Gladstone freshman Cooper Sanville hits a lead-off triple against Manistique on April 24, 2024 at Don Olsen Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — A three-hit performance by freshman Copper Sanville drove Gladstone baseball to a pair of victories, 7-1 and 10-0 over Manistique on Wednesday at Don Olsen Field.

“It was a beautiful day for baseball,” Braves coach Tyler Swanson said. “Our defense played really well today and we had some guys step up and get some big hits so it was a good day overall for us.”

Braves senior John Soderman got the start on the mound and sat Manistique down 1-2-3 in the fist inning, all by strikeout.

Gladstone junior Casey Alworden got on with a lead-off single and later scored on a single by Isaac Ketchum to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

“I made good contact on it,” Alworden said. “We all have kind of picked up where we left off last season.”

The Emeralds saw Parker Graphos, Britt Frain and Mack Pugh come up with hits in the second inning, but the Emeralds were not able to capitalize on the hits, leaving all three ducks on the pond.

The Braves added to the lead in the bottom of the second with Davin Mattonen on second base. Casey Alworden then doubled on a flyball over the centerfielder’s head to extend the Braves’ lead to 2-0.

The Braves added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. With the Braves up 3-0, Senior Rex Kelley doubled on line drive past the shortstop that scored Gavin Frossard and the Braves led 4-0.

In the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and one out, Emeralds junior Dawson Bosanic squared up to bunt and popped it up but the catcher could not handle it allowing Parker Graphos to score. Ketchum did get the second out as he threw to second base for the second out.

The Braves put the game away in the bottom of the fifth. Sanville hit an double that scored allowed Austin Pepin to score.

Kelly finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base. Alworden and Trevor Thorbahn stole two bases each.

Soderman earned the win, allowing three hits and striking out three in two shutout innings. Thorbahn gave up one unearned run with one walk and three punchouts in two hitless innings of relief. Pepin allowed two hits and fanned a pair in his two innings of work on the bump.

In the second game the Braves jumped out to a good start as Sanville hit a lead-off triple to start the inning. Nate Young singled on a groundball scoring Sanville, and the Braves led 2-0 after one inning.

In the bottom of the second Sanville doubled to center and Young followed it up with a double of his own, scoring Sanville and the Braves led 3-0. “I was feeling the cycle but it bounced off my helmet,” Sanville said.

The Braves added three runs in the third inning and four in the fourth inning as they cruised to victory.

Young finished 3-for-3 with three RBI, scored once and stole a base. Sanville finished 2-for-2 and touched home plate twice. Kaden Gibbs finished 2-for-2 with three RBI.

Frossard earned the win, allowing one hit and issued a pair of free passes to first with a pair of strikeouts in two innings. Alworden allowed one walk and fanned two in two hitless innings of relief.

The Braves return to action Saturday for a doubleheader against Calumet.