Courtesy photo Gladstone’s Lauren Sundquist (left) slides safely into third base during a Major Girls’ All-Stars Central Regional semifinal against Central Iowa Friday in Fishers, Ind.

FISHERS, Ind. — The Gladstone Major Girls’ All-Stars (age 11-12) came up just short of reaching the Little League Central Regional championship game here Friday, falling to Central Iowa 5-4 on a walkoff home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

After Gladstone rallied to the score at 4 with a three-run fifth, Central Iowa’s leadoff batter stepped to the plate with out in the sixth and smashed a walkoff home run to center field, which is believed to be her eighth of the season.

“We were two outs away from focing extra innings, then we were in disbelief and we were all in shock,” Gladstone manager Rick Pepin said. “We couldn’t believe what just happened, and that’s how our journey ended.”

Central Iowa took advantage of a Gladstone error to take a 1-0 lead in the second, but Gladstone answered on an RBI single by Lauren Sundquist to even the score in the third.

However, more Gladstone miscues allowed Central Iowa to build a 4-1 lead in the fourth.

“In the fourth inning we got ourselves in a little bit of trouble,” Pepin said. “We had a couple mental errors and they ended up scoring three on us.”

Gladstone then rallied with three runs in the fifth. Maggie Buckely singled to score Addie Trombley and Montgomery Pepin doubled to score Sundquist and Buckley to even the game at 4.

“It was very resilient on the part of our girls to fight back against that a good of a team that late in the game,” manager Pepin said. “Our girls have done it time and time again.”

He also thought errors were a big factor.

“What really hurt us today is when we scored the one run in the third and one in the fifth is we had a couple baserunning errors that cost us a run in each inning,” he said. “One of our strengths is we are a very smart, aggressive baserunning team. We just picked a bad time to have a couple mental errors.

“Even though we competed very well down here, we never played our best game. In every single game that we played, we always had an inning where we had an error or mental errors that resulted in making games more difficult for ourselves.”

Sundquist went 3 for 3, Trombley went 2 for 3 and Camryn Buckley went 2 for 2.

“Lauren went 9 for 12 in the tournament, which is a .750 batting average. She was dialed in at the plate. She just produced and produced all week,” manager Pepin said. “Addie went 8 for 14. Addie’s our leadoff batter and Lauren’s in the two-spot — what a 1-2 punch that has been for us. They just overwhelmed defense and pitchers all week.”

Pepin took the loss, surrendering five runs on six hits while striking out and walking three.

“Central Iowa was easily the best hitting team we faced all week,” manager Pepin said. “They hit the ball very well and bunted very well. This whole week has been quite an experience for Montgomery. The caliber of hitting is quite a step up from the state tournament.”

Manager Pepin talked about the ride his team has been on.

“I think for this group of girls, this is only the beginning. This is definitely a springboard for future success for this group,” he said. “My heart hurts for the girls to be at the doorstep to the World Series. I told them that not every group gets to do this. We’re in rare company, and it might take time for the girls to let that sink in. But, we’re so full of pride for the accomplishments that these girls have given all of us.

“We went from representing the little town of Gladstone to representing the state of Michigan, and then we were on the verge of respresenting the Central Region in the World Series. Every single girl is walking out of this experience a much better softball player, and that’s part of the reason for why you do it.”

He also touched on how amazing the experience was and how it goes far beyond just playing softball.

“We will never, ever get to do anything like this ever again. A lot of people from the area have been telling me that this experience is the pinnacle of Little League, and now I know exactly what they mean,” he said.

“I told the girls that there’s a lot of girls back home watching on the TV and listening on the radio that will want to take your place and play softball for Gladstone, which will eventually help keep the softball tradition alive in Gladstone. Someday there’s going be another team from Gladstone that wins a state championship and they’re going to look at the trophy and say, ‘Remember that 2019 team, they were something special.’ This experience has been way beyond just playing softball. I also told them that they will be teammates for life and will always have this connection forever.

“Never, ever underestimate the determination of a Gladstone softball player.”