Gladstone players pose for a photo after winning the District 10 Little League title on July 3. 2025 at Howes Field in Gladstone. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — A complete team effort on both sides of the ball powered Gladstone Little League to an 11-1 victory over Iron Mountain punching their ticket to the state championship in Saginaw.

“The experience of being down there two years ago will help us,” Gladstone coach Dave Ellison said. “We made it out of pool play last time, and that is the goal… to get into championship play.”

Gladstone got triples from Jaxdon Quigley in the first and third inning as well as a solid appearance on the mound as he came in relief of Trent Beauchamp

“It felt good to come out strong,” Quigley said. “We have gotten better with our hitting and our defensive fundamentals.”

Gladstone got on the board first as Joe McDonald singled and Landon Stearns reached on an error. Jaxdon Quiqley responded with one of his two triples to drive in two runs, then scored himself on a wild pitch to give Gladstone a 3-0 lead

Iron Mountain put up their only run in the bottom of the first inning as Levi Stapleton scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3-1.

In the top of the second inning with runners on second and third, McDonald hit a two-run double to center field to extend the Gladstone lead to 5-1.

“He threw me a fastball,” McDonald said. “I just sat back and waited for the right pitch.”

Quigley had a lead-off triple to start the third inning for Gladstone, then scored on a RBI-single by Mason Soper. He advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches and Benson Ellison singled to bring in Soper, extending the lead to 7-1.

Iron Mountain advanced to the game against Gladstone by defeating Schaffer 9-0 on Tuesday. Iron Mountain’s first four batters had base hits including an RBI-triple by Stapleton and Iron Mountain led 4-0 after one inning.

Iron Mountain added two runs in the second inning as Jack Oman grounded out to first base but brought in a run and Ethan Dennocenzo had an RBI-single to extend the lead to 6-0.

Iron Mountain added three more runs in the sixth inning on Schaffer errors to claim the win and advance to the championship game.