Galion, OH - It was a quiet and overcast night when the Graders came to play the Settlers, but little did Mac Spears know that throwing the ninth inning would get him his first win as a Galion Grader.

If you are a fan of pitchers duels this was not the game for you. It was a slugfest for both teams on the night, but the Graders joined the hit parade a bit later than the Settlers. The Settlers struck first in the top of the second inning with an RBI double by Cael Baker making the score 1-0. The Graders then struck with a run of their own in the bottom of the third when Andrew Massey singled to start the inning and was eventually brought home after Rodriguez ripped a ball into the gap scoring Massey after the center fielder misplayed the ball.

From there, Licking County had total control of the ballgame. Licking County scored 2 runs in the fourth, 1 in the fifth and 3 in the sixth to make it a 7-1 ballgame. The Graders starter Henry Martinez allowed 4 runs, but only 2 of them were earned and was later replaced by Stephen Norrell who allowed 3 runs. The Settlers starter Carvajal suffered a no decision after a quality start for the Settlers. Carvajal went six and one third innings, only allowing 2 earned runs making it a no decision. 

The seventh inning is when the Graders finally got something going. Vince Donato started the inning off with a single and was followed with a double by Jose De La Cruz to get runners on first and second with no outs. Seamus Kenneally then hit an infield single to load the bases for Andrew Stone. Stone hit what seemed like a routine double play ball to the shortstop, but it got under his glove and into centerfield for a two run error making the score 7-3. Rodriguez then walked to reload the bases for the Graders who left them stranded. 

In the eighth, the Settlers grabbed those two runs back off the pitcher Wyatt Larimer. The Graders responded again with a couple more runs of their own. It started with a single off the bat of Jacob Reimold with no outs. Donato then struck out bringing up Jose De La Cruz to the plate who would hit his second double of the day scoring Reimold the whole way from first to make the score 9-4. From there Massey lined out, then with Kenneally at the plate, a passed ball advanced De La Cruz to third. Next, Kenneally singled to score De La Cruz making the score 9-5. With Kenneally at first and Stone at the plate, the center fielder and right fielder shifted towards the line leaving the left center gap wide open for Stone. Stone ripped a ball into the left center gap and made his way around the bases for a triple that scored Kenneally from first to make the score 9-6.

It was at this point Mac Spears entered the ball game. Mac threw a scoreless inning while striking out two of the batters he faced to keep the momentum going in favor of the Graders headed into their half of the ninth inning. The Graders needed 3 runs to send the game into extra innings, but the Graders would have much rather win than deal with more of the rain that started descending from the dark night sky. 

The Graders would face Sam Stewart, a familiar foe who played for the Graders in 2017 and who had already blown a save against the Graders this year. Tonight was no different for Stewart. Stewart would not record an out and was pulled from the ball game after allowing 3 earned runs. Austin Hathaway would start the inning swinging away at the first pitch lining it back past Stewart into center field for a base hit. He would then walk Juan De La Cruz to put runners on first and second with no outs. From there, Jacob Reimold would mash an up and in fastball by the third baseman and down the line for a no out double. This scored Hathway from second and moved Juan De La Cruz to third making the game 9-7.

Bill Hitman would be called upon to pinch hit for Vince Donato. During Hitman's at bat, a wild pitch allowed Juan De La Cruz to score and move Reimold to third making the game 9-8. Hitman would then be hit by the pitch to put runners on the corners. This called for a pitching change. The Settlers brought in Trevor Niedzwiecki to face Jose De La Cruz. During his at bat, a wild pitch would allow Reimold to score and Hitman to advance to third. This would tie the ballgame at 9 runs a piece. Jose De La Cruz would then walk putting runners on the corners. The Settlers then intentionally walked Andrew Massey to load the bases to set up the home to first double play.

Seamus Keneally would come to the plate with bases loaded a situation. He tried a safety squeeze that resulted in Hitman being thrown out at the plate. Keneally would advance to first on the fielders choice. This brought Andrew Stone to the plate, but the pitcher didn't even have to throw a pitch to Stone. He balked with the bases loaded which would then allow Jose De La Cruz to score from third winning the ballgame for the Graders! A rare balk off win!

The Graders take on the Settlers in Licking County on June 22nd at 7:05pm!

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