GLSCL Recap - June 16
The much anticipated matchup of division leaders rained out and suspended. The Sluggers and Clippers both win on the road thanks to strong pitching performance. The Monarchs survive ninth inning rally holding on to snap its losing streak.
GRAND LAKE MARINERS 2 LIMA LOCOS 0 - SUSPENDED/4th Inning
SIMMONS FIELD - The long awaited matchup of the two division leaders in the GLSCL will have to wait one more day to be decided after Mother Nature claimed the victory on Tuesday in Lima.
The Grand Lake Mariners led the Lima Locos 2-0 in the the top of the fourth inning when the game went into a lightning delay. Not long after the skies opened up with heavy rain and it was determined the field conditions were not permissible to continue the game.
Simmons Field's infield surface was turfed by the city of Lima Parks and Recreation Department in the off season but the outfield remains a natural surface. The right field area, which has been prone to flooding in the past, gathered water at a rapid pace. Game officials with consultation from the league office decided it was best to suspend the game.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings until the GLSCL Player of the Week Matt Aldridge (Pitt Community College) hit a blast over the right field bullpen for a solo home run.
In the top of the fourth inning with one out, Forest Day (Centre College) singled through the left side of the infield. Day stole second base and scored on an RBI-single to right field by Landon Tiesing (Kent State University).
After Locos starting pitcher Wyatt Dion (Central Florida) struck out Grand Lake's Noah Drake (Indiana University), lightning was spotted in the area and the umpiring crew called for the field to be cleared.
The game will be picked up at the point of interruption on Wednesday in Celina at Montgomery Field. The resumed game will be regulation nine innings scheduled to begin at 5:35pm.
The regularly scheduled game will now be a seven-inning contest beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
FLAG CITY SLUGGERS 5 SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS 1 - FINAL
BOB WREN STADIUM - The Flag City Sluggers opened a three-game series using outstanding pitching for a 5-1 win on the road against the Southern Ohio Copperheads.
Flag City starter Leo McEnulty (Anderson University) was dominant on the hill giving up just one hit and one unearned run in seven and 2/3 innings of work. McEnulty struck out nine batters allowing just two walks and one hit batter. McEnulty, who also played for the Sluggers in its inaugural season last year, earned his first victory on the year.
Julius Robichaud (Oakland University) came in from the bullpen providing a helping hand when McEnulty got into trouble with two outs in the eighth inning. Robichaud got out of a bases loaded jam getting a fly out for the final out of the inning stranded all three runners. Robichaud struck the side in the ninth retiring the Copperheads in order closing Southern Ohio's hopes of a comeback.
Southern Ohio (2-8) couldn't take advantage of very good pitching performance of its own from starter Jacob Napier (University of Rio Grande). Napier went seven innings striking out six and not allowing a walk. Napier consistently threw strikes scattering nine hits while only logging 91 pitches in his seven innings of work
Napier's one critical mistake was giving up a three-run homer to Mickey Anderson (Montgomery College) in the fourth inning. Drew Tajblik (University of Toledo) doubled off Napier in the seventh driving in Miles Mitchell (New Orleans commit) giving the Sluggers a 4-1 lead.
Flag City (5-5) added another insurance run in the eighth when Tim Leark (Maryville University) scored on an RBI-single by Atticus Huffstutler (University of Akron) against "Cheads" reliever Logan Martin (University of Rio Grande).
The Copperheads could muster only one run on the night thanks to a pair of Flag City errors in the second inning. Nate Silvus (Davis & Elkins) reached on a error and then later scored on a second error committed by the Sluggers.
The series moves to Findlay on Wednesday for the middle-game of the series with first pitch scheduled for 6:05pm at Marathon Diamonds.
MICHIGAN MONARCHS 9 HAMILTON JOES 8 - FINAL
FOUNDATION FIELD - The Michigan Monarchs were finally able to hold off a ninth inning rally hanging on for a 9-8 win over the Hamilton Joes at Foundation Field.
The Monarchs (3-7) snapped a three-game losing streak in which they had the lead going into the eighth inning or later only to take the loss. In two of those games, they squandered the lead in the ninth losing in the game's final at bat.
Michigan scored seven runs in the fourth inning overcoming an early 5-0 deficit. Bret Perry's (UIndy) two-run single to left field tied the score 5-5. The Monarchs took the lead 7-6 during Tyler Bruggeman's (Longwood University) second at bat of the inning resulting in an RBI-single driving home two more runs.
Emmanuel Gutierrez (Henry Ford CC) contributed with an RBI-double in the fifth and an RBI-groundout in the ninth extending the Monarchs lead to 9-5.
Getting those final three out were once again a challenge for the Michigan bullpen. Andrew Huxman (Central Christian College) found a way to close it out for the Monarchs.
The Joes (4-6) scored three runs in the ninth inning on a single by Gavin Brewer (University of Cincinnati) and a two-run double by Noah Kubasky (ULNV transfer) making it a 9-8 game.
Huxman faced having both the tying and winning runs in scoring position with just one out in the inning. Huxman beared down striking out back-out-back batters closing out the game.
The series concludes on Wednesday with a double header at Foundation Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35pm as the two team will play a pair of seven-inning games.
MUSKEGON CLIPPERS 8 XENIA SCOUTS 2 - FINAL
GRADY'S FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers opened a three-game series on the road with an 8-2 victory over the Xenia Scouts at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex.
Andrew Pohlmann (Saginaw Valley State) was fantastic on the mound for the Clippers pitching eight strong innings. Pohlmann was efficient only throwing 92 pitches giving up two runs, only one of which was earned, giving up six hits. The lefty only needed to strike out two batters earning his first victory of the season.
The Clippers (5-5) jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the first inning. Dalton Dick (Arkansas Pine Bluff) got it started with a two-run single followed by a two-run double by Nolan Laskey (Grand Valley State).
Muskegon added two more runs in the third when Cayden Nieto (Kellogg CC) drove home Caden Thelen (Grand Valley State) with an RBI base hit. Ben Meyers (Muskegon CC) then doubled chasing home Laskey making it 6-0.
That was all of the run support that Pohlmann needed as he retired the first nine batters that he faced beginning the game.
Sacrifice flies by Mayo Fernandez (Grace College) and Bo Solley (Harding University) brought home the only two Scouts runs of the night.
Xenia left fielder Jack Drew (The Masters University) continued his hot hitting with a game high three hits for the Scouts (5-5).
Muskegon lead off hitter Justin St. Antoine (Kellogg CC) scored three runs, stole two bases and chipped in with two hits for the Clippers.
The series stays in Xenia for the middle game with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm on Grady's Field at Browne Stadium.
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.
