Iron Mountain sophomore Ellison Powell (14) looks up to field a foul ball as a Gladstone baserunner looks on from third base in an MHSAA Division 3 district championship softball game Friday in Gladstone. (Justin St. Ours photo)

GLADSTONE — ‘Respect tradition’ has been the season-long credo for the Gladstone softball team. It’s a phrase that encompassed many things regarding the program, but one specific point was continuing the Braves’ district title streak that has only been recently interrupted by the pandemic-canceled season last year.

“In terms of a big goal, this was on our list a long time ago,” Braves coach Rick Pepin said. “We wanted to add to the tradition. Our slogan has been ‘Respect tradition’, and the only way that you can respect it is by adding to tradition. That’s what we did today, and it’s just a great day for Gladstone softball.”

The Braves added to that tradition Friday with a 15-2 win over Iron Mountain for the MHSAA Division 3 District 66 championship in Gladstone.

After a 10-0 win against Menominee in six innings in the opener, the Braves rolled into the title game with some momentum.

“It was important for us to play well in that first game, and it was important for us to get our bats going,” Pepin said. “That was our number one goal today.”

In the top of the first inning of the title game, Gladstone pitcher Montgomery Pepin — who also pitched the first game — threw two strikeouts, and, along with a catch behind the plate from Addie Trombley, finished the Maroons’ time at plate with a three-and-out.

Braves sophomore Samara Sanville started things off, reaching on a ground single. Senior Alaina Trudeau was then hit by a pitch, and the Braves had two on base.

A wild pitch followed, and Sanville took the opportunity to cross home plate and start a six-run tide for Gladstone.

Trudeau followed just after on a passed ball, and the Braves were up 2-0.

“She (Trudeau) has done nothing but get better every single day, every single week, every single week, and she has kind of been the glue of the team defensively and at the plate,” coach Pepin said.

After a walk, Pepin barreled a fly double to left to score Rylee Gerow, and shortly after, with two on base, Reese Herioux’s fly single to center scored Trombley and Samantha Drielick to put the Braves up 5-0. The Braves added one more before exiting the inning.

Gladstone added five more in the bottom of the second, one in the third and three in the fourth.

The Mountaineers earned their two runs in the top of the fourth.

Iron Mountain’s Ashlyn Bal reached at the start of the fourth, and two errors would compound to allow Claire Mongrain to bat in Bal for the Mountaineers’ first run.

The second came thanks to a sacrificial out from freshman McKinlee Peterson that allowed the run to score.

“I really thought my girls did the best they could do up against a fantastic pitcher,” Mountaineers coach Bruce Tapio said. “They had their moment in the sun with the couple runs in the fifth inning. I think they had a good time. They’re very upbeat young ladies.”

Pepin earned the win for the Braves, allowing one hit and one walk and while striking out 10.

Iron Mountain senior Mongrain absorbed the loss.

“Claire Mongrain was our pitcher, and she’s done a great job for us all year,” Tapio said. “She’s a senior, so she’s on to bigger and better things. Our infield is freshmen and sophomores, so it was kind of a good test for them to play a quality team like this.”

Tapio noted the improvement of Bal as an overall player as the season wore on , and sophomore Zoey Bloomquist as the Mountaineers catcher.

Tapio also expressed his thanks for the support the team has received from the community.

“(I wanted to say how much I appreciate) the whole Iron Mountain community who’s backed us financially and spiritually — as it were — for the whole season,” he said.

The Braves have a week off until they travel to Boyne City to face off against Negaunee June 12 for the regional opener.