Yesterday(6/7/24) the Lima Locos got into the win column for the first time this season after defeating the Michigan Monarchs 12-3 in the series finale. 

Carter Parks made his first start on the mound for Lima. The Monarchs 3 hole hitter, Alonzo Paul knocked in Tanner Mally to score the game’s first run. The Monarchs proceeded to then get runners at the corners with just 1 out. From there Parks struck out Liam Pollock and got Gumieny to ground out to 3rd, ending the frame. 

Cole Gebben took the mound for the Monarchs in the bottom of the first inning. The Locos wasted no time as Gosrki reached base via the walk and Settlemires knocked a single into left field. This set the stage for Blake Bowen who singled into left field to score Gorski from second and even the ledger. The Locos were not done yet, Tagger Tyson got hit by pitch to load the bases and then Kaden Brown also got hit by pitch making it 2-1 Lima. Caden Lockwood then hit into a 4-6-2 double play which scored Bowen from third. 

Carter Parks then breezed through the top of the second inning to keep Lima in the lead. 

After a 34-pitch first-inning Gebben trotted back out to the mound. Shinkle led off the Lima second with a base knock, then proceeded to swipe second. Gorski then became the third player to get hit by a Gebben pitch. After a wild pitch, Shinkle and Gorski both moved 90 feet closer to home plate putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded Kaden Brown stepped up to the plate and laced a line drive base hit into center scoring both Shinkle and Gorski to extend Lima’s lead to 5-1. 

Reginald Sharpe led off the 3rd with a base hit bringing Alonzo Paul to the plate. Paul struck out swinging making him the first out of the inning. Tagger Tyson then threw out Sharpe trying to swipe 2nd. To conclude the half-inning Liam Pollock struck out for a second time. 

After a Lockwood pop out to second Landon Tate singled to right field. Tate was able to steal 2nd during Richard’s at-bat. Bo Shinkle hit a ball to 2nd base that Sharpe had trouble fielding which resulted in the bases being loaded. Gorski then singled into shallow center field, scoring Tate. The Monarchs went to their bullpen bringing in Cooper Mullet. Mullet pitched out of the jam and kept the score 6-1. 

In the 4th Ryan Drumm got on base after Gumieny grounded out to first. After that, Alex Cheeseman got a single of his own putting runners at 1st and 2nd. After retiring Middleton, Parks allowed a base hit by Tanner Mally to load the bases. Coach Ernsberger decided that would be it for Parks and motioned to the bullpen. The new pitcher for the Locos was Cody Soliday. Soliday tossed a four-pitch walk to Sharpe giving the Monarchs their 2nd run of the game. With the bases still loaded and 2 outs Soliday then got Paul to strike out looking to end the frame. 

The bottom of the 4th and the top of the 5th saw fantastic pitching. Both Mullet and Soliday pitched 1-2-3 innings. 

The bottom of the 5th was a completely different story. The Monarchs brought in Kyle Harris to pitch and the Locos were able to bat around. The Locos were able to score 4 times extending their lead to 10-2. After reaching base via the walk Tate was able to score after a wild pitch. Bowen later drove in Gorski and Richards with a 2 RBI single to right. The final Loco run in the inning came after Kaden Brown took a bases-loaded walk.  

Soliday continued his excellent pitching, putting the Monarchs down in order for a second time. 

In the bottom of the 6th, the Locos scored 2 more times. This time the scoring came against Lucas Dawson. Settlemires knocked in Richards with an RBI single and Gorski scored for a 4th time, this time due to a passed ball. 12-2. 

In the 7th the Locos had a chance to end the game due to the GLSCL run-rule rule, but Tanner Mally was able to score after a Caden Lockwood fielding error at 1st. 

After a quick bottom half of the 7th and a quick 8th, the Locos brought in Liam Richards to pitch because they were up by 9 runs. After Richards got Mally to ground out, the Monarchs loaded the bases. Liam Richards then got Fukofuka to ground into a game-ending double play, scored 4-6-3. 

The Locos return home to Simmons Field on June 16th at 5:05p to take on the Copperheads.