Todd Rose | Daily Press The Gladstone baseball team celebrates after a late win over Iron Mountain Thursday in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — A neck-and-neck game between the Gladstone Braves and Iron Mountain Mountaineers came down to the bottom of the seventh Thursday afternoon as the Braves eked out a 6-5 win in Gladstone.

“It’s a credit to the boys,” said Gladstone coach Lucas LaCosse. “They didn’t give up, and I couldn’t be any prouder. They continued to fight knowing they could win and today was probably one of the best games they’ve played this year.”

In the top half of the final inning, Iron Mountain scored three runs off of two doubles by Ian Anderson — who drove in two — and Jurgen Kleiman.

Down by three, the Braves needed to put together some magic on their side and did.

First, a single RBI by Blake Krouth ushered Nick Martin — pinch-hitting for pitcher Tyler Darmogrey — across the dish.

Braden Sundquist made it 4-5 scoring on a passed ball.

With Cam Kelly — who made it to first on a passed ball on strike three — and Krouth on base, Owen Trombley stepped into the box.

Trombley walloped a short single that split first and second, avoiding any Mountaineers looking to make a play.

The hit brought in Krouth for the tying run and Kelly with the go-ahead to win.

Tyler Darmogrey pitched the whole game for the Braves and was credited with the win. He had two strikeouts with three walks. He allowed six hits for five runs (0 ER).

“We had great pitching by Tyler Darmogrey,” said LaCosse. “And, of course, Owen Trombley’s clutch hit there at the end sealed the deal. Other than that, there is nothing more that I could ask from them, and it shows on the scoreboard.”

Blake Julian — who had eight strikeouts and earned praise from LaCosse — pitched six of seven for Iron Mountain. Ian Anderson closed the game and absorbed the loss.

“Blake Julian did an amazing job on the mound with eight strikeouts and threw 105 pitches,” said Mountaineers coach Paul Julian. “He held them to (two runs), and when Ian Anderson came in, he was great.”

Coach Julien also mentioned Bryce Pietrantonio as an ‘amazing player.’

“All in all these seniors, I’m going to miss them next year,” he said.

Overall, coach Julian was happy with how things went.

“It was good baseball,” he said. “Pitching on both sides was nice. Gladstone is always well-coached. Typically we’re in a district with them. This year, we’re not … It was good fun for us today. Win or lose, they’ve got a good team, and we’ve got a good team. I’m guessing everyone’s going far.”

Anderson — in addition to closing the game on the mound — was 2-4 with three RBIs. Blake Julian (1-3) also had an RBI for the Mountaineers.

While the Mountaineers get set to take on the North Central Jets Saturday, the Braves prepare for a doubleheader against the Escanaba Eskymos.

“(Last time) they came here and beat our varsity. So, hopefully, this time we can get a win,” said LaCosse.