ESCANABA — The Escanaba Bears faced off against the Gladstone Braves in the 11u division at the Great North Open Tournament in Escanaba. Gladstone won the championship in a thrilling 7-6 game.

The Bears got out to a early lead on a double by Blake Gagnon. Jayce Braun and Drew Anderson had back to back singles to load the bases then Brody Steinhauer hit a RBI single to score the first run. Gladstone bounced back in the in the bottom half of the first with Jaxdon Quigley and Scout Rosinski both scoring runs to give Gladstone a 2-1 lead after one inning.

The Braves added another run in the third inning on a RBI single by Aiden Smith that extended the Braves lead to 3-1.

The Bears answered back in the fourth inning after a single by Stienhauer his second of three hits in the game, Vinny DeSalvo-Bougie hit a bunt single and Stienhauer scored on a wild throw to cut Gladstone’s lead to 3-2. Escanaba took the lead in the in the fourth inning after Gladstone walked four batters and hit one scoring two runs giving the Bears a 4-3 lead.

Gladstone surged back in the bottom of the fifth with two runners on Quigley singled to bring in two runs and Rosinski had a RBI single to give Gladstone the lead at 6-4.

“It felt really good to beat Esky, its always a great game,” Quigley said.

The Bears once again answered in the top of the sixth after a triple by Stienhauer. Vinny DeSalvo-Bougie hit a triple and scored on a bad throw to tie the game at 6-6.

“Felt good to play at home this weekend and the games were good too, Stienhauer said.

The Braves with two runners on base got a walk-off single by Landon Amis in the bottom of the sixth to win the game.

“Felt great I thought it was going to be an out but when I saw it drop it was awesome,” Amis said.

“It was a fun tournament we played some good games all these kids have friends on the other teams and it makes for good competition said Gladstone coach Dan Quigley.

“I think the kids had fun, not the first or last time these teams will play each other, we came up short, kids played their hearts out is wasn’t for lack of effort, said Bears coach Jason Braun.