PARCHMENT, Mich.----"This team looks like a football team."
That's what Gladstone All-Star Coach Eric Hanson said about the Midland Northeast 10-and-11 year-old baseball team before the state semifinal game Tuesday in Parchment.
"Maybe I should go check their birth certificates," Hanson joked.
Indeed, the boys from Midland were tall and strong, and by the way, they could also play some baseball.
The team that won the 9-10 boys state championship last year had fun at Gladstone's expense on Tuesday, posting an 18-2 win in four innings.
Every player on the Midland team, including the ones who didn't start, could hit the ball hard.
Three of them hit home runs over the right field fence, and it was not a windy day.
Carter Knochel capped off a nine-run Midland first inning with a three-run shot off of Gladstone starting pitcher Zach Hanson.
Jacob Stone...who's as tall as many high school sophomores...smoked a leadoff home run in the second inning.
And Chris Swanson came off the bench and whipped a two-run homer off of Gladstone reliever Caden Alworden. In all, Midland had 15 base hits in the game, and there were very few cheap ones. Leadoff batter Griffin Clark had three hits and scored three times.
Tommy Johnstone had a two-run single in the first inning, and then he put down a perfect bunt in the second inning.
Jack Bringard had a single and a double, and he scored twice. And Matt Schummer had a single and a double...from the #9 hole.
The only problem Midland had in this game was defense. And that problem only lasted for one inning. Gladstone scored its two runs in the top of the first inning when the boys came out bunting and the Midland infielders threw the ball around. Hanson's bunt was fielded fine, but the Midland first baseman dropped the ball.
A bunt single by Alworden moved Hanson to third base, and Alworden went to second on an error at third. Cole Hansen then hit one to the mound, and while the out was made at first, Hanson came home to score the first run of the game.
Gladstone then took a 2-0 lead when Peyton Fedell was safe on an error, scoring Alworden. But that was about it for the Gladstone boys' fun, as the only other two baserunners for the team were walks to Fedell and Drake Forrest.
Despite the loss, the Gladstone coaches thought the kids had a successful tournament season.
They finally got past Norway to win a district championship, dominated the sectional tournament, and then won two tough games at the state tournament to qualify for the Final Four. Good job boys, and good luck to Midland on Wednesday.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more photos and videos from the game. Also, listen to interviews with Gladstone's Caden Alworden and Midland's Solomon Thomas.
That's what Gladstone All-Star Coach Eric Hanson said about the Midland Northeast 10-and-11 year-old baseball team before the state semifinal game Tuesday in Parchment.
"Maybe I should go check their birth certificates," Hanson joked.
The team that won the 9-10 boys state championship last year had fun at Gladstone's expense on Tuesday, posting an 18-2 win in four innings.
Every player on the Midland team, including the ones who didn't start, could hit the ball hard.
Three of them hit home runs over the right field fence, and it was not a windy day.
Carter Knochel capped off a nine-run Midland first inning with a three-run shot off of Gladstone starting pitcher Zach Hanson.
Gladstone Boys Recognized After Game.
And Chris Swanson came off the bench and whipped a two-run homer off of Gladstone reliever Caden Alworden. In all, Midland had 15 base hits in the game, and there were very few cheap ones. Leadoff batter Griffin Clark had three hits and scored three times.
Jack Bringard had a single and a double, and he scored twice. And Matt Schummer had a single and a double...from the #9 hole.
The only problem Midland had in this game was defense. And that problem only lasted for one inning. Gladstone scored its two runs in the top of the first inning when the boys came out bunting and the Midland infielders threw the ball around. Hanson's bunt was fielded fine, but the Midland first baseman dropped the ball.
Zach Hanson scores on Cole Hansen's grounder.
Despite the loss, the Gladstone coaches thought the kids had a successful tournament season.
They finally got past Norway to win a district championship, dominated the sectional tournament, and then won two tough games at the state tournament to qualify for the Final Four. Good job boys, and good luck to Midland on Wednesday.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more photos and videos from the game. Also, listen to interviews with Gladstone's Caden Alworden and Midland's Solomon Thomas.
