Gladstone baseball team falls in state semifinals

EAST LANSING – Decatur’s Cody Houston hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Raiders over Gladstone in their Division 3 state semifinal game at Michigan State University.

Houston pitched all eight innings for Decatur. He gave up just one run in eight innings of work. The Raiders (24-6) will play in the Division 3 state championship game on Saturday.

Gladstone (29-5) trailed 1-0 entering the top of the seventh inning. Christian Groleau drew a walk with one out. He then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Sam Pouliot was able to hit the ball towards the right side of the infield. The ball went off of the glove of Houston, which allowed Groleau to score. Pouliot was out at first, but he was credited with an RBI.

Pouliot and the Braves were able to extend the game into the eighth. Decatur put runners on first and second with two outs, when Houston hit the ball to the wall in left. Carter Smith was able to score from second base to end the game.

The loss to Decatur ends the Braves season in the semifinals. Gladstone just started a baseball program at the school two years ago. The Braves will lose Christian Groleau, Christian Tackman, Sam Pouliot and Tom Bailey to graduation.