IRON MOUNTAIN---The Gladstone Minor Little League All-Star (age 8-10) baseball team completed an undefeated run through the district tournament Tuesday night, beating Kingsford, 2-1, in a pitcher's duel that went down to the wire in Iron Mountain.
Kingsford had won the 'Yooper 10' tournament, and after a loss to Iron Mountain North early in the districts, rallied through the loser's bracket to get to Tuesday's game.
In the end, Gladstone had just enough to take the championship, and will represent District Ten in the 2024 State Tournament, which will be held in Ishpeming.
Gladstone took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Avery Silta got an infield hit, was bunted to second by Benson Ellison, and scored on two wild pitches.
It stayed that was as Silta and Kingsford's Kade Neuens matched each other, pitch-for-pitch, all night long. Gladstone managed to get a huge run in the fifth inning when Abel Ellison singled, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a line drive by Silta.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kingsford made its push. Cooper Momont was hit by a pitch, and Kolten Buchcuski got a base hit. Jade Unrein followed with an RBI double, but Gladstone was able to get the trailing runner at third base for a huge out.
Silta then got Liam Wodenka to ground out, and then fanned Neuens on a called third strike to end the inning. Still, the game was far from over.
In the bottom of the sixth, with two out, Matteo Santoni got a base hit. A wild pitch moved him to second base. Silta maxed out his 75-pitch count, bringing Wyatt Sholten in to pitch. With the tying run on base, Levi Patrick grounded out, and Gladstone won the battle.
Neuens threw 5 2/3 strong innings for Kingsford, striking out ten batters and walking only one, and allowing four base hits. He maxed out at his 75-pitch count, so Momont had to come on and get the final out.
For Gladstone, Silta also threw 5 2/3 innings, with eight strikeouts and two walks. He allowed only three base hits.
And now it is Gladstone that will play in the state tournament in Ishpeming. There are 16 teams in the event, which starts on July 26th. Gladstone's first game will be against the District Nine champions from the Grand Rapids area, at 12:30 p.m.
