GLADSTONE — Junior Braxton Breitenbach went 3 for 4 at the plate to push the Gladstone Braves past Menominee 11-9 in a Great Northern Conference game here Friday.

“I felt really good out there today,” Breitenbach said. “It was exciting we are closer as a team then we were at the beginning of the season, but we have some tough games coming up so we need to put our best effort every time out.”

Breitenbach had a pair of RBI-singles; the first one came in the first inning to cut the Maroons lead to 3-2. The second one came in the third inning to tie the game at five.

Breitenbach also doubled in the fifth inning. After Vinny Rebholz drew a walk and Chuck Cameron was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Breitenbach scored as Quinn Carlson drew a walk to tie the game and Junior Xavier Leipzig tripled to put the Braves up 9-6.

The Braves added a pair of run in the sixth inning as Carter Sanville scored on a wild pitch and Carlson had an RBI-single to extend the lead to 11-6.

Breitenbach also had a sliding catch in the second inning that saved a run.

“Braxton has been playing with high confidence,” Braves coach Tyler Swanson said. “We made enough plays as a team and our bats really came to life and that is big for us. Now we need to get ready for districts we can’t overlook anyone and need to stay focused going forward.

Leipzig gets the win despite allowing seven runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and five walks.

“Xavier had his struggles today,” Swanson said. “But he battled back and got out of the jams.”

The Braves will host Manistique tonight in the district opener.