GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Braves made the plays when it mattered Monday night, and the boys came away with a pair of victories over the Norway Knights.
Whether it was a key pitch or defensive play with the Knights in position to score, or getting the bat on the ball to bring home a run, the Braves managed to do just enough right to turn back the Knights, 4-3 and 7-1, in a doubleheader at Don Olsen Field.
"There were a couple of little miscues, but that's baseball, and we're learning as we go," Gladstone Manager Don Lauscher said. "One thing that we've really, really got to get going is our bats.
"We're getting a couple of timely hits, but we're not consistent. At some point, we've got to get to get it rolling. But we still have quite a bit of season left."
The opening game was a pitcher's duel between Gladstone's Hunter Garling and Norway's John Grayvold, Jr. Gladstone scored first, in the second inning, when Tom Bailey ripped a double and scored on a groundout by James Capodilupo.
The Braves added to their lead in the fifth inning when the Knights committed two infield errors and Christian Tackman ripped an RBI double. The 3-0 lead didn't last, however, as the Knights took advantage of an error and two walks. Mike Faull's RBI single and Jake Rehn's clutch two-run double with two out helped the Knights tie the game at 3-3.
Grayvold, Jr. did well on the mound, allowing just two hits in five innings, striking out ten Braves batters along the way. He gave way to Faull, who also did well, retiring the Braves in order in the bottom of the sixth.
Norway had the momentum entering the seventh inning. And things looked good for the Knights when Riley Johnson grounded out but was awarded first base when the home plate umpire ruled that Braves catcher Justin Jurek had interfered on the play.
Tackman, on in relief of Garling, walked the next two batters. So Norway had the bases loaded with nobody out, and the #4 hitter Dan Vivio at the plate. Tackman was able to get a swinging strike-out there, and then got Faull to hit into a 4-6-3 double play.
"I was definitely a lot more nervous than usual because I really didn't have much time to warm up in the bullpen," Tackman said. "I was in a spot where I didn't want to be, but I just adjusted to it, I guess."
Capodilupo started that double play, getting the ball to shortstop Blake Ballard.
"It came to me and I kind of had to pick whether I wanted to go underhand or overhand," Capodilupo said. "I just kind of underhand flipped it to him and Blake was quick to it and it went down OK."
It was a huge play that swung the momentum of the game. Faull retired the Braves in order in the bottom of the seventh, but Tackman returned the favor in the top of the eighth. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Tackman roped one for extra bases.
"That felt good," Tackman said. "Right off the bat, I knew that it was a good shot."
Tackman advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and then, the game came to an unusal end.
With Christian Groleau at the plate, Faull came to his set, and as his catcher stood up, Faull stopped his motion. He did not step off and throw to third base, and so it was a balk.
A not-so-dramatic way to end a game that did have a lot of excitement.
So, has Tackman ever scored a winning run on a balk before?
"Definitely not," he smiled.
Tackman earned the pitching win in relief, allowing no runs or hits in two innings of work. Garling, who fanned seven and allowed four hits in six innings of work, had a no-decision. Faull took the loss, giving up a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.
"He's really, really coming around," Lauscher said of Tackman. "Offensively, defensively. It seems like no matter where we put him, he shines. Tonight, we gave the ball in a really sticky situation, and he did a great job."
The Braves' first-ever Parents Night ceremony, delayed after last week's rainout, was held between games. And Gladstone's two seniors, Blake Ballard and Lucas LaCosse, were both given special recognition during that ceremony.
In Monday's second game, Groleau got the ball, and he struggled to throw strikes.
He constantly tried to hit the corners on pitches that were not being called strikes by the home plate umpire. As a result, Groleau walked nine batters and the Knights constantly had men on base against him.
But after allowing a run in the first inning, Groleau did not allow another one, and Jake Peterson didn't give up anything in relief, either.
Gladstone took a 4-1 lead in the second inning on a hit-batsman, walk, error, and a solid two-run single to left field by Capodilupo.
"Coach just told me to keep my head down and I felt good and with one strike, I had a nice hit," Capodilupo said.
LaCosse and and Tackman each had RBI hits in the fourth inning to make it 6-1, then Peterson came off the bench to produce a run on a safety squeeze in the fifth inning.
Gladstone's defense was also big in this game as Capodilupo started a 5-4 double play to end the fifth inning. What, Capodilupo was at third base? Since when?
"Um, I've never played third," he laughed. "I got the ball and stepped on the bag, and Coach yelled 'One!'. But I didn't hear him, so I threw it to 'two'. Luckily, it was in time."
The game ended with Garling making a sliding catch of a Vivio shot in left field.
Norway fell to 2-3-1 with the doubleheader loss. Gladstone improved to 10-3, and will travel to Escanaba on Thursday for a game against the Eskymos. The Braves will try to avenge Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Eskymos in that game at Al Ness Field.
