Picture credit to Athletes in Action

 

XENIA SCOUTS  8  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  7  -  FINAL

GRADY’S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts clinched a series win holding off a late surge defeating the Flag City Sluggers 8-7 on Wednesday on Grady’s Field at Browne Stadium.

 

The Scouts held off a late Flag City comeback as the Sluggers Caleb Smith (Three Rivers CC) hit a ninth inning grand slam home run making it a one-run game.

 

Xenia reliever Carter Hennon (Georgia Southwestern State) recovered nicely striking out the very next batter closing out the Scouts fourth consecutive victory.

 

Flag City took an early 1-0 lead when Brett Reed (Lawrence University) scored on an RBI-single by Harrison Engskov (Arkansas State transfer).

 

The Scouts answered in the bottom of the first after a two-run double by first baseman Troy Lynch (University of Minnesota Duluth). Lynch would later add a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

 

The Sluggers (7-9) tied the game 2-2 with a third inning solo homer by Will Lafferty (Marshall University).

 

Xenia scored three runs in the fourth taking a 5-2 lead when Carter Jackman (Mississippi College) crossed the plate after a single by Noah Manasan (Arizona Christian University). Manasan then scored when Bo Solley (Harding University transfer) smacked a triple and scored a squeeze bunt laid down by Johnathan Jackson (Harding University). 

 

After the victory, Xenia (10-6) sits atop of the GLSCL South Division standings ahead of the second place Hamilton Joes.

 

The series shifts to Findlay where the Sluggers hope to avoid the sweep on its home field at Marathon Diamonds starting at 7:05pm on Thursday night.

 

 

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  vs.  HAMILTON JOES  -  DH

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers took down Hamilton Joes in front of its home fans winning the series against the team that beat them in last year’s GLSCL Championship Series.

 

Muskegon swept the double header on Wednesday with late game heroics in both games taking the opener 6-3 and the night cap 3-2.

 

The Clippers overcame a 3-2 deficit by hitting a pair of two run homers in the bottom of the sixth inning. Braden Graves (Chattanooga State Tech) gave Muskegon the lead with his one-out homer. Casey Barnes (University of Northwestern Ohio) followed that up with a two-run shot of his own for a little bit of insurance.

 

The Joes loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning. After getting himself into the jam, Clippers reliever Reid Leonard (Chattanooga State Tech) wiggled off the hook. Leonard fielded a come backer to the mound throwing to first base for the game’s final out.

 

The Clippers walked it off in the night cap when Connor Kelly’s (Northwood University) base loaded single to right field drove home Ethan Delgado (Ecclesia College) with the winning run.

 

Barnes went 4-for-4 over the course of the double header scoring three runs.

 

After a tough start to the season, the Clippers have improved to 7-11 as they position itself for a potential third straight playoff appearance.

 

The Joes record falls to 9-9 trailing the first place Xenia Scouts by three games in the loss column of the South Division race.

 

The Clippers take a break on Thursday awaiting a road trip to Celina for a weekend series against the Grand Lake Mariners.

 

The Joes face off against the GLSCL South Division leading Xenia Scouts on Friday at Foundation Field.

 

 

LIMA LOCOS  13  GRAND LAKE MARINERS  7  -  FINAL

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Lima Locos scored all 13 of its runs in the top of the ninth on its way to a 13-7 victory over the Grand Lake Mariners.

 

The Locos looked stymied all night by the Grand Lake pitching staff before the Mariners ship sunk in the final inning.

 

Grand Lake lead 4-0 but couldn’t finish off the Locos who sent 18 batters to the plate in the top of the ninth inning.

 

Evan Holstein (Kennesaw State University) drove in five runs in his two at bats during the final inning. He got things started with a three-run homer narrowing the deficit to 4-3.

 

Charlie Vercruysse (Purdue University commit) delivered a two-run single giving the Locos a 5-4 advantage.

 

Holstein and Vercruysse both came back to the plate and  each provided additional two-run singles during the wild closing inning.

 

Leading 13-4 going into the bottom of the ninth the Locos were not out of the woods quite yet.

 

Salvatore Besztery (University of Rochester) scored from third base on a bases loaded walk. Ty O’Brien (University of Toledo) provided an RBI-groundout driving in Sam Lapping (Whitman College). Isaac Sobieszczyk (Bradley University) then scored from third base on a balk committed by Lima pitcher Brady Fitzpatrick.

 

Fitzpatrick (Ball State transfer) was able to get himself composed inducing a game ending ground ball securing the unlikely victory for the Locos.

 

The ninth inning collapse wasted a great starting pitching performance by Grand Lake starter Tanner Coddington (Whitman College). Coddington pitched six shutout innings scattering six hits while striking out two batters and issuing two walks.

 

The Mariners honored local legend Galen Cisco during pregame ceremonies including Cisco throwing out the ceremonially first pitch. Cisco, who is from nearby St. Mary’s, Ohio, pitched seven seasons for four different major league teams and was a longtime MLB pitching coach.

 

Lima (10-6) goes for the sweep when the first place Locos return to Celina on Thursday night. The Mariners (6-10) look to avoid that fate at Montgomery Field with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm.

 

 

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  8  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  7  -  FINAL

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Michigan Monarchs evened up its home series with an 8-7 walk off win over the Southern Ohio Copperheads at Hillsdale College.

 

The Monarchs held off the Copperheads who scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning tying the game 7-7.

 

Southern Ohio (8-9) loaded the bases in the ninth inning when Tylan Graves (Southwest Tennessee CC) delivered a two-single. The Copperheads tied the games thanks to a costly two-run error by the Monarchs.

 

Michigan (10-7) came to bat in the bottom of the ninth starting the game winning rally with a lead off single by Manny Gutierrez (Henry Ford CC). Christian Holmes (UIC transfer) became the hero when he drove in Gutierrez with an RBI base hit.

 

The game winner capped a great night at the plate by Holmes. The Monarchs shortstop was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI’s, two runs scored and two stolen bases.

 

Haruto Endo (Minnesota West CC) was the spark plug of the Southern Ohio offense out of the leadoff position in the lineup. Endo was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases.

 

Each team benefited from stellar pitching out of the bullpen during the middle innings.

 

Peyton Buckley (Ohio Wesleyan) pitched five and 1/3 shutout innings giving up just one hit while striking out five batters for the Copperheads.

 

Easton Remick (Lansing CC), making his season debut for the Monarchs, tossed three shutout innings giving up one hit and one walk while striking out three batters. 

 

The series wraps up on Thursday with each team looking for at Lenda and Glenda Stadium at TFO Partners Field with the first pitch schedule for 7:05pm.

 

 

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.