Picture credit to Carson Caprella  

LIMA LOCOS  5  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  4 -  FINAL

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos once again prevent the Michigan Monarchs from punching its ticket for the final GLSCL playoff spot with a 5-4 victory at Simmons Field.

 

The Locos (27-12) jumped out to a 4-0 lead scoring twice in both the first and third innings.

 

In the bottom of the first inning, Grant McGuire (Winthrop University) singled to center field with runners on the corners allowing Payton Ebbing (Kent State) to score from third base. Cole Crafton (University of Illinois) then crossed the plate on and RBI-single by David Faloon (Mercer University).

 

In the third inning, many of the same participants helped score two more runs for the Locos. Ebbling scored on when McGuire grounded out to shortstop followed by Crafton scoring on an infield single by Faloon.

 

The Monarchs answered with two runs in the sixth inning cutting the deficit in half to 4-2. Nathan Fidelino (Macomb CC) scored on a sacrifice fly by Keegan Knupp (Eastern Michigan). Christian Holmes (Wisconsin Milwaukee) singled to left field driving in Wyatt Epple (Davenport University).

 

After each team scored single runs on bases loaded walks, the score was 5-3 with Lima leading after seven complete innings.

 

The Monarchs (21-19) started a two out rally in the top of the eighth inning. Zach Freitag (Macomb CC) singled to right field, advanced to second base on a passed ball and to third on a Lima error. Freitag then scored on a wild pitch cutting the deficit to 5-4. 

 

Locos reliever Brady Koester (Notre Dame) got out of the eighth with the no further damage. Koester then retired the side in the ninth with the tying run in scoring position securing his first save of the season.

 

Epple went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Monarchs with a double and a sacrifice fly.

 

Eppling reached base four times for the Locos. He and Crafton each had two hits and scored two runs.

 

The Monarchs now have one final chance to win its way into the playoffs when the same two teams wrap up the regular season on Saturday in Lima at Simmons Field.

 

 

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  8  GRAND LAKE MARINERS  7  -  FINAL

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers keep winning scoring four runs in the eighth inning defeating the Grand Lake Mariners 8-7 on Friday night at Marsh Field.

 

Trailing 6-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Monarchs started the rally with Casey Barnes (University of Northwestern Ohio) leading off the inning with a solo home run. Cole Mason (Grand Valley State) came to the plate with the bases loaded driving home Ben Meyers (Lake Michigan College) tying the score 6-6.

 

The Clippers took the lead 7-6 when Luke Noack (Southern Arkansas University) was forced home from third base on a bases loaded walk issued to Jackson Isaacs (Kalamazoo College). Parker Vaughn (Lansing CC) then singled to right field driving in Nolan Zajac (Western Michigan) giving Muskegon an 8-6 advantage.

 

In the ninth inning, the Mariners was down to its final out before starting one last rally. Jake Lopez (University of Scranton transfer) doubled to right and Isaac Sobieszczyk (Missouri Western University) singled putting runners on the corners. With Chase Alwardt (University of Indianapolis) was at the plate, Lopez scored from third on a wild pitch. Alwardt singled to left field allowing Sobieszczyk to advance to third base.

 

The Clippers went to the bullpen calling on Lukas Brewer (Lansing CC). Brewer came in striking out the only batter he faced ending the threat and securing the victory.

 

The season concludes on Saturday with Muskegon needing a win to sweep the series giving itself a chance to go to the playoffs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.

 

 

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  6  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  5  -  FINAL/Sudden Death

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Flag City Sluggers get a walk-off base on balls beating the Southern Ohio Copperheads 6-5 in sudden death at Marathon Diamonds.

 

Harrison Engskov (Arkansas State transfer) was placed at first base as the automatic runner for the sudden death 11th inning. Engskov stole second base and was lifted for a pinch runner Matt Gardner (Little Rock). Gardner was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Powell (Loyola University New Orleans). 

 

Next up, Caleb Smith (Three Rivers CC) was intentionally walked to help set up a potential double play opportunity for the Copperheads. Andrew Stechschulte (Ohio Northern) was then walked intentionally after forcing a 3-0 count loading the bases. 

 

Southern Ohio pitcher Ronnie Rowley (MidAmerican Nazarene) struck out Trey Gardner (Three Rivers CC) for the second out of the inning.

 

Ryan Ruch (Cal St Bakersfield) was then unintentionally walked pushing Matt Gardner across the plate with the winning run giving the Sluggers the 6-5 victory.

 

The Sluggers evened its record to 20-20 on the season going into the final game of the season. The Copperheads fall to 14-23 as both teams will see its respective seasons come to an end on Saturday in Findlay with first pitch taking place at 7:05pm.

 

 

HAMILTON JOES  4  XENIA SCOUTS  2  -  FINAL

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Hamilton Joes secured the series victory with a 4-2 win over the Xenia Scouts on Friday night at Foundation Field.

 

The Joes (22-18) scored two runs in the seventh inning breaking up a 2-2 tie.

 

Aidyn Coffey (Stony Brook University) reached on a base hit. He stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error during the steal attempt. Coffey gave the Joes a 3-2 lead scoring on an RBI-single by Jaxson Christ (Trevecca Nazarene). Christ would eventually score an insurance run on a pass ball.

 

Dylan Thompson (Thomas More University) pitched the final three and 1/3 innings for Joes earning his first save of the season. Thompson did not allow a run or a walk only giving up one hit and striking out two batters.

 

The Scouts (24-17) broke up a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Johnathan Jackson (Harding University) lead off with a single and stole both second and third base. Jackson crossed the pay station with the game’s first run on a wild pitch. 

 

Rolen Reyes (Westmont College) started a new rally in the same inning reaching on a two out walk. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Reyes scored when Jacob Winzenread (Oakland City) reached on an error.

 

With the Hamilton trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Joes loaded the bases with no outs. Jackson Wang (Wabash Valley College) delivered a two-run single driving in Christ and Brett Denby (Wright State) tying the game 2-2.

 

The series wraps up on Saturday night with the Joes going for the sweep. The Scouts will try to avoid that fate while trying to regain momentum going into the playoffs when first pitch is scheduled 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.