GLADSTONE---The Gladst0ne Indians played with a full roster for the first time this season Thursday, and the boys overwhelmed the Ishpeming Blue Storm, 12-0, at Don Olsen Field. The game was called by the mercy rule in the middle of the fifth inning.
After spending the first nine games of the season with mostly middle-school players, the Indians welcomed eight boys to the American Legion team who played for the high school squad earlier this spring.
Hunter Garling allowed just three hits over five innings of pitching, and he ripped a two-run double as the Indians rolled to the victory.
Cody Frazer hit his first home run of the season, kicking off what would be a five-run Gladstone fourth inning rally.
"I haven't been doing as well (batting) as I did last year, so it was nice to get a good pitch and hit it hard," Frazer said.
Gladstone scored two runs in the first inning as Ishpeming starter Dan Brown walked five batters and tossed two wild pitches.
In the second inning, the Indians took advantage of two Ishpeming errors and scored five times, two of them on Garling's ground-rule double. That gave the Indians a 7-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Frazer led off with the long ball to left-center field off of relief pitcher Noah Olgren.
"He just threw a fastball," Frazer said. "It was a new pitcher and the first guy was a little wild. I knew he was gonna try to stay around the plate and not overthrow. So, I waited on it."
Lucas LaCosse had a two-run single later that inning, and the other two runs scored on a Christian Groleau sacrafice fly and a bases-loaded walk to Justin Jurek.
Ishpeming had a scoring chance in the fifth inning when Jake Richards singled and Olgren and Tyrus Millimaki were both hit by pitches.
But Garling got a pop up and a ground ball to end the game. Garling struck out five batters and walked just one.
For Frazer and the other Indians veterans, it was good to have the team together that will play American Legion Baseball for the next couple of months.
"There are some good ballplayers out of the younger kids," Frazer said. "But me, Hayden (Hardwick) and Jake (Pearson) kind of had to shoulder all of the load. Because we were the oldest. It's kind of nice (having new players) because they've been playing all year. They has a successful high school season."
Gladstone will travel to Hancock for a Mid Pen League doubleheader on Saturday, and then will play a single game Monday night in Daggett against Mid-County.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Kym Frazer, and listen to radio replays and interviews.
After spending the first nine games of the season with mostly middle-school players, the Indians welcomed eight boys to the American Legion team who played for the high school squad earlier this spring.
Hunter Garling threw a three-hitter.
Cody Frazer hit his first home run of the season, kicking off what would be a five-run Gladstone fourth inning rally.
"I haven't been doing as well (batting) as I did last year, so it was nice to get a good pitch and hit it hard," Frazer said.
Gladstone scored two runs in the first inning as Ishpeming starter Dan Brown walked five batters and tossed two wild pitches.
In the second inning, the Indians took advantage of two Ishpeming errors and scored five times, two of them on Garling's ground-rule double. That gave the Indians a 7-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Frazer led off with the long ball to left-center field off of relief pitcher Noah Olgren.
Lucas LaCosse drives home two runs.
Lucas LaCosse had a two-run single later that inning, and the other two runs scored on a Christian Groleau sacrafice fly and a bases-loaded walk to Justin Jurek.
Justin Jurek slides in safely at home.
But Garling got a pop up and a ground ball to end the game. Garling struck out five batters and walked just one.
For Frazer and the other Indians veterans, it was good to have the team together that will play American Legion Baseball for the next couple of months.
"There are some good ballplayers out of the younger kids," Frazer said. "But me, Hayden (Hardwick) and Jake (Pearson) kind of had to shoulder all of the load. Because we were the oldest. It's kind of nice (having new players) because they've been playing all year. They has a successful high school season."
Gladstone will travel to Hancock for a Mid Pen League doubleheader on Saturday, and then will play a single game Monday night in Daggett against Mid-County.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Kym Frazer, and listen to radio replays and interviews.
Cody Frazer watches his long ball as Ishpeming catcher Josh Richards and umpire Mike Pilon also watch.
