Picture credit to Maggie English 

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  10  MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  2 

MARSH FIELD - The Michigan Monarchs were sparked by an eight-run fifth inning remaining undefeated with a 10-2 road victory over the Muskegon Clippers.

 

The Monarchs are still one of just two teams remaining undefeated (4-0) through the first first four games of the season. Muskegon (0-4) on the other hand remain winless despite playing its home opener on Tuesday night.

 

Michigan jumped out to a quick start scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Christian Holmes (UIC transfer portal) delivered a two-run single driving in Wyatt Epple (Davenport University) and Manny Gutierrez (Henry Ford CC).

 

The Monarchs scored eight runs against three different Muskegon bullpen pitchers in the fifth inning sending 13 batters to the plate.

 

Designated hitter Kenny McKinley (Middle Tennessee State) provided two hits driving in half of the runs during the inning. McKinley started the scoring with a two-run homer capping it off with a two-run single.

 

Michigan benefited from a great starting pitching performance out of right hander Matthew Hubbard (University of Toledo). Hubbard tossed five scoreless, hitless innings giving up just one walk while striking out seven batters.

 

The Clippers scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning avoiding the mercy rule. Ben Meyers (Lake Michigan College) came into the game as a pinch hitter belting a two-run single to left field scoring Casey Joppie (Saginaw Valley State) and Cole Leclair (Texas A&M Texarkana).

 

The series will shift to the east of the state with the Monarchs will hosting the middle game of the series at Hillsdale College. First pitch is schedule for 7:05pm at Hill Stadium & TFO Partners Field.

 

LIMA LOCOS  14  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  10  - FINAL  

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Lima Locos held off a late surge remaining undefeated on the early season with a 14-10 win over the Flag City Sluggers.

 

The Locos put up six runs in the seventh inning and were just one run away go putting the game into mercy-rule territory. The Sluggers stranded two Locos runners holding the score to 14-5.

 

The Sluggers went to work in the final two innings narrowing the gap. After scoring twice in the eighth, Flag City rallied for three more in the ninth.

 

The Locos had the Sluggers down to its final out when Tanner Powell (South Arkansas CC) scored from third base on a passed ball. Harrion Engskov (Arkansas State) crushed a double driving in Little Rock teammates Matt Gardner and Ashton Williams. Locos reliever Will Bourk (Adrian College) bowed up forcing a ground out to second base ending the Flag City threat and securing the victory.

 

The Lima offense was a balanced attack that saw eight different hitters produce at least one hit of the 11-hit barrage. Braydon Kersey (Mercer University) delivered his league leading third home of the season.  

 

Engskov led the way for Flag City going 4-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored while reaching base in all six of his plate appearances.

 

Jake Michalak (Ohio State) got the start on the mound for Lima throwing a herculean 115 pitches. Michalak struck out a league high 11 batters while surrendering four runs on seven hits and three walks.

 

The same two teams return to Marathon Diamonds on Wednesday for the middle game of the series with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  14  HAMILTON JOES  3  -  FINAL/7 Innings 

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Southern Ohio Copperheads opened it three-game series against the defending GLSCL champion Hamilton Joes leaving Foundation Field early with a 14-3 mercy-rule victory.

 

The win puts Southern Ohio (3-1) into first place of the GLSCL South Division standings. The Copperheads have won three straight games after losing on Opening Day to the Xenia Scouts.

 

The Joes (2-2) were leading 3-2 when the Southern Ohio bats came to live scoring nine runs in the fourth inning. The Copperheads sent 14 batters to the plate against three different Joes hurlers.

 

Will Heisler (University of Akron) and Tylan Graves (SW Tennessee CC) got things rolling each hitting an RBI-double. Jack Ferguson (Indiana Tech) had the biggest blow of the inning clearing the bases with a 3-run triple.

 

The Copperheads forced the mercy-run in the seventh after back-to-back RBI-singles by Ronnie Rowley (Hocking College) and Heisler. The Copperheads scored an insurance run when Derek Occhipinti (University of Akron) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing in Ferguson from third base.

 

The series will move on Wednesday to Athens as the Copperheads host the Joes in the second game of the series at Bob Wren Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 on the campus of Ohio University.

 XENIA SCOUTS  7  GRAND LAKE MARINERS  2 - FINAL 

GRADY’S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts overcame on early deficit taking down the visiting Grand Lake Mariners 7-2 on Grady’s Field at Brown Stadium in Xenia.

 

The Mariners (1-3) drove in a pair of runs, one in the first and another on the third, on two separate RBI-groundouts by shortstop Salvatore “Sammy” Besztery (University of Rochester).

 

The Scouts took the lead 3-2 in the fifth inning when designated hitter Troy Lynch (University of Minnesota Duluth) smacked a two-run single driving in Hugh LeMasters (East Mississippi College) and Johnathan Jackson (Harding University).

 

Xenia put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth innings. The Scouts scored its first two runs on bases loaded walks. Carter Jackman (Mississippi College) followed with a two-RBI single scoring Caleb Webster (Tusculum College) and Jackson. 

 

Nick Rodriguez (Wiley College) earned the victory for the Scouts going six innings giving up just two runs on two hits striking out six batters.

 

Grand Lake’s Jacob Loving (Palomar College) was the lone offensive spark for the Mariners. Loving scored both of the team’s runs and had two of its four team hits.

 

The series continues on Wednesday at the Xenia Athletes in Action Sports Complex with the Mariners returning to town for the middle game of a three-game series.

 

 

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 GLSCL is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity that is one of 12 members of the National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball (NACSB). The league currently consists of 8 active franchises in Ohio and Michigan boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.