GLADSTONE — The Gladstone Indians had a chance to play in front of a group of special guests here Wednesday night, treating them and others in attendance to quite an offensive show.

Gladstone, which launched three home runs, posted a 9-5 American Legion baseball triumph over the Menominee Red Wave after its 2019 state championship team was honored in a pre-game ceremony.

“We wanted to have a good showing here,” said Gladstone manager Scott Kwarciany. “We were coming off a heartbreaking loss at Escanaba (7-6), and after all the traveling we did, it was nice to come home and win one for the 2019 team. Having those guys here gave us a lot of motivation. We talked about making contact, and the guys put the ball in play. If the other team makes an error, we have to try to make them pay.”

Menominee committed five errors, and Gladstone had two.

“Our whole outfield was 16-year-olds, and it showed,” said Menominee manager John Lauzer. “We told the kids they had to be ready to go, and our outfield let us down.”

The Indians trailed 3-0 after two innings before Braden Sundquist’s three-run shot to left-centerfield tied the score in the third.

Aedan Creten led off the fourth with a homer to right, and Tyler Darmogray gave the Indians a 5-3 lead on a fielding error.

The Red Wave pulled even on a fielding miscue in the sixth.

The Indians, however, responded with four runs in their half of the inning.

Sundquist’s single to left sent the Indians ahead to stay, and John Soderman added a three-run bomb to left.

“Braden’s home run in the third gave us momentum in a key part of the game,” said Kwarciany. “Our goal was to use 3-4 pitchers and we played good defense for the most part. We stole some bases and got the timely hits which is a testament to spending time in the batting cage.”

Menominee scored first on Zach Starzynski’s single to left-center in the opening frame, and Matt Mellinger made it 3-0 on a two-run single to right.

“We started very well,” said Lauzer. “We hit the ball pretty well. We should have been out of the sixth inning with the game still tied. Then, we missed a flyball, and the floodgates opened. When you allow five outs in an inning, you’re not going to win.”

Sundquist had two of Gladstone’s seven hits, and Jim Coldren had two for Menominee, which finished with five.

Each team used three pitchers.

Darmogray, who struck out two and allowed two runs on no hits through the final two innings, took the win.

Starzynski worked the last two frames and absorbed the loss. He fanned four and surrendered four runs on two hits.

Gladstone enters the Antigo, Wis. Invitational tournament, where it will face the host team tonight at 9. Menominee meets Charlevoix at Gaylord today.