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Blues drop two games at Escanaba Tournament

After strong Friday, Marquette struggles at the plate against Eastern U.P., Gladstone

By JOHN VRANCIC

For the Mining Journal

GLADSTONE — Marquette’s bats were kept relatively silent Saturday afternoon as it dropped a 1-0 decision to the Gladstone Indians in the Gregg Johnson Memorial American Legion Baseball tournament at Don Olsen Field.

The Blues (12-4) were limited to just one hit in this match-up by Ben Kelly, who struck out two and walked four.

Blake Henderson got Marquette’s lone hit on a single to rightfield, putting runners on first and second base with one out in the seventh inning.

Henderson was then forced out at second on a grounder by Tanner Judd and Kelly retired Connor Steer to secure the decision.

“He (Kelly) threw a lot of off-speed and kept us off balance,” said Marquette manager Derek Swajanen. “We did a great job hitting the ball all weekend, but Gladstone has a nice shortstop (Braeden Lamberg). I’m real happy with the boys’ performance. Most of our guys are 15 and 16 years old. This is the youngest team I’ve had.”

The Blues, who fell to the Eastern U.P. Travelers’ AA team 8-2 earlier Saturday in Escanaba, fell to 2-2 in the tournament and needed help to get into today’s semifinals.

Friday, the blanked Bark River 12-0 and whipped Esky 14-3.

Dan Martin had both of Gladstone’s hits off Hunter Decet, who fanned two, walked six and hit a batter.

Lamberg scored Gladstone’s lone run on a single to right by Martin in the third.

The Indians threatened in their half of the second, but Martin was thrown out by third-baseman Brady Wright in a rundown second third and home while trying to score on grounder by Cooper Cavadeas.

“This is the first time Brady played at third for a full game,” said Swajanen. “He did a nice job in that rundown. Hunter Decet did a good job pitching and our Jakob Peterson did a nice job behind the dish.”

Following the rundown, the Indians on runners on second and third with two out. The threat ended when Cole Hansen popped out to first.

In the sixth, the Indians had runners on second and third following Martin’s double to deep right-center before Decet retired the next two hitters.

The defending champs, like Marquette, were also waiting and hoping to get into today’s semifinals.

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