Gladstone junior Isaac Ketchum (middle) dashes out of the batter’s box during a game against Escanaba on May 21, 2024 at Don Olsen Field in Gladstone. Ketchum finished 1-for-1 with three RBI from the plate and allowed two hits in 4 1/3 shutout innings in a 6-0 win over the Eskymos. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — Gladstone baseball ventured downstate for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend. Here’s what went down

Gaylord 8, Gladstone 0

The Braves were bottled to four hits in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. Sophomore Cooper Sanville took the loss, allowing five runs (one earned) off three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Senior Casey Alworden ripped a lead-off double in the third.

Gaylord 7, Gladstone 6 (four innings)

The Braves dropped game two of Friday’s doubleheader thanks to a RBI sacrifice fly. The Braves held a 3-0 after two innings thanks to an RBI double from senior Gavin Frossard and RBI singles from senior Isaac Ketchum and Landon VanTassell.

The Blue Devils tacked on five runs in the bottom of the third, but Gladstone rallied to re-claim its lead. The Braves scored three suns off a RBI single from Alworden, an RBI fielder’s choice from Ketchum and capitalized off a Gaylord fielding error on a Sanville bunt attempt for a 6-5 lead midway through four.

Gladstone 5, Charlevoix 2

The Braves ventured east and slightly north for a doubleheader against the Rayders on Saturday. Game one saw the purple and white pick up its fourth win of the season in extra innings.

Tied 2-2 after seven innings the Braves produced three crucial runs thanks to RBI singles from Davin Mattonen, Austin Pepin and Vinny Rebholz. Junior Trevor Thorbahn, who entered the game with one out in the seventh, loaded the bases with two outs, but got the final out on a fly out to clinch the win.

Ketchum returned to his 2024 form, allowing one earned run off three hits while walking one and striking out 12 while going 2-for-4 from the plate. Alworden and Pepin each added two hits. Thorbahn walked one and fanned two in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Charlevoix 9, Gladstone 3

The Braves saw their 3-2 lead midway through three crumble in a loss to the Rayders in Saturday’s finale. The home team scratched across three runs in the third and two runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Frossard earned a double as Gladstone was contained to three hits and one walk in the loss.

What’s next

The Braves are scheduled for a road doubleheader against Manistique starting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.