Picture credit to Brady Laber

XENIA, Ohio - The Xenia Scouts made history at Foundation Field beating the Hamilton Joes 10-3 winning the GLSCL South Division Series two games to zero.

The Scouts won its first playoff series in franchise history earning the opportunity to play for its first GLSCL Championship against the winner of the North Division Playoff Series.

Xenia’s bats came to life once again getting off to an early start jumping out to 4-0 lead in the second inning. The Scouts batted around sending 10 batters to the plate. Kaden Wu (Belmont University) got it started with an RBI-double followed by a sacrifice fly from Dane Nakatsuka (Vanguard University transfer) driving in Harrison Stanton (Wheaton College). The flurry was capped by Ryan Walker (University of Texas-Tyler) drawing a bases loaded walk forcing Jared Miller (George Fox University) across the plate.

The Scouts put the game out of reach scoring five more times in the sixth inning. Elijah Maris (Linfield University) delivered a two-run double in route to the Scouts reaching double digit runs scored. Maris finished 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs.

Click here to watch the postgame interview with Elijah Maris.

Brennan Berdon (St Edwards University) got the start on the mound but unfortunately was two outs shy of qualifying for the victory. Berdon gave up just one run on three hits while he was out there striking out three batters.

Klayton Coffman (Oklahoma Wesleyan) came into a jam in the fifth inning and struck back-to-back Joes batters ending the threat. Coffman pitched one and 2/3 innings earning the victory.

Hunter Reagan (Marian University) finished up pitching the last three innings without giving up a run in route to earning the save. Reagan struck five batters in the process while only allowing one walk and two hits.

Grant Miller (Ball State) went 3-for-3 and Max Davenport (Miles  College) added two hits of his own in the losing effort for the Joes.

Hamilton’s quest for the three-peat came to an abrupt end with the loss. The Joes were the two-time defending GLSCL champions so the loss ensures there will be a new team to wear that crown this season.

The Scouts now wait for its opponent to come out of the North Division. If the Lima Locos close out the Muskegon Clippers on Friday, the Scouts would gain the home field advantage in the championship series. The Clippers, who need to win twice to advantage to the championship, would then travel to Xenia on Sunday to start the series and then host the next two games at Marsh Field.

ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE 

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate, founded in 1987, is a wood-bat league that is certified by the NCAA and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The league currently consists of 13 active franchises in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.