Click the thumbnails to see photos, and to hear comments from winning pitcher Addy Sanville.
ESCANABA---The Gladstone Major Little League All-Star softball team (age 12-under) scored four runs in the first inning and held off Escanaba, 6-3, in the district tournament opener Monday night in Escanaba.
Gladstone can earn a trip to the state tournament in Jackson if they can beat Escanaba again Tuesday night. Otherwise, there will be a deciding third game Wednesday.
Monday's game was played under chilly, cloudy, windy, and rainy conditions, but the field was never in poor-enough shape to warrant suspended play.
Gladstone went up 4-0 in the first inning, with the big hit being a two-run double by Aubrey Gerreau. Escanaba scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings, to close to within 4-3, as Abby Derkos and Mara Anderson both had RBI singles.
But Gladstone regained momentum in the fifth inning, scoring twice on a double by Addy Sanville to right-center field. She went 3-for-3 at the plate with two singles and a double.
Sanville was also tough in the circle, throwing all six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. She struck out five Escanaba batters. Emma Parlato took the loss for Escanaba, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings of work.
Escanaba played some outstanding defense to keep the hot-hitting Gladstone team close.
In the third inning, Abby Derkos made a great catch at shortstop, robbing Tianna Reynolds of two runs batted in. In the fifth inning, Reynolds got robbed again with two on base as Gabby Parlato caught one just above the grasstops to prevent two runs from scoring.
And in the sixth inning, Brynlee Larson's high fly ball to center field was caught by Bella Noblet, also saving two runs from scoring.
But that excellent defense wasn't enough, and now Escanaba must come back Tuesday night to force an a winner-take-all game Wednesday night.
ESCANABA---The Gladstone Major Little League All-Star softball team (age 12-under) scored four runs in the first inning and held off Escanaba, 6-3, in the district tournament opener Monday night in Escanaba.
Gladstone can earn a trip to the state tournament in Jackson if they can beat Escanaba again Tuesday night. Otherwise, there will be a deciding third game Wednesday.
Monday's game was played under chilly, cloudy, windy, and rainy conditions, but the field was never in poor-enough shape to warrant suspended play.
But Gladstone regained momentum in the fifth inning, scoring twice on a double by Addy Sanville to right-center field. She went 3-for-3 at the plate with two singles and a double.
Sanville was also tough in the circle, throwing all six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. She struck out five Escanaba batters. Emma Parlato took the loss for Escanaba, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings of work.
Escanaba played some outstanding defense to keep the hot-hitting Gladstone team close.
In the third inning, Abby Derkos made a great catch at shortstop, robbing Tianna Reynolds of two runs batted in. In the fifth inning, Reynolds got robbed again with two on base as Gabby Parlato caught one just above the grasstops to prevent two runs from scoring.
And in the sixth inning, Brynlee Larson's high fly ball to center field was caught by Bella Noblet, also saving two runs from scoring.
But that excellent defense wasn't enough, and now Escanaba must come back Tuesday night to force an a winner-take-all game Wednesday night.
