By: Kari Lakes

XENIA, OH- A last second venue change to Grady’s Field didn’t affect the Cincinnati Steam (22-18) as they defeated the Xenia Scouts (15-24) 4-3, thanks to a walk-off single by Alex Holderbach. The sweep helps keep hope alive for a two-seed in the GLSCL play-offs.

Cincinnati started the scoring late in the second after a throwing error from Xenia second baseman, Dylan Lottinville, that allowed Matt Warkentin to score. Warkentin’s run was unearned after he was one of the four Steam batters to walk that inning.

The Scouts didn’t leave the run unanswered as Kyle Casserly scored from a single by Donald Ring. Casserly advanced to first on a fielders’ choice play that retired Aaron Takacs at second.

Singles from Dallas Beaver and Mike Moffatt helped the Steam regain their lead in the bottom of the third, after a fielding error from Lottinville scored them both. Lottinville committed the only two errors of the game, both costly ones for the Scouts.

Xenia shortened the Steams’ lead to one in the top of the fourth. Dylan Lottinville tripled to center field after a diving Jace Mercer was unable to make the catch, and a RBI groundout by Ben Beachy scored him.

The Scouts tied it at three in the seventh inning after a throw from Mercer that sailed over Beaver’s head behind the plate. The over-throw allowed Fransisco Ondina to score after he lead off the inning with a single. The Steam left runners on base in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Back-to-back three-up three-down seventh and eighth innings gave the Steam just one more chance to score in the bottom of the ninth. Aldo Buendia hit a lead-off single, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Beaver.

A balk from Caden Owens moved Buendia just 90 feet away from home, and Alex Holderbach batted him in with a single to centerfield as the Steam earned their second sweep of Xenia, winning 4-3.

Game Notes

    •    Jace Mercer now has a club-best 23 stolen bases on the summer

    •    Mike Moffatt extended his hitting streak to 10 games, while Alex Holderbach extended his streak to nine games.

    •    The balk committed in the ninth was one of two from the Scouts, as starting pitcher Alex Worthington committed the first one in the second inning.

    •    Aldo Buendia’s and Alex Holderbach’s only hits of the contest were in the bottom of the ninth.

    •    Cincinnati left a total of 10 runners on base, while Xenia only stranded nine.  

What’s Next?

Since the game tonight was scheduled to be played at Max McLeary Field, the Steam will play their third away game in a row as they take on the Hamilton Joes at Foundation Field on Saturday. This will be the last two games of the regular season. Daron Bowling (2-1, 1.57 ERA) is set the start on the mound for Cincinnati, while Frank Dickson (0-3, 7.00 ERA) is set to get the start for the Joes. First pitch set for 7:05.

ABOUT THE CINCINNATI STEAM: The Cincinnati Steam has earned a spot in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs in 10 of its 11 seasons of existence. Three times the Steam has played in the GLSCL Championship round including winning the title in both 2008 and 2009.

ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE: The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate, which is entering its 30th season, is a wood-bat league that is certified by the NCAA and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The league boasts several players that have earned service time in major league baseball including six former Steam players