"We just made a couple of key mistakes the other day," Lauscher said. "It's not like they crushed the ball on us, and we certainly didn't do it on those guys. You could see the experience that they had and the inexperience that we had. We'll go back there, and the kids are looking forward to it, and see if we learned from it."
Game time is 6:00 Thursday night. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line streaming at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Nate Bellville and Laurie Jurek, and listen to replays and interviews.
Whether it was a key pitch or defensive play with the Knights in position to score, or getting the bat on the ball to bring home a run, the Braves managed to do just enough right to turn back the Knights, 4-3 and 7-1, in a doubleheader at Don Olsen Field.
Gladstone senior Lucas LaCosse at third.
"We're getting a couple of timely hits, but we're not consistent. At some point, we've got to get to get it rolling. But we still have quite a bit of season left."
The opening game was a pitcher's duel between Gladstone's Hunter Garling and Norway's John Grayvold, Jr. Gladstone scored first, in the second inning, when Tom Bailey ripped a double and scored on a groundout by James Capodilupo.
The Braves added to their lead in the fifth inning when the Knights committed two infield errors and Christian Tackman ripped an RBI double. The 3-0 lead didn't last, however, as the Knights took advantage of an error and two walks. Mike Faull's RBI single and Jake Rehn's clutch two-run double with two out helped the Knights tie the game at 3-3.
J-Cap/Blake?Bailey Double Play in seveth inning.
Norway had the momentum entering the seventh inning. And things looked good for the Knights when Riley Johnson grounded out but was awarded first base when the home plate umpire ruled that Braves catcher Justin Jurek had interfered on the play.
Hunter Garling pitched well for Gladstone.
"I was definitely a lot more nervous than usual because I really didn't have much time to warm up in the bullpen," Tackman said. "I was in a spot where I didn't want to be, but I just adjusted to it, I guess."
Capodilupo started that double play, getting the ball to shortstop Blake Ballard.
"It came to me and I kind of had to pick whether I wanted to go underhand or overhand," Capodilupo said. "I just kind of underhand flipped it to him and Blake was quick to it and it went down OK."
It was a huge play that swung the momentum of the game. Faull retired the Braves in order in the bottom of the seventh, but Tackman returned the favor in the top of the eighth. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Tackman roped one for extra bases.
"That felt good," Tackman said. "Right off the bat, I knew that it was a good shot."
Tom Bailey scores a run against Norway.
With Christian Groleau at the plate, Faull came to his set, and as his catcher stood up, Faull stopped his motion. He did not step off and throw to third base, and so it was a balk.
A not-so-dramatic way to end a game that did have a lot of excitement.
So, has Tackman ever scored a winning run on a balk before?
"Definitely not," he smiled.
Tackman earned the pitching win in relief, allowing no runs or hits in two innings of work. Garling, who fanned seven and allowed four hits in six innings of work, had a no-decision. Faull took the loss, giving up a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.
"He's really, really coming around," Lauscher said of Tackman. "Offensively, defensively. It seems like no matter where we put him, he shines. Tonight, we gave the ball in a really sticky situation, and he did a great job."
In Monday's second game, Groleau got the ball, and he struggled to throw strikes.
He constantly tried to hit the corners on pitches that were not being called strikes by the home plate umpire. As a result, Groleau walked nine batters and the Knights constantly had men on base against him.
But after allowing a run in the first inning, Groleau did not allow another one, and Jake Peterson didn't give up anything in relief, either.
Gladstone took a 4-1 lead in the second inning on a hit-batsman, walk, error, and a solid two-run single to left field by Capodilupo.
James Capodilupo post-game comments.
LaCosse and and Tackman each had RBI hits in the fourth inning to make it 6-1, then Peterson came off the bench to produce a run on a safety squeeze in the fifth inning.
Gladstone's defense was also big in this game as Capodilupo started a 5-4 double play to end the fifth inning. What, Capodilupo was at third base? Since when?
Norway's John Grayvold, Jr. threw well.
The game ended with Garling making a sliding catch of a Vivio shot in left field.
Norway fell to 2-3-1 with the doubleheader loss. Gladstone improved to 10-3, and will travel to Escanaba on Thursday for a game against the Eskymos. The Braves will try to avenge Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Eskymos in that game at Al Ness Field.
"We just made a couple of key mistakes the other day," Lauscher said. "It's not like they crushed the ball on us, and we certainly didn't do it on those guys. You could see the experience that they had and the inexperience that we had. We'll go back there, and the kids are looking forward to it, and see if we learned from it."
Game time is 6:00 Thursday night. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line streaming at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Nate Bellville and Laurie Jurek, and listen to replays and interviews.
Gladstone's James Capodilupo (11) swings as the Norway catcher Jake Rehn (12) sets up defensively.
