St. Mary pulled out every stop - and stick - but could not slow down eventual Division IV District baseball winner Traverse City St. Francis.

The Gladiators'senior-laden team scored in each of the first four innings - including a 3-run fourth highlighted by a bases loaded, two-out double off the bat of Joel Lints - to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

Ray Platt of St. Mary slides safely into
third base in the Eagles' district game
against St. Francis.

The Eagles could not come up with key hits, stranding eight base runners and advancing to at least second base in all but the fourth inning.

St. Mary coach Steve Plamondon knew his squad was in trouble after the Glads’ big fourth inning, but held back his secret weapon through the fifth and even the sixth inning.

Then he pulled out a 6-stick wad of gum that had been carefully stored away from the previous season, when St. Mary rallied late in back-to-back games to win a Regional title on the same St. Elizabeth Ann Seton field in Traverse City.

A year ago, St. Mary set back Mesick – after which Plamondon stuck the gum on a post for safe keeping. He pulled it off when needed against favored Holton.

But the gum, preserved in a bag meant for sunflowers, must have lost its magic, as St. Mary again left two runners on base at its last trip to the plate this season, bowing from the District with a 7-0 loss.

“I thought about using it in the sixth inning, but I thought we had better not break tradition,” said Plamondon, who was trying to take the loss in stride.

St. Francis easily set back Leland in the district final, 16-1, to take a 21-12 record into regional play.

Staying home are all four Leelanau County Division III teams. St. Mary knocked out Glen Lake , 11-1, last week to advance. Leland beat Leelanau School, 15-5, in the first game played Saturday.

But the heavy money was betting that the team surviving the St. Mary-St. Francis contest would leave with the district title.

The Glads came up with big hits when needed to score single runs the first and second innings, two in the third and then came the big blow by Lints that was only kept in the ball park by a strong wind. Nine Glads shared in pounding out 10 hits.

Meanwhile, Brick was spectacular at times, striking out 16 batters. He seemed to recognize early that low strikes were being called, and took advantage. Jacob Plamondon singled and doubled, Kienan Sutton doubled and David O’Connor singled for the Eagles’ four hits.

Both squads played solid defense. St. Mary pulled out of a jam in the fifth when David O’Connor’s throw from the outfield following a single caught a Glad at second, and Sutton tagged out another runner on third with the relay from Matt Pasch.

In the end, though, the day belonged to St. Francis, which had lost to St. Mary 8-7 in the teams’ earlier matchup this season. “They started at least seven seniors, so this was their year,” said Plamondon.

St. Mary started three to five seniors all season, and had seven on its roster. They are Matt Pasch, Ryan Korson, Ryan Couturier, David O’Connor, Chase Bonhag, Adam Furore and Patrick Arena.

Infielders Pasch and Sutton, a junior, in particular had outstanding seasons. Plamondon is searching records, but both may have hit for better averages than any other player in St. Mary history. Sutton averaged .563 with 2 home runs, 34 RBI and 30 runs. Pasch hit .538, knocked in 36 runs and scored 31 more.

Returning will be the team’s best two pitchers this season in juniors Ray Platts and Adam Peplinski. Throw in a junior varsity team that finished above .500, and St. Mary seems to have all the pieces for another successful season.

It appears enthusiasm for the game won’t be missing, said Plamondon, who coaches a team of St. Mary players in the American Legion summer league.

“Home on the bus, a lot of kids were asking, ‘when does summer ball start?’ So we’re looking forward to it,” he said.