The Braves suffered a 12-0 loss in five innings to Negaunee at Don Olsen Field in the MHSAA Division 3 regional semifinals.

Having one of their best seasons ever with a 34-6 record, the Miners now face Traverse City St. Francis at noon Saturday at Traverse City Central High School with the regional championship on the line.

A win in that game would mean Negaunee would be playing a doubleheader on Saturday in Traverse City. Another regional final is being held at the same time between Pinconning and Evart, with the two winners squaring off in what is actually the state quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. back at TC Central.

Whoever comes out of that quarterfinal advances to Michigan State University in East Lansing for the state semifinals at 9 a.m. next Thursday, which could lead to the state championship game at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, also at MSU.

“We get to keep going,” Miners coach Jason Siik said. “This has been a wonderful group this year as far as staying together and wanting to be at practice. It’s fun as a coach. These kids can’t wait for practice. That’s a really cool thing.”

With two outs and a runner on second base in the second inning, Gladstone senior Isaac Ketchum appeared to be poised to get out of the Miners’ first scoring opportunity with Tristan Slater up to bat. But Slater had other plans.

He connected with the first pitch of the at bat, but it wasn’t barreled or crushed. Instead, it was a gentle floater that snuck inches inside the foul line just behind third base on the edge of the outfield grass for Negaunee’s first hit. Evan DellAngelo, who reached on a one-out walk, scored from second base for a 1-0 lead.

The Miners didn’t stop there. In fact, Negaunee plated three more runs for a 4-0 lead in what became Ketchum’s last inning on the mound in a Braves uniform.

Even after Gladstone sophomore Cooper Sanville went to the bump, the Miners continued to produce runs. Negaunee plated a run in the third off a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead and teed off for a seven-run fourth that featured a three-run single by DellAngelo, two run-single from Jack Siik and an RBI poke by Owen Cardinal.

“We were very patient,” Jason Siik said. “We stayed patient at the plate. We ran the pitch going up, which really helped. And when the ball was there to hit, we hit it.”

On the mound, it was Slater who kept the Braves at bay, striking out five and walking three across four hitless innings of work.

“We put in a lot of work this year,” Slater said. “It’s all coming together at the right time. We’re ready to keep going.”

However, the Braves did put a potential rally together in their half of the third. Landon VanTassell dropped a bunt on the first pitch he saw. The throw from Aidan Steele was booted to the outfield grass, and VanTassell took off like a bank robber attempting to flee the scene in a spaghetti Western film. In fact, the senior attempted to bypass second base and reach third.

Despite his best efforts, he was tagged out before reaching third for the inning’s first out. Sanville did draw a two-out walk, but senior Casey Alworden swung and missed at a 3-2 pitch and senior Gavin Frossard popped out to end the inning.

VanTassell registered the Braves’ lone hit in the top of the fifth that was followed by an eight-pitch walk issued to Alworden to put two aboard. But Sanville flew out to center, Frossard flew out to right field and Ketchum lined out to Miners’ shortstop Morgan Robar to end the game.

Ketchum took the loss as he was tagged for four earned runs off three hits with two walks and three strikeouts across two innings. Sanville allowed eight runs (seven earned) off four hits with two walks and three punchouts.

“Negaunee is a good team. Very well coached,” Braves second-year skipper Tyler Swanson said. “They put the ball in play just out of our reach. When you play good teams that’s what happens. We were close to getting out of some close innings and couldn’t do it. And they capitalized.”

Cardinal went 2 for 3 with two RBIs while allowing one hit and one walk in an inning of relief on the mound. Devin Jurmu was 2 for 2 with two runs scored and an RBI. DellAngelo tallied three RBIs and scored twice.

Gladstone’s season ends with a final record of 17-18.

“They pushed me to be better. They never took the easy way, and I mean that in a good way,” Swanson said. “They pushed me to do the right things. They pushed me to work harder, to learn more, and I appreciate that they made me a better coach, a better person.

“I formed some great relationships with these guys. We’re gonna keep in touch.”