Click the thumbnails to see photos, videos, and hear interviews with Ellie Sanville, Maia Hughes, and Kali Koski.
MATTAWAN, Mich.---The Gladstone 10u Minor Little League All-Star softball team rolled over another opponent in the state quarterfinals on Sunday, whipping Blissfield, 18-1, to advance to Monday's Final Four.
It was Gladstone's fourth straight mercy rule win, by a combined score of 63-1, setting up huge match-up Monday against downstate powerhouse Hudsonville.
Gladstone again used a combination of good hitting, aggressive baserunning, and spot-on pitching to post another big win. They scored five times in the first inning, added seven more in the second, and put it away with six more runs in the fourth inning. That inning saw Gladstone intentionally make three outs by leading off-base early to end the game.
Blissfield scored the first run that Gladstone has allowed in the tournament with a fourth inning single by Zarah Blackman, and she came home on a solid base hit by lead-off batter Isabella Slisser. Slusser finished the game with two base hits and a stolen base.
For Gladstone, the big hits included another inside-the-park "Little League home run" by catcher Josalyn Meyette. She also threw a baserunner out trying to steal, and Gladstone right fielder Maya Hughes threw out a runner at first base who had gotten a base hit. It ended up being a 9-3 force.
Reese Lovell, who hit two home runs in Saturday's win, didn't get much to hit during Sunday's game. She was walked twice and had one single. Lovell scored three times, however.
Kali Koski and Emmy Whitney both contributed run-scoring base hits during the second inning, and Jayla Hughes also had an RBI single. In the circle, Kamryn Ayotte threw all four innings, striking out seven batters, walking two, and allowing her first run of the tournament.
Slusser threw all four innings for Blissfield. She gave up all 18 runs, but also managed to get eight strike outs among the twelve outs she recorded.
The Gladstone-Hudsonville state semifinal game starts at 10:00 Monday and will be broadcast live on FM-93.5 and AM-600, and at www.rrnsports.com. If Gladstone wins, they would play in the state championship game at 2:00 against either Grayling or Algonac.
MATTAWAN, Mich.---The Gladstone 10u Minor Little League All-Star softball team rolled over another opponent in the state quarterfinals on Sunday, whipping Blissfield, 18-1, to advance to Monday's Final Four.
It was Gladstone's fourth straight mercy rule win, by a combined score of 63-1, setting up huge match-up Monday against downstate powerhouse Hudsonville.
Blissfield scored the first run that Gladstone has allowed in the tournament with a fourth inning single by Zarah Blackman, and she came home on a solid base hit by lead-off batter Isabella Slisser. Slusser finished the game with two base hits and a stolen base.
For Gladstone, the big hits included another inside-the-park "Little League home run" by catcher Josalyn Meyette. She also threw a baserunner out trying to steal, and Gladstone right fielder Maya Hughes threw out a runner at first base who had gotten a base hit. It ended up being a 9-3 force.
Reese Lovell, who hit two home runs in Saturday's win, didn't get much to hit during Sunday's game. She was walked twice and had one single. Lovell scored three times, however.
Kali Koski and Emmy Whitney both contributed run-scoring base hits during the second inning, and Jayla Hughes also had an RBI single. In the circle, Kamryn Ayotte threw all four innings, striking out seven batters, walking two, and allowing her first run of the tournament.
Slusser threw all four innings for Blissfield. She gave up all 18 runs, but also managed to get eight strike outs among the twelve outs she recorded.
The Gladstone-Hudsonville state semifinal game starts at 10:00 Monday and will be broadcast live on FM-93.5 and AM-600, and at www.rrnsports.com. If Gladstone wins, they would play in the state championship game at 2:00 against either Grayling or Algonac.
