Gladiators Fall at Home on Wednesday Night

On Wednesday, June 10th 2026, we had some Senior Legion Baseball action as the Post 199 Cambridge/Arapahoe Gladiators hosted Post 63 Norton. It was a pretty nice evening for baseball, considering how warm it has been lately.

At the top of the 1st inning, following a lead-off double from Cole Springer of Norton, Billeter was able to strike out a batter, and then a couple of 1 to 3 putouts got him out of danger.

The Gladiators left a runner on base, and we went to the second inning tied up, 0-0.

In the top half of the 2nd, Billeter kept things rolling on the mound with a pair of strikeouts, and then for the third out, Asher Gerlach at first base made a nice play to touch the bag and move us to the home half of the 2nd. Following a fielder's choice, the Gladiators were threatening with runners on first and second.

Norton was able to eliminate one base runner as they caught a man stealing at third, and after that, a pop-up behind home plate, and G. Talheim made a nice play to send the game to the third inning.

At the top of the 3rd, Norton had some things going in their favor. A batter reached on an error, and a couple of passed balls resulted in him being at third base.

Then Eli Springer hit a single, and it was 1-0. T. Stewart then reached on an error, and the bases were loaded with no outs. With one out, Jaden Boyle hit a hard liner up the middle, and that scored a couple of runs. Norton scored again as A. Kats reached on an error. It was 4-0 at that point. Billeter struck out a pair of batters and got out of the inning.

After a stolen base by Briggs Hill, Roy Hoelscher reached on an error, and Hill scored. It was 4-1 with one out in the bottom of the third. Norton was able to get out of the inning as Cole Springer struck out a trio of batters in the inning. In the top half of the 4th, the Gladiators' defense looked solid. Recording back-to-back outs. But then a single and an error resulted in runners on second and third for Norton. Another single, this time by Jack Carter, another run scored and it was 5-1.

Billeter did a nice job of limiting the damage by forcing a ground out to shortstop, heading to the bottom of the 4th it was 5-1. The Gladiators got their first two batters on base via a hit by pitch and a walk. Then a stolen base, and runners were at second and third with no outs. With two outs, Hill had a clutch single that scored a pair of runs, and it was 5-3. Hoelscher then reached an error, and Hill scored; it was 5-4. That was the score heading to the 5th.

The Gladiators kept Norton in check that half of the inning and it was 5-4 going to the bottom of the 5th. Norton had a strong inning too, and heading to the 6th, it remained 5-4.

Billeter and the Gladiators recorded a 1-2-3 inning and were looking to get their offense going. ⁃ Another defensive half inning in the bottom of the 6th, heading to the 7th it was still 5-4.

Makaden Dunn took over the mound for the Gladiators in the 7th. Norton started with an infield single and then a stolen base. Then Jack Carter had a double off of a nice pitch, and Norton led 6-4. Boyle of Norton then hit a single, and another run scored; it was 7-4. The Gladiators made another pitching change after the bases were loaded, and Asher Gerlach took over.

Norton started to open the game up a little as Gavin Talheim hit a single and scored two to make it 9-4. A couple of more runs scored, and it was 11-4 heading to the bottom of the 7th. Norton was able to close things out and win, 11-4.

Norton had 12 hits and four errors, and the Gladiators had two hits and four errors.

For the Gladiators, Houston Billeter had a nice game on the mound, going six innings, five runs, only two were earned runs, 10 strikeouts, and no walks.

For Norton, C. Springer went three innings, no earned runs, allowing one. He had four strikeouts and three walks. Z. Shields went four innings, allowing three runs, two earned, and eight strikeouts and one walk.

At the plate, Norton had three players get two RBI's; Boyle, Carter, and Talheim. Cole Springer was 3-for-5 at the plate. Eight of Norton's batters had a hit.

For Cambridge/Arapahoe, Briggs Hill and Houston Billeter each had hits. Hill had two RBI's as well.