ROSELAWN, Ohio - The Cincinnati Steam came out the all-star break strong with a 7-2 win over the Gailon Graders on Thursday afternoon at the P&G Cincinnati Reds MLB Urban Youth Academy. The game has become an annual event thanks to the Steam’s partnership with the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund.

Jonathan Brus (Dayton/St. Xavier HS) got the start for Cincinnati on the mound and threw six strong innings. Brus scattered seven hits while only giving up two runs, striking out five batters and not surrendering a walk. Brus earned the victory improving to 3-0 on the season.

The Graders struck first scoring a run in the first inning thanks to an RBI single by shortstop Michael Rodriguez.

The Steam countered with a run of its own in the second inning tying the score 1-1. With runners on second and third, Ryan Fournier (Xavier University) reached on an error scoring Eddie Pursinger (Dayton/Anderson HS) from third base.

Gallon had a chance to score again in the third inning but Fournier used his arm to gun down a runner at the plate. Jacob Reimold singled to Fournier in right field and GLSCL all-star Todd Sekowski tried to score from second base. Fournier came up throwing a strike to home beating Sekowski’s arrival at the plate. Sekowski tried leaping unsuccessfully over Cincinnati catcher Marshall Gei (University of Kentucky) who laid down a tag for the final out of the inning.

The Steam scores three times in the third inning taking a 4-1 lead. Pursinger, who drew four base-on-balls during the game, drove in a run the easy way with a bases loaded walk. Jake Kates (Gulf Coast State College/Lakota West HS) scored from third base on a wild pitch with the bases still juiced. Fournier drove in Pursinger with an RBI single capping the inning. 

Reimhold, who went 4-for-4 on the afternoon for the Graders, hit a solo home run leading off the sixth inning.

Griffin Bernardo (Central Florida) hit a two-run blast to left field in the seventh inning giving the Steam some breathing room. Jacob Abbott (Eastern Kentucky) scored an insurance run in the eighth inning for the game’s final result 7-2.

The Cincinnati bullpen pitched well, closing out the game by throwing three combined scoreless innings. Tanner Schimmoeller (University of Cincinnati) tossed two innings and Jared Flueck (Olney Central/Colerain HS) pitched the ninth inning.  

The Steam and the Graders finish up the two-game series Friday night in Galion at Heise Park. Grant Macciocchi (Kentucky/Moeller HS) will get the start for the Steam with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm. Brady Laber will have the call of the broadcast on www.cincinnatisteam.com.

ABOUT THE CINCINNATI STEAM: The Cincinnati Steam has earned a spot in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs in 10 of its 12 seasons of existence. Three times the Steam has played in the GLSCL championship round including winning the title in both 2008 and 2009.

ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE: The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate, which is entering its 30th season, is a wood-bat league that is certified by the NCAA and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The league boasts several players that have earned service time in major league baseball including six former Steam players.