Gladstone Indians pitcher Tyler Darmogray hurls a pitch during a game against the Escanaba Cubs on July 20, 2024 at Al Ness Field in Escanaba. (Adam Hinch Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Cooper Curtis stayed ahead of the hitters here Saturday, helping the Gladstone Indians earn the American Legion zone baseball title in a 4-0 triumph over the Eastern Upper Peninsula Wood Ducks.

Curtis, who threw fewer than 80 pitches, struck out three, walked one and scattered four hits.

“It was kind of a last-minute decision,” Gladstone manager Joe Darmogray said. “Cooper hadn’t pitched since Antigo (July 14), but he went out there and threw strikes. We hadn’t played them this year and didn’t know much about them. The kids played well today.”

The victory sends the Indians (12-9) to the state tournament in Marquette where they begin play Thursday at 1:30 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. The host Blues take the field at 6:30.

Isaac Ketchum’s double to leftfield drove in the first two runs in the opening frame.

Austin Pepin added an RBI single to left, giving the Indians a three-run cushion just moments later.

“It’s an honor to be going up there,” Indians’ right fielder Trent Rutter said. “Cooper was very efficient and Isaac and Austin’s RBIs were very good. It seemed like a real fast game, and I think that’s because we were having fun. I definitely think we can hang with those teams.”

The Indians, taking advantage of an error and three walks, added a run in the sixth.

Trey Lynn had two hits for EUP, which finished 8-10-2.

Odin Medrick, who worked five innings, absorbed the loss. He fanned three, walked four, hit two batters and allowed four runs on three hits.

“We were pretty shorthanded all week,” EUP manager Kris Bontrager said. “Couple of our pitchers got non-pitching injuries, but they absolutely battled. We’ve struggled to get kids to come out. There’s a lot of construction in the Sault and they’re filling jobs with a lot of kids. I thought we hit the ball well in this game, but hit right at people. They played a good, competitive game. I wish them nothing but luck up there.”

Gladstone squeezed past Escanaba 3-2 in eight innings in the semifinals and EUP defeated Norway 7-5 at Gladstone in a game that was stopped in the middle of the seventh by lightning and heavy rain and moved to Esky for the final half-inning.

Bay College recruit Aedan Creten drove in the game-winner against the Cubs (14-6-1) on a single to left in the eighth, following a lightning and rain delay of 77 minutes.

“My swings felt pretty good and got good contact,” he said. “I saw only fastballs and was able to time those pretty good. This is good preparation for college ball. This is our first U.P. championship in the five years I’ve been here. It feels great to be going to the state tournament.”

Esky loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh and tied the contest at two on Adrian Mercier’s sacrifice fly to left.

The Indians then turned a double play, giving them momentum going into the eighth.

“I had butterflies,” Pepin said about relieving Tyler Darmogray in the seventh. “I just trusted our defense and my pitches and threw strikes. The double play saved our season. Aedan then got that big hit and that kept our energy up.”

Esky opened the scoring on Mercier’s single to right in the first.

Rutter gave the Indians their first lead on a two-run single to left in the second.

“We had lots of opportunities, but didn’t get the timely hits,” Cubs’ manager Jon Bintner said. “We had a good first inning. Tyler’s (Darmogray) pitch count was up. The double play in the seventh was a big momentum changer. It’s always tough when your season is done. I’m proud of my guys. They always came to play. Our defense was better today.”

Pepin, who pitched the last two innings, took the win. He struck out one, walked one and gave up two hits.

Tyler Darmogray worked six frames before reaching his pitch count limit. He fanned eight, walked six and allowed two runs on four hits.

“Every game with Escanaba has been close all year except one at our place (a 10-3 loss July 3),” manager Darmogray said.

Ashton Rymkos absorbed the loss in relief of Mercier, striking out two and giving up a run and a hit in 1.2 innings.

Mercier fanned six, walked four and allowed two runs on four hits through 6 1/3 innings of work.

Creten and Rutter led the Indians with two hits apiece. Eli Gardner had a pair for the Cubs.

Esky overcame five errors in a 6-3 victory over Marquette in the final round of pool play Friday.

“Lately, the baseball gods had been shining down upon us,” Bintner said. “We strung a couple hits and walks together and getting four runs on the board in the third inning was good. That enabled Cannon (Arnt) to get settled in and he was able to work out of some jams. We were getting good outings from our starters. Eli threw a good game yesterday (Thursday) and Lucas (Hall) threw well last night. We just wanted our guys to throw strikes and the two extra runs in the sixth were big.”

Graham Johnson’s sacrifice fly to center gave the Cubs a 5-2 cushion and a bases-loaded walk to Chase Cloutier enabled them to stretch their lead to four runs in the sixth.

Esky took advantage of a walk, hit batsman and an error and Mercier, Bon LaChance and Bryce Blixt had RBI singles in the third.

Marquette (16-10) scored its first run on back-to-back fielding miscues in the fourth.

Blake Walther provided the Blues with their second run on Gibson Jazewski’s ground out to short in the sixth and Logan Peterson’s single to left ended the scoring in the seventh.

Arnt notched the complete-game victory, striking out three, walking one and giving up six hits.

Aiden Steele threw 2 2/3 innings and took the loss. He allowed four runs on three hits, walked three and hit two batters.

Owen Cardinal worked the next 3 1/3 frames and struck out two, walked four and allowed just one hit.

“I thought maybe we had a chance when we got within 4-2,” Blues’ manager Mark Pantti said. “Last weekend Aiden pitched in the Senior Boys’ (for the Negaunee Little League All-Stars) in the state tournament and may have been a little tired. Everything he throws goes one way or the other which makes it hard on hitters. Only, today he was a little off. After the game he told me had a sore shoulder.”

Blixt finished with two hits and Cardinal had a pair.

Gladstone fell to Norway 7-2 in its last pool play contest Friday.

Trevor Thorbahn led the Indians with two hits and Cooper Sanville absorbed the loss. Landon Amundson had two for Norway.

Norway’s Jacob Dueter had three hits and drove in two runs against EUP Saturday. Cole Baij added two RBIs.

Matt Lumsden led EUP with two hits and three RBIs. Avery Wilson and Trey Lynn also had two hits and Medrick retired the Vikings in order in the seventh.

The Wood Ducks reached the semifinals by eliminating Copper Country 16-6 Friday.

“We lost a couple players yesterday (Thursday),” Copper Country manager Kit Cischke said. “A wedding, funeral and injuries brought us down to nine players. We started the season strong, then there were some injuries and lost some to other commitments. We still had fun. We have some good memories.”

At Gladstone, C.J. Wainio tossed a three-hitter in Ironwood’s 7-2 conquest of Menominee.

Wainio whiffed 13 and walked two and Antonio Delfavero and Devin Soltis had two hits apiece. Aiden Savon had two for the Red Wave.