CHEBOYGAN — A late comeback came up a little short for the Gladstone Braves here Saturday as they dropped a 5-4 softball decision to the Boyne City Ramblers in a Division 3 regional final.

The Ramblers (29-10), who earned their first regional title in their school’s history, advance to the state quarterfinal game at Ferris State University in Big Rapids where they’ll face undefeated Evart (40-0) Tuesday at 6 p.m.. The Braves finished 28-11.

Gladstone, which has no seniors, trailed 5-2 in the fourth frame before Lauren Pare’s single to rightfield trimmed their deficit to two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Boyne City then committed two throwing errors in the sixth during which Emma Trombley crossed the plate to bring Gladstone within a run.

The Braves got to the championship game by defeating Traverse City St. Francis 9-3 in Saturday’s opener.

“Our pitchers battled all the way,” Braves’ coach Scott Herioux said. “There’s a lot of mental fatigue in two competitive games back-to-back. We left eight runners on base. We didn’t get the key hit at the right time. Although, it was a very successful season.”

The Ramblers scored twice in the opening frame, including their second run on a single to rightfield by Lily Payton.

Addy Sanville scored Gladstone’s first run on a wild pitch and sophomore Lauren Pare tied the game on Maddy Sundquist’s sacrifice fly to left in its half of the first inning.

Tiahna Reynolds then ripped a triple to left. The Braves, however, were unable to drive her in.

Boyne City answered with a pair of runs in the third, then gained its three-run lead on sophomore Sadie Bush’s double to right in the fourth.

“This was a very hard-fought game,” Ramblers’ coach Josh Bush said. “We knew they were going to make a comeback. My daughter Sydney, who’s a junior, is a pitcher and Sadie is the catcher. I asked them to call the pitches and they’ve done a fantastic job. I haven’t called a pitch all year. Our team has had a super year. This is a young team. I think our winter workouts are going to go better because the girls know what to expect. I couldn’t be happier.”

Sydney Bush took the complete game victory, striking out nine, walking two and allowing seven hits.

Pare, who worked 3â…” innings, absorbed the loss. She fanned two, walked two and gave up five runs on seven hits.

The sophomore hurler led Gladstone with three hits and Reynolds finished with two.

“There were some tears in the end because it matters to them,” Herioux said. “We’re going to have a couple incoming freshmen who I think will help us next year. I think the future is bright.”

In the opener, Gladstone scored early on a Malia Quigley’s single to left and added a two-run homer in the third for a 4-0 cushion against St. Francis

Junior shortstop Sarah Gaylord’s single to left got the Gladiators on the board in the third.

Pare also collected three hits in the first game, including a double to center which gave the Braves a 6-1 advantage in the fourth.

The Gladiators trimmed their deficit to 6-2 on Emily Amon’s single to left in the fifth.

Gladstone, taking advantage of two errors, added three runs in the seventh.

Pare notched the complete-game victory, recording five strikeouts, two walks and giving up seven hits.

Kylee Eising threw 3â…” innings and took the loss. She struck out one, walked none and surrendered seven runs on six hits.

The Gladiators finished with seven hits, including two apiece by Gaylord and Greta Clasin.

Gaylord, who also chipped in with stellar defense, was in on 10 put-outs.

In the following game, Sidney Bush tossed a three-hitter, fanned nine and walked two as the Ramblers dispatched Calumet 14-0 in five frames.

Bush went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Senior Molly Erkkila, junior Millie Loukus and sophomore Dani Stites had the hits for Calumet.