"The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg

Coaches have no choice but to be gamblers when postseason baseball rolls around.

In fact, the late, great Kenny Rogers put it best: you’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away and know when to run.

After Gladstone’s district championship win over Manistique on May 31, coach Tyler Swanson noted that either Isaac Ketchum or Cooper Sanville would pitch in Wednesday’s regional semifinal game. And it was hard to argue that decision.

Ketchum, a junior, was First Team All-Conference in the Great Northern Conference as a pitcher thanks to a 5-1 record and dazzling 1.514 ERA, surrendering a measly eight earned runs in 37 innings.

Sanville also made sense. The freshman’s 41 1/3 innings or work is most on the Braves roster. He has a 3.89 ERA, but allowed two hits in a save against Superior Central and a complete game shutout against Manistique to secure Gladstone’s 10th straight district championship on May 31.

Both had the required days rest to go the distance on Wednesday. The Braves couldn’t go wrong with any pitcher, especially Ketchum or Sanville.

I spoke highly of both young men to my Mom and Step Dad, who rolled into town Wednesday afternoon to celebrate my 30th birthday. I told them that the Braves win running away if either Ketchum or Sanville pitched.

But when I pulled up to Don Olsen Field that afternoon I was slightly taken aback. Ketchum was wearing catcher’s equipment in the bullpen, and he wasn’t catching Sanville.

Instead, it was senior John Soderman warming up to make the start against Houghton with the season on the line.

At this point of the season coaches have two choices when it comes to pitching: you put your best kids out to secure the win and let the chips fall where they may, or you hold ’em and let someone else get the opportunity to get you by.

Swanson chose the latter, and at the moment I thought it was a gamble. Soderman is a good athlete and good baseball player, but he’d most likely be the first to tell you that throwing 20 innings at that point of the season was a surprise. Plus an ERA of 4.55 and 18 strikeouts to 13 walks doesn’t scream “put the ball in my hands when it matters most.”

But stats are not why Swanson made Soderman aware that he was getting the ball against the Gremlins the eve of Wednesday’s regional semifinal showdown. It’s because Soderman was going to do everything in his power to ensure that the Braves crossed the bridge on Saturday for a chance to earn the right to play in state semifinals.

See, Soderman, at least in my eyes, cemented his legacy as Gladstone’s version of 2004 NBA Finals MVP and Detroit Pistons legend Chauncey Billups. Like Billups, Soderman has been clutch and a leader for the purple and white.

Back in football season it was Soderman who scored two crucial touchdowns in a 28-14 win over reigning state finalist Negaunee to claim Gladstone’s second straight district title. During basketball season he could be seen in the student section pulling all sorts of shenanigans and flimflams during basketball games. When the Braves defeated Escanaba 49-45 in the regular season finale he was the first student to rush the floor in celebration with fellow senior Nick Matthews.

Now fast forward to Wednesday’s regional semifinal. Soderman gets the ball with the season on the line. What do you think he did?

I’ll tell you exactly what happened: he allowed three earned runs off seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts in six innings of work. But more importantly, he improved to 4-0 on the season with a 6-3 win.

The Braves saved Sanville and Ketchum for Saturday’s regional championship game against Charlevoix and a possible state quarterfinal game.

All of this coming in a season where the Braves lost multiple talented pitchers to the college ranks and other core pieces from 2023 to graduation.

A good part of that success can point back to Soderman’s efforts on Wednesday. A good part of that success can point back to Swanson’s decision to bet on Soderman.

At the end of the day what’s more important during postseason baseball, talent or hunger? Ability or desire?

Soderman put both of those together when the Braves needed it the most, again. Gladstone keeps its season alive for one more game, again.

The Braves bet on Soderman. The payout was massive. And Soderman cemented his legacy as the Braves’ ‘Captain Clutch’ in the process.

“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg is a multi-time award-winning sports writer and photographer that currently serves as sports editor for The Daily Press in Escanaba, Mi. He can be reached at mvosburg@dailypress.net or at 906-786-2021 (Ext. 143).