GLADSTONE---The Gladstone High School softball team rolled to another MHSAA Division Three district championship on Saturday, to earn a trip to the regionals next weekend in Charlevoix. Gladstone beat Iron Mountain, 14-1, in the semifinal match, before topping Westwood, 10-0, in the championship game.
Maddie Kowalski led the Braves to victory in the semifinals by pitching all five innings, and she helped her own cause at the plate with a three-run double when the Braves opened up a close game in the third inning.
In the championship game, Gladstone got home runs from Taylor Hunter and Alyssa Polley, and Jenna Steinhoff threw a two-hit shutout.
It was Gladstone's 14th straight softball district championship. This one was the busiest, as the Braves had to win four games to get through a nine-team district bracket.
The games were played under rainy conditions for most of the way.
The two semifinal games were played at the same time on separate fields, as Westwood beat Houghton, 9-3, and the Braves beat Iron Mountain, 14-1, to set up the district final.
In next Saturday's regionals at Charlevoix, Gladstone (23-14) will gace Kalkaska at 10:00 in the morning. The other semifinal pits Traverse City St. Francis and Charlevoix.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Saturday's girls games.
Maddie Kowalski led the Braves to victory in the semifinals by pitching all five innings, and she helped her own cause at the plate with a three-run double when the Braves opened up a close game in the third inning.
It was Gladstone's 14th straight softball district championship. This one was the busiest, as the Braves had to win four games to get through a nine-team district bracket.
The games were played under rainy conditions for most of the way.
The two semifinal games were played at the same time on separate fields, as Westwood beat Houghton, 9-3, and the Braves beat Iron Mountain, 14-1, to set up the district final.
In next Saturday's regionals at Charlevoix, Gladstone (23-14) will gace Kalkaska at 10:00 in the morning. The other semifinal pits Traverse City St. Francis and Charlevoix.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Saturday's girls games.
