By Eli Halverson | July 9, 2025

After a tough opening loss to the Michigan Monarchs, the Joes returned to action Wednesday afternoon looking to bounce back and get back in the win column.

Game One

Michael Bilo was on the hill for Hamilton in game one, so you knew exactly what you were going to get. Bilo was near flawless, tossing four innings, giving up just one hit and one unearned run while striking out four. His ERA now sits at an incredible 0.85 on the season.

The lone run off Bilo came in the third after Cannon Paul led off the inning with a single and eventually came around to score due to a Hamilton error. That was just about the only offense early in this one.

Hamilton’s bats took a while to get going, only getting two baserunners through three innings, but everything changed in the fourth. After a Michigan pitching change, Brett Denby and Jaxson Christ reached base and both came around to score thanks to a Miguel Correa double (make him a GLSCL all-star) and a Jordan Malott RBI hit-by-pitch. A couple more free passes with the bases loaded brought in two additional runs, and then Jackson Wang delivered the finishing blow with a two-run single to cap off a six-run inning and give the Joes a 6-1 lead.

The Monarchs wouldn’t go away quietly. In the bottom of the fifth, after Bilo exited, Michigan took advantage of a flurry of wild pitches and walks to score four runs on just one hit, cutting the Joes’ lead to one.

In the top of the sixth, Hamilton loaded the bases again with a combination of walks and hit batters. A bases-loaded walk drawn by Christ brought in a critical insurance run.

That lead would hold. Matty Helms entered in the seventh and continued his recent dominance, striking out the side to earn the save and seal a 7-5 victory for Hamilton in game one.

Game Two

Game two was a pitcher’s duel from the start. Marc Iozzo got the nod and was stellar, tossing five innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out an impressive eight batters. If Iozzo isn’t named a GLSCL all-star, it would be a travesty.

Unfortunately for the Joes, Michigan pitcher Owen Elsey was just as effective, throwing five shutout innings and striking out three while keeping Hamilton’s bats in check all night.

The only run off Iozzo came in the fifth on an RBI single—enough to give the Monarchs a 1-0 edge that would hold.

The Joes mustered just five total baserunners in the nightcap. A Gio Melchionne double in the seventh gave them a glimmer of hope, but a strikeout would follow to end the game with a final score of 1-0.

While there weren’t many bright spots offensively in game two, Iozzo once again showed why he’s one of the most reliable arms in the Joes’ rotation, lowering his season ERA to 1.52 across nearly 18 innings.

The Joes now sit at 15-15 on the season, three games back of the Xenia Scouts. They’ll turn their attention to a pivotal weekend series against the league-leading Lima Locos, who boast a 21-9 record. This is a massive opportunity for Hamilton to gain ground and make a statement late in the season. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 7:05 PM Friday night at Foundation Field.