GLADSTONE - The Gladstone Indians ran into a buzzsaw in their Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament opener Friday, dropping a 9-3 American Legion baseball decision to defending state champ Midland.

Winning pitcher Kenton San Migel scattered four hits, struck out nine and walked one.

"I think he's the fastest throwing pitcher we've seen," said Gladstone manager Chris Reynolds. "We had him clocked at 86 mph. We had trouble catching up with him at first."

Midland's Kyle O'Boyle ripped a leadoff homer in the fourth which cleared the power lines in left-center field.

"That was definitely a shot," said Reynolds. "That easily went 400 feet. They (Midland) are definitely a powerhouse. Yet, our kids were excited about having an opportunity to play them. I'm very happy with the way we played."

Jordan Deane added a two-run homer in the sixth and Eric Dawson had two hits.

Jake Stenlund, who pitched six innings, took the loss. He walked three and hit two batters.

O'Boyle also cranked a two-run blast in a 7-4 triumph over Chief Pontiac. The Oakland County unit did all its scoring in the sixth after Midland opened a 7-0 advantage.

Chief Pontiac bounced back as it needed only five innings to dispatch Eastern Upper Peninsula Travelers of Sault Ste. Marie 11-3.

Winning pitcher Joel Lange fired a one-hitter. Eric Leichtnam, Trevor Potter and Luke Prudhomme had two hits apiece.

Sault also bowed to Napoleon, Oh. 12-4 in six innings.

Krane Cairns had two hits, including an RBI double, to bring the Travelers within 7-4 in the top of the sixth.

Napoleon, fueled by Cody Meyer's three-run triple, responded with five runs in its half of the sixth.

Anthony Kidstow collected three hits, including a three-run blast in the fourth. Mitch Leonard also had three hits for Napoleon.

Napolean then drilled Sault, Ont. 15-5 as Meyer drove in four runs with a home run and double. Sam Wesche, PJ Losby and Mark Sebring also had homers for Napolean, which is not the defending Ohio state champion as previously reported to the Daily Press.