Picture credit to Amy Moore

 

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  @  XENIA SCOUTS  -  DH

GRADY’S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts and Michigan Monarchs played two games at Grady’s Field on Thursday afternoon and evening with each team claiming a victory.

 

The Monarchs found themselves in first place atop of the GLSCL North Division after securing a 5-4 sudden death victory in the night cap.

 

After playing to a 4-4 tie the Monarchs went to the plate beginning the night inning of a schedule seven-inning affair.

 

The Monarchs tied the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a costly error committed by the Scouts. Christian Holmes (Illinois Chicago transfer) reached after being hit by a pitch and stealing second base. He scored on a throwing error by the Xenia shortstop on a ground ball off the bat of Keegan Knupp (Eastern Michigan).

 

Xenia won the coin toss electing to play defense in the sudden death inning. 

 

Justin Best (University of New Orleans), who joined the Monarchs this week, was the hero delivering a walk-off RBI-single driving in Holmes for the victory.

 

The first game was the resumption of a suspended game from the night before with the Scouts ultimately claiming a 4-2 victory.

 

The Monarchs had taken a 1-0 lead on Wednesday night when Holmes lead off the game with a solo home run.

 

The game was halted in the top of the second inning and picked up Thursday afternoon at the point interruption during the top of the second inning. 

 

Xenia tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Troy Lynch (University of Minnesota Duluth) scored on a sacrifice fly by Rolen Reyes (Westmont College).

 

The Monarchs answered with a run in the sixth when Kenny McKinley (Middle Tennessee State) scampered home from third base on a wild pitch.

 

The Scouts took the lead scoring three times in the seventh inning. Lynch tied the score with a sacrifice fly of his own driving in Noah Manasan (Arizona Christian University). Andrew Sharp (Central Washington) followed with a two-run single giving Xenia a 4-2 advantage.

 

Nolan Phillips (University of St. Thomas) earned the win pitching two and 1/3 innings of relief for Scouts. Luke Holcomb (Iowa Lakes CC) pitched the ninth inning recording the save. Despite giving up two singles, Holcomb struck out Justin Best stranding the tying run on base.

 

The Scouts (6-5) make the trek to Muskegon for a weekend series against the Clippers at Marsh Field. The Monarchs (8-4) head to Celia taking on the Grand Lake Mariners beginning a three-game series on Friday.

 

 

HAMILTON JOES  vs.  LIMA LOCOS  -  DH

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Hamilton Joes took its spot atop of the GLSCL South division standings for the first time this season sweeping a double header at home against the Lima Locos.

 

The Joes took the first game 5-2 followed by a 7-1 victory in the night cap.

 

Hamilton took an early lead in the opener with a two-run first inning. Jaxson Christ (Lake Erie College) scored on an RBI-groundout by Diego DeCello (Marietta College). Marc Iozzo (Miami University) followed with an RBI-single driving in Jackson Wang (Wabash Valley).

 

The Locos tied the game 2-2 thanks to the two-run single by Reese Borho (Abilene Christian) driving home Charlie Vercruysse (Notre Dame transfer) and Grant McGuire (Winthrop University). 

 

Hamilton took the lead for good in the third when Iozzo got a hit past the diving attempt by Lima shortstop Brecken Menuet (Louisiana Tech) allowing Christ to score his second run of the game. 

 

After that the Joes loaded the bases forcing the Locos to make a pitching change. Marion Creech (North Greenville transfer) came in issuing a walk to Christopher Roa (Miami University) forcing in DeCello home from third base. Creech then struck out Travis Yankovich (Lake Erie College) ending the threat but the Joes now owned a 4-2 advantage.

 

The Joes added an insurance run in the sixth thanks to an RBI-single by Yankovich driving in Roa.

 

Joes reliever Carson Brower (Bellarmine University) didn’t factor in the decision but did pitch two and 2/3 shutout innings striking out four batters.

 

A pair of Hamilton pitchers combined for a two-hit shut out in the nightcap. Dale Ellis (Miami Hamilton) pitched into the seventh inning before running into a jam. Ellis was strong through the first six-plus innings giving up four hits while striking out five batters.

 

Ashton Hopewell (Catawba Valley CC) inherited the bases loaded jam coming out of the Joes bullpen. After inducing an infield popup for the first out, Hopewell hit Hayden Mains (Morehead State) with a pitch forcing home Matt Rose (South Florida) from third base.

 

Despite the shutout being taking off the table, Hopewell bounced back recording a strikeout and a ground out  securing the win and clinching the sweep.

 

Hamilton scored six runs with the benefit off just one hit during the six inning. 

 

The now first place Joes (7-5) travel to Findlay on Friday beginning a weekend series against the Flag City Sluggers. The Locos (7-4) return home looking to get up off the mat asking the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

 

 

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  vs.  GRAND LAKE MARINERS  4  -  Postponed

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Flag City Sluggers versus Grand Lake Mariners game scheduled for Thursday night was postponed due to field conditions as a result of Wednesday night’s storms.

 

The game will be made up as part of the a double header to be played Friday night, July 11 in Findlay.

 

Flag City will stay home hosting the Hamilton Joes starting a weekend series with the defending GLSCL champions. Grand Lake will also be home this weekend taking on the Michigan Monarchs beginning Friday at Montgomery Field.

 

 

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.