GLADSTONE---The first round of the Battle of Delta County went to the Gladstone Indians last month in a 3-0 win over the Escanaba Cubs.
The Cubs were looking to even the score with their rivals Wednesday night, but had a power outage against Indian pitchers Christian Tackman and Justin Jurek. The Cubs managed only two base hits and lost to their cross-bay rivals, 3-1, at Don Olsen Field.
It was a well-played game by both teams as neither team made an error, and there were a total of four walks in the entire game.
"That was fun to be a part of," Gladstone Manager Jim Groleau said. "Both teams played well. Great pitching. We knew coming in that Ben (Kleiman) was gonna throw well, and he did."
"You can't hang your heads on this one," Escanaba Manager Tom Ohman said. "We lost 3-1 and it was just a well-played game. The umps did a great job. Gladstone made some plays defensively that were very respectable plays."
The Indians scored in the second inning when Hayden Hardwick led off with a single, moved to second on a ground ball, and scored on an RBI single by Hunter Garling.
Cubs pitcher Ben Kleiman got out of further trouble when Devin Olsen, Nick Vandermissen, and Bailey Lamb turned a nice 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Cubs tied the game in the fourth inning. Vandermissen led off with a double and was bunted to third by Olsen.
Vandermissen scored on a wild pitch. Punzel followed with a walk, but Tackman got the next two outs, stranding a pair of Cubs baserunners.
But in the bottom of the fourth, the Indians made their move.
Cody Frazer led off with a double into the left field corner. Hardwick bunted him to third, and Frazer scored on an RBI single by Jake Pearson.
That brought up Garling, and he smoked a shot just out of the reach of Escanaba center fielder David Falish.
That brought home Pearson, and Garling went to third base on the play.
"I've been struggling for a while with my hitting," Garling said. "I missed the game yesterday (against Ishpeming), and I just came out today feeling pretty good. Ben threw me a pitch right down the middle (on the double) and it was in the perfect spot to hit.
"And I was thinking 'maybe' (a home run), but it didn't go."
Kleiman got Tackman to hit a ground ball to the drawn-in infield. Garling was called out at third base on a close play, and then Kleiman got the final out of the inning.
In the fifth inning, Tyler Skufca walked, but Hunter LaMarch hit a ground ball to Lucas LaCosse at third.
LaCosse made the throw to Jurek, who threw to Hardwick at first base for a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Escanaba's defense also made some noise in the bottom of the fifth inning when catcher Sean Bissell threw out Jurek trying to steal second base.
Then, Christian Groleau got a base hit to center field, but Falish threw a strike to second base to cut down Groleau as he tried for a double.
Tackman threw his best game of the season, but after issuing a two-out walk to Olsen and missing the plate on his first pitch to Brandon Punzel, Coach Groleau decided that Tackman had had enough. He brought Jurek in to pitch.
"Coach has had to keep reminding me to keep my weight back when I'm pitching," Tackman said. "The little things really make a big difference when you're on the mound. I need my coaches there to keep reminding me of that. I was gonna give it my all until my arm was gone, and that's what I did, I think."
"I can't say enough about CT," Coach Groleau said. "He stepped up. The last couple of times on the mound, he's been struggling with his command. We worked a few wrinkles out and I'll tell you what, he was right there."
Jurek overpowered the Escanaba hitters, retiring all four of them to earn the save.
"He was throwing hard," Groleau said of Jurek. "You know the way that Gus gets for these games. He gets jacked up, and it seems like he throws hard when its Gladstone (against) Escanaba."
Tackman went 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and three walks. He fanned four batters.
"You've just got to credit their pitching staff," Ohman said. "I don't think our hitters were that bad, I just think that their pitchers are that good."
For Escanaba, Kleiman allowed three runs on nine hits.
"(Numbers) 2, 3, 4, and 5 in their order just scare the living daylights out of me," Ohman said. "You've got to pitch to them so carefully, and you're gonna make mistakes."
