Picture credit to Maddie Fleck

 

LIMA LOCOS  @  XENIA SCOUTS  -  DH  

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos sweep a double header over the Xenia Scouts in a battle of the two division leaders in the GLSCL on Wednesday at Simmons Field.

 

The Locos win by scores of 4-3 in the opener and 9-4 in the night cap. Lima now has secured a 21-9 record through the first 30 games of the season.

 

Lima holds a commanding six-game lead in the North Division standings and has a three-game lead over Xenia (18-12) for the best overall record in the GLSCL.

 

Locos starter Nick Kolze (Purdue University) threw his second consecutive seven-inning complete game improving his record to 5-0 on the season. Kolze, the reigning GLSCL Pitcher of the Week, gave up three runs scattering seven hits while striking out three batters.

 

The Scouts struck first in the opener when Noah Manasan (Arizona Christian University) scored on an RBI-single by Jacob Souders (Samford University).

 

The Locos took the lead 2-1 in the third inning on a two-run homer by Cole Crafton (University of Louisville). It’s Crafton fourth home run of the season.

 

Xenia took the lead briefly 3-2 in the fourth inning. Kaden Wu (Taylor University) smacked two-run single to center field driving home Rolen Reyes (Westmont College) and Mason Blasche (Samford University).

 

Lima answered in fifth inning tying the score 3-3 when Brecken Menuet (Louisiana Tech) scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Evan Holstein (Kennesaw State). The Locos took the lead on a solo homer off the bat of Grant McGuire (Winthrop University).

 

Kolze made the lead standup retiring the Scouts in order in the final two innings setting down a total of seven straight closing out the game.

 

The Locos had it a little easier in the second game breaking up a 1-1 tie with a five-run third inning.

 

After taking the lead on a Scouts error, Crafton scored on a double to left field by McGuire. Holstein crossed the pay station thanks to an RBI-ground out by Colton Shirley (Purdue Fort Wayne). McGuire capped the inning when he was driven on David Falloon’s (Mercer University) single to right field.

 

Lima scored three more in the sixth inning extending its lead to 9-2. Will Briggs (UMass) lead off the inning with a solo home run, the only Locos hit of the inning.

 

The seventh was a white knuckle ride for the fans at Simmons Field. The Scouts scored two runs without the benefit of it a hit before Alex Vargas (Nicholls State) was able to finally close it out for the Locos.

 

Each team will enjoy a day off on Thursday after playing four game in two days. Both teams will begin weekend series on the road as Lima travels to Hamilton and the South Division leading Scouts head north of the border taking on the Michigan Monarchs. 

 

 

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  vs.  HAMILTON JOES  -  DH

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Michigan Monarchs and the Hamilton Joes split a double header in the league’s other twin bill on Wednesday. The second game finished later than anticipated after a two-hour plus rain delay during the first game.

 

The Joes took the first game 7-5 that wasn't completed until after a long delay. The turf surface in the center field bubbled when the excessive amount of rain made its way under the artificial surface. After players and staff from both teams were able to remedy the problem the game was set to continue with the sun now shining bright onto the field. 

 

Hamilton scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning benefitting from just three hits. 

 

Brett Denby (Wright State University) reached on a single coming around to score on a double by Miguel Correa (Central Michigan). Next the Joes scored three runs during three separate bases loaded at bats without needing a hit. A hit by pitch, a walk and another hit by pitch all with the bases juiced allowed three runs to cross the plate. Jackson Wang (Wabash Valley College) delivered a two-run single capping the inning.

 

The Joes held a 6-1 lead when the game was halted during the half inning break the middle of the fifth inning.

 

After a two and a half hour delay the Monarchs offense was rejuvenated after the Joes were forced to pull its starter Michael Bilo (George Mason).

 

Bilo was in command during his stint on the mound going four innings giving up just one unearned run and one hit striking out four batters and allowing just one walk.

 

Michigan plated four runs in the fifth inning starting with Zach Freitag (Macomb CC) scoring on an wild pitch. Kooper Etheridge (Madonna University) smacked a two-run single scoring both Bren Wilkinson (Cal State Northridge transfer) and Kenny McKinley (Middle Tennessee State). Cannon Paul (Western Michigan University) then scored on another wild pitch.

