Lima - Bottom of the fourth, one out.Jackson Bradfield was up to bat and delivered with a single to left field that would be all Charlie Vercuysse needed to score and tie the game at 4 each. This was just the beginning of what would become the Lima Locos first win on Opening Day of the GLSCL season.

The Muskegon Clippers would jump on starting pitcher Austin Vargas early with a single and a pair of walks in the first three batters. After a strikeout, Ben Meyers would be due up and grounded out to second baseman Braydon Kersey, but that would be enough for the Clippers to go up 1-0, shortly followed (just four pitches later) by a Austin Vargas wild pitch scoring Braden Graves. That would be the last run scored in the first by Muskegon and put them up 2-0.

Clippers starting pitcher Connor Freeman would open his game with a walk in four pitches to Jackson Bradfield, but just one pitch later his defense would help him out on a fielder's choice retiring Bradfield. However, back to back singles form Braydon Kersey and David Falloon would score Matt Rose and score Lima's lone run on inning number one.

Inning number two would see little drama as both pitchers warmed up to the game. Vargas would walk one batter but put Jordan Lewis down looking to end the inning and stranded the runner at third. Freeman had one hit off of him, a single from Charlie Vercuysse, but it would not matter as it was sandwiched between a pair of strikeouts to end inning two.

The Clippers bats would get back on the right track with a leadoff single from Braden Graves. A walk drawn by Casey Barnes would put runners on first and second. Holden Baker delivered with a bullet to left center that would score each of them and put Muskegon up 4-1 over the Locos. Braydon Kersey would respond in a HUGE way in the bottom of the third blasting a ball over the right field wall to put the Locos back within two runs. This would be the first of three long balls of Opening Night.

After a walk and a strikeout Austin Vargas day would be done. The starter hurled 3.1 innings, allowed 3 hits, 4 runs (3ER), had 5 strikeouts, 5 walks, and a pair of wild pitches. Eventual winning pitcher Nick Kolze would come in and immediately proved to be a force on the mound, throwing back to back strikeouts in 10 pitches.

A strikeout from Freeman would open the third but the Locos would respond with a walk and an RBI double from Charlie Vercuysse putting the game at 4-3. Freeman would then be replaced by Ty Randall. Connor Freeman ended with 3.1 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs (4 ER), 4 strikeouts, and three walks. Randall would be in for a rough first couple batters as Bradfield and Rose would each hit a single along with a Kersey walk. A lineout to left would strand a pair of runners on but not before the game could be knotted at 4 all.

Nick Kolze would continue his dominance in inning five by striking out a pair and stranding two runners on via a ground ball to the shortstop. The Locos wouldn't have much offensive luck either, stranding two runners on base after a single form Will Briggs and a walk to Declan Magee.

A leadoff double from Taylor Head to open the sixth put instant pressure on the Locos. It would increase even more after Head took off and successfully stole third base. A flyout to center got out one, but the Locos lone error followed by a Jordan Lewis stolen base made a run seem inevitable. Luckily for the Lima Locos, Nick Kolze didn't care about the odds and retired the side with back to back strikeouts keeping it at 4 all. 

It would only take two pitches in the top of the sixth before the train horn would sound symbolizing the go ahead run at Simmons Field. It was a ball Jackson Bradfield destroyed over the left center wall that did the damage. Bradfield would end the day 2-4 with 2 runs scored and a walk drawn. A David Falloon 2-out single would force the hand of the Clippers who had to replace Randall after 2.1 innings (5 hits, 1 run (earned), 2K, and 1 BB). Winston Delp would come in and get out number three on two pitches, but the Locos were now up 5-4. 

Nick Kolze was replaced to open the seventh inning by Marion Creech. Kolze went 2.2 innings, had 6 strikeous, gave up no runs, two hit, and two walks. Creech (who earned a save) would only let one Clipper on the basepath via a walk in the eighth inning but would be flawless otherwise with four strikeouts as well.

The Locos weren't done scoring yet. In the seventh inning it was an error, walk, and hit by pitch that would load the bases for Lima. Charlie Vercuysse would send a ball past the shortstop to single and score a pair of runs. With that hit Vercuysse ended the day 3-4 with a double and 2 RBIs. An error that turned into an obscure play involving a caught stealing would end the seventh as Bradfield's second run of the day put the Lima Locos up 8-4. 

David Falloon wanted to have some more fun and sent a ball deep down the left field line for the third and final homerun of the night. Fallon went 3-5 with 2 RBIs. That was the last run scored in an Opening Day 9-4 Lima Locos victory over the Muskegon Clippers.

Saturday (7:05) and Sunday (5:05) will be the continuation of this series. The Locos are now 18-19 all time vs. the Clippers and Chad Ehrnsberger is 6-9 (177-77 in his seventh year). The Locos are going to be a tough team to beat when they have hitting performances like tonight hitting .267 as a team with 4 extra base hits.

WP - Nick Kolze (1-0)

LP - Ty Randall (0-1)

SV - Marion Creech (1)

Box Score

MC 4R 4H 4E

LL 9R 12H 1E