Justin St. Ours | Daily Press
Gladstone coach Rick Pepin (right) talks to Kenzingtin Pepin (left) in the bottom of the seventh inning during an MHSAA Division 3 Region 17 Final against Kalkaska in Gladstone Sunday.

Justin St. Ours | Daily Press
Gladstone’s Samara Sanville tags first base for an out while checking the Kalkaska runner at second during an MHSAA Division 3 Region 17 Final in Gladstone Sunday.

GLADSTONE — It was a tough ending to Gladstone’s softball season here Sunday morning as they dropped a painful 1-0 decision to Kalkaska in an MHSAA Division 3 regional final.

This marked the first regional title for Kalkaska (27-12), which meets Evart in a state quarterfinal Tuesday at Petoskey. The Braves finished 22-7 and one step further than last season (a 5-0 regional semifinal loss to Negaunee).

One swing of the bat made the difference for the Blazers as winning pitcher Mia Miller sent an inside pitch over the leftfield fence for a home run with one out in the sixth inning.

Miller then retired the last six hitters, including four by strikeout, to preserve the win.

“She was trying to hit the outside corner, and I crowded the plate,” said Miller, who scattered three hits, struck out 13 and walked none. “She (sophomore Montgomery Pepin) is a very good pitcher but missed the corner a little bit. I spin the ball a lot which makes it hard to hit. I don’t throw down the middle. I try to hit the corners. We’ve had a softball program for 40 years, and this is our first regional title. This is also Rik’s last year of coaching. We really wanted to do it for him. This is very special.”

The game was suspended in the fourth inning Saturday due to rain.

Pepin helped the Braves get out of the inning on a quick force out at second.

Freshman Tia Schone then rifled a double to right to open Gladstone’s half of the fourth.

The Braves, however, stranded baserunners at second and third.

Pepin retired the Blazers in order in the fifth and had a no-hitter going until Miller’s round-tripper.

“It stings,” said Braves coach Rick Pepin. “You feel that way because this group of girls did everything right. They didn’t take shortcuts or cheat the game. This got us one small step closer than we were a year ago. We have to give their pitcher a lot of credit. She pitched an outstanding game in a big moment. She pitched like a senior and helped her own cause. The kids have a lot to be proud of. They’ve grown so much mentally. They understand what it means to be mentally tough.”

Montgomery Pepin took the loss despite tossing a three-hitter. She fanned four and walked two.

“We won our district for the 13th time in the last 20 years but always lost in the regional,” said Kalkaska coach Rick Ponstein. “The majority of those losses were to Gladstone. That’s an awesome program. Mia pitched a heck of a game. She has been with us for four years, and all four of our seniors are outstanding people. When they threatened, that was Mia bearing down in that inning. She hasn’t walked anybody in six games.”

Miller recorded 15 strikeouts in Saturday’s 5-4 victory over Negaunee in eight innings.

The Braves dispatched Boyne City 15-0 in three innings in the following game.

Gladstone put that one out of reach in the third by scoring 12 times on 10 hits.

Senior Kenzingtin Pepin blasted a two-run shot to left-center.

Lauren Sundquist ripped an RBI triple along the leftfield line, and Rylee Gerow’s triple to right drove in another run.

Gladstone finished with 14 hits. Kenzingtin and Montgomery Pepin collected three apiece. Schone and Gerow added two each.

The Ramblers had three hits, all of which came in the third when they loaded the bases with two out.