KINGSFORD---The Gladstone Major Little League All-Stars (age 11-12) kicked off the tournament season in Michigan District Ten Monday night with a 16-5 win over Norway at Kingsford's Lodal Park. The game was called after four innings by the mercy rule.
In a game that featured ten errors but also some nice defensive plays, the teams combined to score 13 runs in the first two innings.
Gladstone scored four runs in the top of the first inning as Sydney Herioux led off the game with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.
Later in the inning, Gladstone got nice bunts from Amber Lenards and Brittney Schwartz, and Heather Bergstrom had an RBI single. Norway got a run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Ada Van Holla, scoring Allie Sheski from second base.
Gladstone added four runs in the second inning to take an 8-1 lead. Taylor Trudeau had an RBI groundout in that inning, and Schwartz had a triple to drive in another run.
There were several wild pitches in the inning that scored runs, but Sheski, Norway's shortstop, had the play of the game as she robbed Morgan Letteriello of extra bases.
Norway, however, didn't back down. The girls scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning, helped along by four Gladstone errors. Emily St. Vincent drove in one with a grounder and Sheski had an RBI double. So, it was an 8-5 game.
Gladstone did not score in the top of the third, so Lennards was removed from the pitching circle and Schwartz took over.
She did not allow a run in the bottom of the third, and the Gladstone girls put the game away with eight runs in the top of the fourth inning.
In that inning, Schwartz doubled and scored on a double by Mackenzie Monkevich. Then Christina Olson came off the bench to single home a run, and then a few errors, walks, and wild pitches led to more Gladstone runs.
Schwartz finished the game with a scoreless and hitless fourth inning. The Gladstone girls had eleven hits in the game, while Norway got two.
Lilly Van Loon took the loss in the circle while Lennards got the victory.
Gladstone faces Iron Mountain North on Tuesday in Kingsford. Norway drops to the loser's bracket and will play Wednesday night against a team to be determined.
On Tuesday, Escanaba faces Kingsford at 5:00 CT/6:00 ET, and that will be followed by the Gladstone-Iron Mountain game. Both contests 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 game photos, taken by Gladstone 12-year-old Dakota Potvin.
In a game that featured ten errors but also some nice defensive plays, the teams combined to score 13 runs in the first two innings.
Gladstone scored four runs in the top of the first inning as Sydney Herioux led off the game with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.
Taylor Trudeau scores for Gladstone.
Gladstone added four runs in the second inning to take an 8-1 lead. Taylor Trudeau had an RBI groundout in that inning, and Schwartz had a triple to drive in another run.
There were several wild pitches in the inning that scored runs, but Sheski, Norway's shortstop, had the play of the game as she robbed Morgan Letteriello of extra bases.
Norway, however, didn't back down. The girls scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning, helped along by four Gladstone errors. Emily St. Vincent drove in one with a grounder and Sheski had an RBI double. So, it was an 8-5 game.
Manager Rodney Schwartz comments.
She did not allow a run in the bottom of the third, and the Gladstone girls put the game away with eight runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Norway pitcher Lilly Van Loon.
Schwartz finished the game with a scoreless and hitless fourth inning. The Gladstone girls had eleven hits in the game, while Norway got two.
Lilly Van Loon took the loss in the circle while Lennards got the victory.
Gladstone faces Iron Mountain North on Tuesday in Kingsford. Norway drops to the loser's bracket and will play Wednesday night against a team to be determined.
On Tuesday, Escanaba faces Kingsford at 5:00 CT/6:00 ET, and that will be followed by the Gladstone-Iron Mountain game. Both contests 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 game photos, taken by Gladstone 12-year-old Dakota Potvin.
