Gladstone freshmen Hope Reath (right) and Lauren Pare dance along to "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy before a doubleheader against Marquette on April 17, 2025 at Braves Field at Gladstone High School. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

BEAVERTON — Gladstone softball got a taste of downstate competition on Saturday.

The Braves also walked away with two wins to improve to 6-0 in the process. Here’s what went down.

Gladstone 10, Unionville-Sebewaing Area 4

Playing a school that’s claimed the last five state championships in Division 4 can be a daunting task. Add in the school’s abbreviation of USA and you definitely feel like an underdog.

Unless you’re Gladstone, who tacked on four runs in the first inning off an RBI single from senior Tia Schone, an RBI groundout from sophomore Maddy Sundquist and RBI doubles from freshmen Lauren Pare and Malia Quigley.

The Braves tacked on two more in the second off an RBI triple from senior Lauren Sundquist and an RBI single from Schone and three more in the third off a two-run single from Lauren Sundquist and another RBI poke from Schone for a commanding 9-1 lead midway through three innings.

Schone, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBI from the plate, earned the win in the circle, allowing one unearned run off two hits with a walk and four strikeouts in three innings of action. Pare, who went 2-for-3 from the plate, allowed three earned runs off two hits while walking two and striking out two.

Lauren Sundquist finished 3-for-3 with a trio of RBIs and runs scored. Freshman Tiahna Reynolds went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI.

Gladstone 6, Ithaca 3

The Yellow Jackets scored all three of their runs in the top half of the first frame. Then the Braves slowly chipped away at the deficit.

Pare earned an RBI groundout with the bases loaded in the first to cut the deficit down to 3-1. Down to their last out in the third and the bases loaded the Braves youth struck once again. This time it was Quigley with her lone hit of the game, a three-run double, for a 4-3 Braves lead after three. Schone belted a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-3 advantage.

Schone, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, earned the win in the circle, allowing three earned runs off six hits with two walks and four strikeouts across six innings of work. Four of Schone’s hits allowed came in the first inning. Lauren Sundquist finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Freshman Ava Goodman scored twice and freshman Hoe Reath went 1-for-2 with a run scored off the bench.

What’s next

The Braves stay on the road for a doubleheader against Menominee beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.