Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos taken by Jayger Quinn, and to hear post-game comments from Gladstone Manager Rick Pepin.
CADILLAC---There were tears and hugs as the Gladstone High School softball team walked off the field at the Cadilac Lincoln Elementary School for the final time Tuesday night. That's a usual response to a softball season coming to an end one step short of a trip to the state finals.
But for this group of Braves, the hugs were a little longer, and the tears a little more emotional. A group of girls who have played together since they were nine years old had it all come to an end in the state quarterfinals with a 9-0 loss to the Evart Wildcats.
For Gladstone Manager Rick Pepin, the hug with his daughter Montgomery was perhaps the longest. And all the memories of Little League and travel ball success, as well as high school success and success in the classroom and community came flooding out.
“They kind of altered my path in life,” Pepin said. “I was supposed to be a basketball coach forever. But here I am today. I'm a softball coach because of these girls. I think that's pretty cool. They've put some hardware in the trophy case, but it's not about that. It's about the memories and the relationships. It's a tough day. It's a day that we all were hoping would never get here. Lots to be proud of.”
Evart sophomore pitcher Kyra Gray made life tough for the Braves, striking out 14 batters and allowing only two base hits: both were off the bat of Lauren Sundquist. The only other two baserunners were on walks to Maddy Sundquist and Alli Larson, but all of those runners came in separate innings as Gray was in complete control.
“She did a nice job moving the ball in and out on us,” Pepin said. “She got ahead of us, and then she took advantage of the rise ball, and that's a tough pitch to lay off when you're down in the count.”
Gray was also tough at the plate, collecting a single, double, triple, and sacrifice fly. Kate Gostlin had the icing on the cake when she crushed a three-run homer in the sixth inning to put the game away for the Wildcats.
Pepin threw a complete game for the Braves, giving up all nine runs on ten hits. She walked five and struck out five in her final Gladstone Braves game.
Evart improved to 35-4 on the season and advanced to the state semifinals in East Lansing. The Braves finished 22-12 and lost in the quarterfinals for the second straight season below the Bridge.
“The work that these girls have put in over the years, and this year, to achieve something bigger than themselves, it's pretty special to watch that and to be a part of it,” Coach Pepin said. “When they buy in, and embrace what you're trying to accomplish, it's something really incredible.”