 

After all that it was now all of the sudden a one-run game with Hamilton hanging on to a 6-5 lead. 

 

The Joes scored the all important insurance run in the top of the sixth when Jaxson Christ (Lake Erie College) was issued a bases loaded walk forcing home Mark Nowak (Northern Kentucky).

 

Hamilton was able to hold off the Monarchs seventh inning rally when Matty Helms (Northern Kentucky transfer) was able to strike out the final two batters securing the victory.

 

The nightcap had a much faster paste with the Monarchs salvaging a split with a 1-0 victory. 

 

Keegan Knupp (Eastern Michigan) delivered a two-out single to left field scoring Tyler Fox (Ohio State) from second base for the game’s only run.

 

Johnny Stavola (Michigan-Dearborn) pitched the final two innings for the Monarchs improving his record to 4-1 on the season.

 

After a much needed day off on Thursday these two teams will be hosting first place teams for a three-game weekend series.

 

The Monarchs (15-15) will host the South Division leading Xenia Scouts while the Joes (15-15) welcome the North Division leading Lima Locos.

 

 

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  3  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  2  -  FINAL  

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Muskegon Clippers clinched a series victory with a 3-2 win over the Flag City Sluggers on Wednesday at Marathon Diamonds.

 

The Clippers win has suddenly tightens the race in the GLSCL North Division standings. With the Locos in firm control pf the division the drama now is about which of the three remaining teams will earn the second playoff spot.

 

The Monarchs are now in second place with the Sluggers (13-14) in third and the Clippers now just two games behind Flag City (13-16) in the loss column.

 

The Sluggers struck first in the second inning taking a 1-0 lead when Chris Franks (Ashland University) scored on an RBI-single Trey Gardner (Three Rivers CC).

 

The Clippers scored all three of its runs in the third inning. Davis Weeks tied the game when he was forced home on a bases loaded walk. Jackson Isaacs gave Muskegon the lead when his base hit drove in both Casey Joppie and Taylor Head.

 

Franks, who scored both of Flag City’s runs, crossed the plate again on a sacrifice fly by Brett Reed (Lawrence University).

 

Alex Hardacre (Alma College) pitched five shutout inning out of the bullpen for the Clippers. Hardacre improved his record to 4-1 on the season after notching four strikeouts without allowing a walk and scattering just three hits.

 

The series concludes on Thursday with Muskegon going for the sweep. The Slugger will try to avoid that fate when first pitch is schedule in Findlay for 7:05pm.

 

 

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  8  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  1 -  FINAL

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Grand Lake Mariners traveled across the state defeating the Southern Ohio Copperheads 8-1 at Bob Wren Stadium.

 

Grand Lake (9-19) snapped a seven-game losing streak after getting off to a hot start. The Mariners started the game scoring five runs in the first inning and never looked back on its way to the victory.

 

After the Mariners broke the seal scoring on a bases loaded walk, Brandon Lang (Southwestern University) came through with a two-run double. Jacob Loving (Palomar College) was up next driving in Chase Alwardt (University of Indianapolis) on an RBI-groundout. Lang came around to score when A.J. Klubeck (Palomar College) was walked with the bases loaded.

 

Isaac Sobieszczyk (Bradley University) hit a solo homer in the second inning for the Mariners. Jake Lopez (University of Scranton transfer) scored a run thanks to a sacrifice fly by Alwardt in the fourth inning. Lopez was on the other end of a scoring play when he belted an RBI-double driving in Ty O’Brien (University of Toledo) in the seventh inning.

 

The Copperheads avoided being shutout manufacturing a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

 

Jack Ferguson (Indiana Tech) reached when he worked a leadoff walk. He stole second base and advanced to third base on a groundout by Brett Moroschan (Lawrence Tech University). Ferguson scored when Frankie Clark (Eastern Michigan) grounded out to the Grand Lake first baseman.

 

The series wraps up on Thursday with the rubber game taking place at Montgomery Field with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm.

 

 

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.