Gladstone clamps down on Menominee for doubleheader win

MENOMINEE — Gladstone broke out the brooms for a two-game sweep of the Menominee High School baseball team on Monday at Spies Field.

Gladstone took game one in decisive fashion 13-5 but the Maroons made the Braves sweat out a late-inning rally in game two.

Staring down a six-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, Menominee strapped on their rally caps and began to chip away behind an RBI-single from Gable Buck, while Braves pitcher Gavin Frossard walked home three runs to aid the Maroons’ cause.

Now down by one run and with two outs, Dylan Beal had a chance to either tie or put Menominee ahead with a base hit into the outfield.

Unfortunately for the Maroons’ shortstop, his swing resulted in a line-drive straight into the glove of Austin Pepin to end the game 11-10 in favor of the Braves.

Game one saw the two teams battled to 1-1 deadlock entering the second inning before the Maroons seized a 4-2 advantage in the bottom of the third thanks to a two-run single from Beal and an RBI-double by Cam Gauthier.

Gladstone plated three runs in its half of the fourth to build a one-run lead before a two-run single courtesy of Isaac Ketchum helped give the Braves a commanding 8-4 edge in the top of the fifth.

Garrett Carlson managed to work a two-out walk before coming around to score on an error to make it a three-run affair, but Ketchum tacked on another two RBIs in the top of the sixth as part of five-run outburst by Gladstone.

Aiden Sevon managed to get on base with two outs thanks to an error in Menominee’s half of the inning, but Carlson grounded into a 4-3 putout to snuff out the Maroons’ comeback bid.

Gladstone jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first to kick off the nightcap, but an RBI from Gauthier allowed Landan Bardowski to score, while Torin Davis crossed home plate on an error to make it a four-run game.

Gauthier collected another RBI as the Maroons scored three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the Braves’ lead down to three before Frossard and Kaden Gibbs scored in the top of the fifth, making it a 10-5 game.

Gibbs scored again in the top of the sixth to set the stage for Menominee’s rally in the bottom of the frame.

Austin Malke was the losing pitcher in game two after giving up six hits, three walks and 10 runs through four-and-two-thirds innings of work.

Bardowski scored twice, hit a single, walked once and stole three bases for Menominee in game two. Gauthier went 1-2 at the plate with a walk and two RBIs, while Buck was 2-3 with a ribbie and a run scored.

Buck took the loss on the mound in game one, with five runs (four earned), three walks and five hits given up across four innings pitched.

Beal went 2-3 with two RBIs while Bardowski swiped four bags and scored once. Gauthier was 1-2 with a double and an RBI.

Due upMenominee: The Maroons travel to Escanaba on Thursday, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

Gladstone 13, Menominee 5 (game one)Gladstone 101 335 x — 13

Menominee 103 010 x — 5

LP: Buck 4IP, 5H, 5R, 4ER, 3BB, 6K

Leading hitters (Menominee): Beal 2x3, 2RBI; Gauthier 1x2, 2B, RBI; Bardowski 1x4, R, 4SB

Gladstone 11, Menominee 10 (game two)

Gladstone 620 021 x — 11

Menominee 203 005 x — 10

LP: Malke 4 2/3IP, 6H, 10R, 3BB, 3K

Leading hitters (Menominee): Bardowski 1x3, 2R, 3SB; Gauthier 1x2, BB, 2RBI; Buck 2x3, R, RBI