Picture credit to Abby Finch

LIMA, Ohio - The Lima Locos broke open a close game with six runs in the eighth inning taking down the upstart Xenia Scouts 10-4 in the first game of the GLSCL Championship Series.

The Locos are now just one win away from securing its seventh all-time league championship when the series shifts to Grady’s Field for game two on Sunday Night. 

Pitching was shaky at best in the early going as Lima took an early 2-0 run lead in the bottom of the first. The Locos scored both of its runs without the benefit of a hit. The Scouts issued five walks and a run scoring wild pitch giving Lima the early advantage.

It wasn’t much better in the top of the second when Xenia forced in three runs on a base loaded hit by pitch that was sandwiched around a pair of bases loaded walks.

With the Scouts leading 3-2 both team’s starting pitchers began to settle down and fall into a groove.

The Locos manufactured the tying run in fifth inning. Designated hitter Cade Belyeu (Auburn University) lead off the inning drawing a walk. Belyeu stole second base and then stole third base. The throw to third base went into left field allowing Belyeu to tie the score 3-3.

Belyeu started another rally allowing the Locos to take the lead in the seventh inning. He once again walked to lead off the inning and stole second base. This time Belyeu got an assist coming around to score on a two-out RBI-single to right field off the bat of Landon Underhill (McLennan Community College).

Click here to watch the postgame interview with Caleb Belyeu.

The Locos broke the game wide open in the eighth inning. Lima sent 11 batters to the plate crossing the pay station six times. The big blow was a base loaded triple from Underhill who finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs.

The Scouts made a late push in the top of the ninth inning. Xenia loaded the bases when Kale Ebling (Cedarville University) topped a ball on a swinging bunt allowing Maximo De Leon (Grace College) to score from third base.

Alex Figueroa (Cochise College), coming off a spectacular performance against Muskegon on the divisional playoff series, closed out the Scouts. Figuera went the final two and 1/3 innings striking out Cody Schneider (Limestone  College) for the game’s final out and earning the victory.

The Locos now have two chances to close out the series but will have to do it each time away from its home at Simmons Field. 

Game two is an elimination game for Xenia who will be hosting on Sunday at Grady’s Field. If the Scouts win that one, the third and final game of the series will also take place at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex on Monday night.

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.