Gladstone (17-12-1) returns to action on Saturday with a home doubleheader against Hancock. The first game of the twinbill will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and rrnsports.com. Game time is 1:00.
Escanaba (4-10) plays Friday night in Marquette against the Blues. That game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and rrnsports.com, at 6:30.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Kym Frazer, and to listen to radio replays and interviews.
The Cubs were looking to even the score with their rivals Wednesday night, but had a power outage against Indian pitchers Christian Tackman and Justin Jurek. The Cubs managed only two base hits and lost to their cross-bay rivals, 3-1, at Don Olsen Field.
It was a well-played game by both teams as neither team made an error, and there were a total of four walks in the entire game.
Catcher Cody Frazer stops a ball in the dirt.
"You can't hang your heads on this one," Escanaba Manager Tom Ohman said. "We lost 3-1 and it was just a well-played game. The umps did a great job. Gladstone made some plays defensively that were very respectable plays."
The Indians scored in the second inning when Hayden Hardwick led off with a single, moved to second on a ground ball, and scored on an RBI single by Hunter Garling.
Cubs pitcher Ben Kleiman got out of further trouble when Devin Olsen, Nick Vandermissen, and Bailey Lamb turned a nice 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Escanaba Cubs turn double play.
Vandermissen scored on a wild pitch. Punzel followed with a walk, but Tackman got the next two outs, stranding a pair of Cubs baserunners.
But in the bottom of the fourth, the Indians made their move.
Cubs' Bailey Lamb waits for a play at first.
That brought up Garling, and he smoked a shot just out of the reach of Escanaba center fielder David Falish.
That brought home Pearson, and Garling went to third base on the play.
"I've been struggling for a while with my hitting," Garling said. "I missed the game yesterday (against Ishpeming), and I just came out today feeling pretty good. Ben threw me a pitch right down the middle (on the double) and it was in the perfect spot to hit.
"And I was thinking 'maybe' (a home run), but it didn't go."
Kleiman got Tackman to hit a ground ball to the drawn-in infield. Garling was called out at third base on a close play, and then Kleiman got the final out of the inning.
Hunter Garling drives home Hayden Hardwick.
LaCosse made the throw to Jurek, who threw to Hardwick at first base for a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Christian Tackman had his best pitching performance of the season Wednesday.
Then, Christian Groleau got a base hit to center field, but Falish threw a strike to second base to cut down Groleau as he tried for a double.
Tackman threw his best game of the season, but after issuing a two-out walk to Olsen and missing the plate on his first pitch to Brandon Punzel, Coach Groleau decided that Tackman had had enough. He brought Jurek in to pitch.
"Coach has had to keep reminding me to keep my weight back when I'm pitching," Tackman said. "The little things really make a big difference when you're on the mound. I need my coaches there to keep reminding me of that. I was gonna give it my all until my arm was gone, and that's what I did, I think."
Christian Tackman gets a strike out.
Jurek overpowered the Escanaba hitters, retiring all four of them to earn the save.
"He was throwing hard," Groleau said of Jurek. "You know the way that Gus gets for these games. He gets jacked up, and it seems like he throws hard when its Gladstone (against) Escanaba."
Escanaba Assistant Coach Jon Bintner.
"You've just got to credit their pitching staff," Ohman said. "I don't think our hitters were that bad, I just think that their pitchers are that good."
For Escanaba, Kleiman allowed three runs on nine hits.
"(Numbers) 2, 3, 4, and 5 in their order just scare the living daylights out of me," Ohman said. "You've got to pitch to them so carefully, and you're gonna make mistakes."
Gladstone (17-12-1) returns to action on Saturday with a home doubleheader against Hancock. The first game of the twinbill will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and rrnsports.com. Game time is 1:00.
Escanaba (4-10) plays Friday night in Marquette against the Blues. That game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and rrnsports.com, at 6:30.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Kym Frazer, and to listen to radio replays and interviews.
