Gladstone softball’s 2025 senior class poses for a photo in between games during a doubleheader against Menominee on May 21, 2025 at Gladstone High School. From left to right: Lauren Sundquist, Tia Schone, Alli Larson, Brooklyn Pendergraft. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — How does one spend their 18th birthday in 2025?

Some may have an extravagant party. Some may choose to run away from home.

Then there’s what Gladstone senior Tia Schone, celebrating her 18th birthday on Wednesday, in her third at-bat in game one of a doubleheader against Menominee.

Schone was aiming to properly time Maroons’ pitcher Ella Barker, who was throwing slow and controlled. All Schone was looking for was a pitch to hit.

And boy, she got a pitch to hit.

Her lone hit of the game was obliterated and sailed over the left field fence for a home run. It gave the Braves a 10-0 lead in the fifth for a run rule win.

“I had a good feeling,” Schone said. “Between today being senior day, being my birthday… so many great things happened. This was icing on the cake.”

The Braves claimed game two 15-0 to sweep Menominee.

“This was a potential letdown type of game, but I felt like they came in and played pretty solid,” Braves coach Scott Herioux said. “(Menominee) is a team that we should do OK against, and we need to. Good teams take care of what they’re supposed to take care of. I felt like they did that today.”

After seeing the furious velocity of Gaylord’s Aubrey Jones and Escanaba’s Grayson LaMarche in their last three games the Braves were thrown a hypothetical curveball adjusting to Barker’s velocity. The Braves mustered a run in the first off an RBI single for a 1-0 lead after one, but continued to struggle in timing Barker’s slower, yet effective pace.

Then senior Lauren Sundquist belted a solo home run to lead off the third inning. Freshman Malia Quigley added an RBI single in the frame for a 3-0 lead, and Gladstone was slowly beginning to adjust. In fact, the Braves tacked on five runs in the fourth off a two-run double from freshman Lauren Pare, an RBI single from Sundquist, an RBI groundout from Larson and a run off a Maroons error to lead 8-0 after four, setting up Schone’s game winner in the next frame.

Schone also earned the win, allowing one hit and striking out 10. Sundquist finished 3-for-4 and scored three times.

Game two saw the Braves strike early and often, tacking on three runs in the first, four in the second and eight in the third for a 15-0 win in three innings.

Larson continued her hot streak, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Freshman Ava Goodman went 2-for-2 with a triple, double and scored three times. Maddy Sundquist was 2-for-3 with a double, a pair of RBIs and touched home plate twice. Lauren Sundquist scored twice and added an RBI. Quigley went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Sophomore Emma Trombley scored once and drove in a run.

Pare went 1-for-2 with a double, scored twice and drove in one from the plate and allowed one hit and one walk with five punchouts across three innings of work.

Senior send off

Schone’s home run in game one wasn’t the only reason to celebrate. The Braves honored their 2025 senior class in Larson, Schone, Lauren Sundquist and Brooklyn Pendegraft in between games.

“They’re the kids that have bought in for the long term. You have to appreciate that in your program when a kid gives you all those years,” Herioux said of the seniors. “We’ve got four really good ones. I love them, and I appreciate that they bought in and that they’re here. Those who stay… they play meaningful roles. That’s what all four of these kids are.

What’s next

The Braves are scheduled to host Norway for two games beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday.