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MENOMINEE -- The Gladstone Indians dropped into the loser's bracket Friday night, dropping a 9-7 American Legion baseball decision to the Menominee Red Wave in the Class A state tournament.
Gladstone returns to Spies Field to face Gaylord today at 11 a.m. (EDT).
The winner meets Menominee in the championship game at 2 p.m., with another contest to be played Sunday if needed.
The defending champs (24-6) led 5-0 in the fourth before the Red Waves tied the contest in their half of the inning.
Gladstone regained the lead at 7-5 on two-run double by Dan Martin in the sixth.
Menominee, taking advantage of two bases-loaded walks and a hit batsman, scored four times for a 9-7 lead in its half of the sixth.
Bryce Tharp, who pitched 6 2/3 innings, took the win. Alex Hanson got the save.
Cooper Cavadeas absorbed the loss in relief of Ben Kelly.
"We were playing very well, then we started having defensive laps and it turned into a lot of runs," said Gladstone manager Justin Jurek. "Ben threw well. We got ground balls, but didn't make the plays we needed. Hopefully, this will light a fire under us. The kids understand we did the same thing last year."
Bark River's season drew to a close in a 1-0 loss to Hudson.
Losing pitcher Duane Englund allowing six hits, including three in the seventh.
Travis Carson's RBI double in the seventh provided Hudson with the game-winner.
Back-to-back singles by Logan Heim and Kadin Mustafa gave the Buccaneers a pair of baserunners with nobody out in their half of the seventh.
Matt Richer's bunt moved them to second and third, but the Bucs were unable to cash in. They finished with four hits.