Picture credit to Maddie Fleck

 

LIMA LOCOS  @  XENIA SCOUTS  -  DH

GRADY’S FIELD - History was made in Xenia when both games of a double header went to the sudden death for the first time since the format began in 2022.

 

The Lima Locos (7-1) and the Xenia Scouts (4-4) split the double header with each earning a win at Grady’s Field on Sunday evening. As a result the Locos are the last team in 2025 to fall from the ranks of the undefeated after starting the season 7-0.

 

The Locos won the first game 4-3 when they went on offense after the coin flip. Reese Borho’s (Abilene Christian) RBI-single drives in the ghost runner Cole Crafton (University of Louisville) from third base for the victory.

 

Lima took the lead in the opening game scoring twice in the third inning. Crafton advanced to third base on a wild pitch and than scored on an error by the Xenia catcher. Borho, who went 3-for-5 in the opener, drove in Will Briggs (Purdue transfer) with and base hit.

 

The Scouts answered by taking the lead 3-2 with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Will Lawrence (Samford University) accounted for all three of Xenia’s runs staring with a two-run single. Lawrence then scored when he was driven in by Bo Solley’s (Harding University) base hit.

 

The Locos tied it 3-3 in the fourth inning. Braydon Kersey (Mercer University) lead off with a ground rule double and scored on an RBI-single by Jackson Bradfield (Kennesaw State).

 

The game stayed tied through the regulation seven innings and the extra inning before the sudden death format went into effect.

 

In the nightcap, the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie. In the eighth the Locos ran themselves into a double play ending the inning. With a runner at second base, Xenia right fielder Carter Jackman (Mississippi  College) made the catch and threw out the runner trying to advance to third base ending the inning.

 

After the Scouts were retired in order by Locos reliever Anthony Lariz (Central Florida) the game went to sudden death for a second time.

 

The Locos again was the team at the plate in the ninth and final inning. Brecken Menuet (Louisiana Tech) pinch ran for Declan Magee (College of Charleston) at first base as the ghost runner. Crafton lead off the inning with a double and Menuet advancing to third base.

 

Xenia pitcher Nolan Phillips (University of St Thomas) then struck out Locos right fielder Chad Mottola (Central Florida) for the first out of the inning.

 

The Scouts decided to intentionally walk Borho loading the bases creating a potential force at any base. Hayden Mains (Morehead State) then hit a sharp grounder to Xenia shortstop Gus Gandy (Samford University) who stepped on second and thew to first for the game ending double play. 

 

Both teams benefited from stellar pitching performances. Lima starter Anderson Hayes (Notre Dame) went the first five innings giving up just one run on three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. 

 

Lairz was just as impressive striking out six batters in three shutout innings of work giving up just one hit.

 

The Scouts (4-4) countered with Oliver Adams (North Greenville) going the first four innings giving up only one run and four hits with five strikeouts. 

 

Braeden Cochran (Georgia Southwestern State) pitched four innings in relief without giving up a run while surrendering just two hits and two walks.

 

Both teams get a well deserved day off before starting a new three-game series on Tuesday. The Scouts host the Michigan Monarchs (7-2) while the Locos host the Hamilton Joes (4-5).

 

 

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  12  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  7 -  FINAL

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners capped off a comeback win in a back and forth game beating the Southern Ohio Copperheads 12-7.

 

Grand Lake trailed the South Division’s first place team 7-5 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Mariners sent 10 batters to the plate scoring seven times securing the series victory.

 

Sam Lapping (Whitman College) came to the plate with the bases loaded and doubled driving in two runs tying the score 7-7. Jacob Loving’s (Palomar College) sacrifice fly pushed Ty O’Brien (University of Toledo) across the plate with the go ahead run.

 

Grand Lake went on to score five more runs putting the game out of reach.

 

Miles Whitesell (Frontier CC), who pitched the final three innings for the Mariners, set down the Copperheads in the ninth inning securing the victory.

 

The Mariners (4-5) took an early 4-1 lead with a three-run third inning. Salvatore “Sammy” Besztery (University of Rochester) delivered a two-run single followed by an RBI-single by Isaac Sobieszczyk (Bradley University).

 

Southern Ohio (5-4) took the lead 5-4 advantage in the fifth inning with three consecutive RBI-singles followed by a sacrifice fly.

 

Grand Lake answered tying the score in the bottom of the fifth when Aaron Klubeck (Palomar College) scored on an RBI-single by Besztery. Besztery went 4-for-5 with four RBIs which are both season highs for the Grand Lake shortstop.

 

Southern Ohio regained the lead 6-5 when Billy Adams (Tiffin University) delivered a sacrifice fly driving in Frankie Clark (Eastern Michigan) in the sixth inning. Adams completed the day going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base.

 

The Copperheads added an additional run in the seventh inning. Ronnie Rowley (Hocking College) lead off the inning by reaching on an error. Rowley stole second and third base, two of his four stolen bases on the day, scoring on a single by Jackson Kale (LeTourneau University).

 

Despite the loss, the Copperheads (5-4) remain atop of the South Division standings. Just one full game separates all four teams in the standings.

 

 

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  9  MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  2  - FINAL

MARSH FIELD - The Flag City Sluggers entered the weekend series without a win on the season and finished with a three-game sweep of the Muskegon Clippers winning 9-2 on Sunday evening.

 

The Sluggers (3-6) steady offensive attack scored in six out of the nine innings with 13 hits, five of which where of the extra base hit variety. Caleb Smith (Three Rivers CC) lead the way going 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.

 

The Muskegon (1-8) defense didn’t help its pitchers by committing four errors in the field.

 

Harrison Engskov (Arkansas State) was also productive at the dish for Flag City going 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Chris Franks (Ashland University) chipped in for the Sluggers with two doubles.

 

Bryce Stenzel (Missouri St. Louis) got the start on the mound for Flag City pitching six strong innings. Stenzel earned his first win of the season striking out six batters while giving up just one run on four hits and did not walk a batter.

 

Three Flag City relievers combined to hold off the Clippers offensive in the late innings. Ben Best (Ohio Northern) and Jacob Sams (Central Florida) each pitched one shutout inning.

 

Shamus Gallo (Davis & Elkins) ran into trouble in the ninth giving up a solo homer to Luke Noack (Paris Junior College) leading off the inning. The Clippers loaded the bases but Gallo was able to strikeout Connor Kelly (Northwood University) ending the threat and the game.

 

Muskegon designated hitter Jack Bakus (Lansing CC) was 2-for-4 for the Clippers with a double and an RBI.

 

The Sluggers take its three-game winning streak into the off day before going to Celina on Thursday facing off against the Grand Lake Mariners. 

 

The Clippers will lick its wounds before making the long trip to Athens taking on the South Division’s first place team the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

 

 

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.