Gladstone senior Austin Pepin swings at a pitch during a MHSAA Division 3 regional semifinal game against Negaunee on June 4, 2025 at Don Olsen Field in Gladstone. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — After claiming its 11th straight district championship on Friday, Gladstone baseball’s 2025 season came to a screeching halt on Wednesday.

The Braves suffered a 12-0 five-inning loss to Negaunee at Don Olsen Field in the regional semifinal round.

Gladstone’s season ends with a final record of 17-18.

“They pushed me to be better. They never took the easy way, and I mean that in a good way,” Braves second year skipper Tyler Swanson said. “They pushed me to do the right things. They pushed me to work harder, to learn more, and I appreciate that they made me a better coach, a better person. I formed some great relationships with these guys. We’re gonna keep in touch.”

The Miners (34-6) face Traverse City St. Francis at noon Saturday at Traverse City Central with a regional championship on the line. A win over the Gladiators would place Negaunee in the state quarterfinal round against the winner of Pinconning and Evart to earn an opportunity to play on the campus of Michigan State University in the state semifinal round.

“We get to keep going,” Miners coach Jason Siik said. “This has been a wonderful group this year as far as staying together and wanting to be at practice. It’s fun as a coach. These kids can’t wait for practice. That’s a really cool thing.”

With two outs and a runner on second base in the second inning Gladstone senior Isaac Ketchum appeared to be poised to get out of the Miners’ first scoring opportunity with Tristan Slater up to bat. But Slater had other plans.

Slater connected with the first pitch of the at bat. It wasn’t barrelled or crushed. Instead, it was a gentle floater which snuck inches inside fair play on the third base line on the front edge of the outfield grass for Negaunee’s first hit. Evan DellAngelo, who reached off a one-out walk, scored from second for a 1-0 lead. 

The Miners didn’t stop there. In fact, Negaunee plated three more runs in the frame for a 4-0 lead in what became Ketchum’s last inning on the mound in a Braves uniform.

Gladstone senior Isaac Ketchum (left) and sophomore Cooper Sanville have a quick chat during a MHSAA Division 3 regional semifinal game against Negaunee on June 4, 2025 at Don Olsen Field in Gladstone. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

And even with Gladstone sophomore Cooper Sanville on the bump, the Miners continued to produce runs. Negaunee plated a run in the third off a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead and teed off for a seven-run fourth inning which featured a three-run single from DellAngelo, a two run-single from Jack Siik and an RBI poke from Owen Cardinal.

“We were very patient,” Jason Siik said. “We stayed patient at the plate. We ran the pitch going up, which really helped. And when the ball was there to hit, we hit it.”

On the mound it was Slater who kept the Braves at bay, striking out five and walking three across four hitless innings of work. 

“We put in a lot of work this year,” Slater said. “It’s all coming together at the right time. We’re ready to keep going.”

However, the Braves did have a chance to build some sense of momentum in their half of the third. Landon VanTassell dropped a bunt on the first pitch he saw in the third inning. The throw from Steele was booted into the outfield grass, and VanTassell took off like a bank robber attempting to flee the scene in a Spaghetti Western film. In fact, the senior attempted to bypass second base and reach third.

Despite his best efforts, he was tagged out before racing third base for the innings first out. Sanville did draw a two-out walk in the frame, but senior Casey Alworden swung and missed at a 3-2 pitch and senior Gavin Frossard popped out to end the inning.

VanTassell registered the Braves’ lone hit of the game in the top of the fifth and was followed by an eight-pitch walk issued to Alworden to put two aboard. But Sanville flew out to center, Frossard flew out to right field and Ketchum lined out to Miners’ shortstop Morgan Robar to end the game.

Ketchum took the loss, four earned runs off three hits with two walks and three strikeouts across two innings. Sanvile allowed eight runs (seven earned) off four hits with two walks and three punchouts.

“Negaunee is a good team. Very well coach,” Swanson said. “They put the ball in play just out of our reach. When you play good teams that’s what happens. We were close to getting out of some close innings and couldn’t do it. And they capitalized.”

Cardinal went 2-for-3 with two RBIs while allowing one hit and one walk in an inning of relief. Devin Jurmu was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. DellAngelo tallied three RBIs and scored twice.