballard drove in a run with a suicide squeeze.
A run later scored on a bad throw back to the pitcher while the Hancock defense watched. Then an error and a wild pitch brought home runs, and Gladstone had a 5-0 lead. But Hancock rallied in the top of the third inning as Weyers had troubles getting that third strike after getting ahead of the batters.
Weyers walked Zach Hill and gave up a hit to Paul. But Hill was thrown out at the plate, and was ejected from the game after arguing the call.
Bausano followed with an RBI single to make it 5-1, then Weyers walked the next two batters to load the bases. He got Alex Van Wagner on a called third strike to end it.
The Indians loaded the bases in the bottom third inning as Jake Pearson walked and Stenson and Ballard followed with hits.
That was all for Hancock's starting pitcher, Tyler LaDuron. Kris Turunen came in to pitch and got out of the bases-loaded jam with a pop up and a fly out.
Hancock closed to within 5-2 in the fifth inning when Paul got his third hit of the game. He advanced on three passed balls and wild pitches.
But Weyers buckled down from there, striking out three batters in the inning. He had eight K's in five innings of work.
Gladstone got its final run when Paul Tomaszewski got a lead-off double and scored on a two-out single from Hayden Hardwick. Justin Jurek came on to relief Weyers on the mound in the sixth inning and got the final six outs to earn the save.
In the second game, the Indians jumped to an early lead as Coach Jim Groleau finally got some production from the bottom of the batting order. With two out and two on base in the second inning, Luke LaCosse came through with a two-run single to right field. He scored on an error and Gladstone had a 3-0 lead.
The Indians played some "small ball" in the middle innings, as Ballard squeezed home a run in the fourth inning and Pearson squeezed home a run in the fifth. Later, Justin Jurek's grounder through the shortstop's legs scored two more runs for Gladstone.
Ballard pitched the first five innings for the Indians, and Pearson threw into the seventh inning in relief. Justin Jurek came on to get the final out in the seventh after Hancock scored a couple of unearned runs to make it an 8-3 game.
With the sweep, Gladstone improved to 28-7 on the season. Hancock is now 27-7.
The Indians host Negaunee in a doublehader on Tuesday. Game time for the opener is scheduled for 5:30. The twinbill 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 pictures and videos from the doubleheader.
The sweep allows the Indians to close in on accomplishing one of the team goals that were set before the season began: win a conference championship. Gladstone has just one loss in league play this season, and needs just one more win to get the trophy.
High-fives all around after the sweep.
In Sunday's first game, Matt Weyers got into trouble early when he walked Mike Saari and gave up a double to Luke Paul. But he struck out Darren Bausano to end the threat.
Gladstone took the lead in the second inning by scoring five runs.
Jared Stenson had an RBI double and Blake Ballard drove in a run with a suicide squeeze.
A run later scored on a bad throw back to the pitcher while the Hancock defense watched. Then an error and a wild pitch brought home runs, and Gladstone had a 5-0 lead. But Hancock rallied in the top of the third inning as Weyers had troubles getting that third strike after getting ahead of the batters.
Weyers walked Zach Hill and gave up a hit to Paul. But Hill was thrown out at the plate, and was ejected from the game after arguing the call.
Matt Weyers earned the win on the mound.
The Indians loaded the bases in the bottom third inning as Jake Pearson walked and Stenson and Ballard followed with hits.
That was all for Hancock's starting pitcher, Tyler LaDuron. Kris Turunen came in to pitch and got out of the bases-loaded jam with a pop up and a fly out.
Hancock closed to within 5-2 in the fifth inning when Paul got his third hit of the game. He advanced on three passed balls and wild pitches.
But Weyers buckled down from there, striking out three batters in the inning. He had eight K's in five innings of work.
Gladstone got its final run when Paul Tomaszewski got a lead-off double and scored on a two-out single from Hayden Hardwick. Justin Jurek came on to relief Weyers on the mound in the sixth inning and got the final six outs to earn the save.
Luke LaCosse with a two-run single in Game Two.
Ballard pitched the first five innings for the Indians, and Pearson threw into the seventh inning in relief. Justin Jurek came on to get the final out in the seventh after Hancock scored a couple of unearned runs to make it an 8-3 game.
With the sweep, Gladstone improved to 28-7 on the season. Hancock is now 27-7.
The Indians host Negaunee in a doublehader on Tuesday. Game time for the opener is scheduled for 5:30. The twinbill 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 pictures and videos from the doubleheader.
