EBEN — Everything got a little interesting in the end as the Gladstone Braves hung on for a 6-3 baseball victory over the Superior Central Cougars in a Division 3 district final here Friday night.

The Cougars loaded the bases with two out in the seventh inning before Braves’ reliever Cam Kelly retired Blake Walter on an infield pop-up.

“They were a good team, and this was a good win,” said Kelly. “My fastball was working real good. It was a tight zone, but I was able to get it done. I was just trying to throw strikes, although I was struggling a little.”

The victory enabled the Braves to clinch their seventh straight title and face Iron Mountain in a regional opener at Houghton Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Cougars finished 15-6.

“They definitely fought to the end,” said Braves coach Luke LaCosse. “They’re a good team, and we were glad to have the competition. We had a couple kids who played with them in Little League. From what I heard, (Hayden) Rockhill was a good pitcher, and he is a good pitcher. I thought both teams were patient at the plate. This is the first game we had zero errors which really helped our pitching. The fifth inning made a big difference for us.”

Gladstone led 3-2 after four innings prior to scoring three times in the fifth.

The Braves took a 4-2 lead on Kelly’s single to left-centerfield, then made it 6-2 on Tyler Darmogray’s two-run single to right.

Matt McLaury scored the Cougars’ third run on a wild pitch. The Braves, however, didn’t allow them to get any closer.

Walther led off the Cougars’ sixth with an infield single but got stranded at third.

“I thought we were going to push through,” said Cougars’ coach Walt Smith. “We had a lot of opportunities, but we didn’t get the timely hits, and they played flawless. We were swinging at pitches out of the zone and made too many errors.

“They’re fundamentally sound and very well-coached. Hats off to Trevor Hanson and Blake Krouth. They’re very good ballplayers and fine young men. They outplayed us, simple as that.”

Krouth scored Gladstone’s first run on Kelly’s single along the rightfield line. Kelly then gave the Braves a two-run cushion on a passed ball in the opening frame.

McLaury brought the Cougars within 2-1 and Parker Maki tied the score, both on passed balls.

Carter VanBrocklin enabled the Braves to regain the lead in the third by scoring on one of the Cougars’ three errors in the inning.

Hanson, who worked five innings, threw 99 pitches for the win. He struck out two, walked four and allowed three runs on three hits. Kelly fanned three, walked two and gave up two hits in the final two frames.

“I was just throwing fastballs,” said Hanson. “I had faith in Cam. He throws a little harder than I do. He’s a big asset to our team. It feels great to bring home a trophy and keep up the tradition.

The Braves got a score during warm-ups in the first when the ball bounced up and struck Aedan Creten in front of his right ear. He later returned to the dugout after receiving treatment.

“Aedan is my cousin, and I got a little emotional, but he was all smiles when he came back to the dugout,” said Hanson.

The Braves collected eight hits, including two apiece by Krouth and Kelly. Walther had a pair for the Cougars.

Rockhill threw 4 1/3 innings and took the loss. He struck out nine, walked three and surrendered six runs on seven hits. Maki allowed one hit in relief.

In the semifinals, Gladstone clubbed Newberry 18-1 in five innings and Superior Central dispatched Manistique 21-1 in five.

Dakota Maki fanned seven, walked none and scattered four hits for the Cougars, who collected 15 hits. Losing pitcher Carson Sprader whiffed three, walked three and hit a batter through 3 2/3 innings.

“They’re a new club,” said Smith. “It’s good to see them out there. They have the numbers. They’ll be fine. We’re still building. We’re pretty excited about next year’s team.”