Gladstone junior Casey Alworden stands at the plate against Manistique on April 24, 2024 at Don Olsen Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)
NORWAY — There’s a reason why Norway was one win away from a Division 4 state championship last season.
Gladstone baseball tripped to face the reigning D4 state runner-up on Wednesday. The Knights walked away with a 7-2 win over the Braves.
The Braves (3-3) drew first blood thanks to a RBI fielder’s choice from senior Gavin Frossard. Norway responded in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run triple from Owen Baij and a RBI single from Bryce Adams for a 3-1 lead.
The Braves clawed to within one run when senior Davin Mattonen’s ground ball turned into a Knights’ error, scoring junior Trevor Thorbahn from second.
But that was as close as the Braves got to taking the lead. The Knights tacked on two runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Senior Cole Baij slammed the door shut on Gladstone, striking out eight across three innings or relief. Baij struck out the final seven batters he faced.
Thorbahn and Alworden earned the Braves’ lone two hits.
Senior Isaac Ketchum was tagged with the loss, surrendering three earned runs off three hits with a quartet of walks and strikeouts in four innings of work.
The Braves stay on the road to face Gaylord on Friday and Charlevoix on Saturday.