GLSCL Recap - June 18

LIMA LOCOS  vs.  GRAND LAKE MARINERS

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos put a halt to the hot start of the upstart Grand Lake Mariners with a double header sweep at Simmons Field winning by scores of 7-4 and 5-1.

The Locos now own the GLSCL's best record at 9-2 sitting atop of the North Division standings. The Mariners at 8-3 still set the pace in the South Division after winning eight of its first nine games to begin the season.

The first game on Thursday was the resumption of a suspended game from Tuesday night. Grand Lake lead 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning at the point of interruption.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Locos got on the board after Elijah Buffaloe (Central Florida) reached on a leadoff single coming around to score on double down the right field line by Jimmy Dionne (Purdue University). 

The two teams traded single runs in the fifth inning. Grand Lake's Holden Murcer (Gardner Webb) scored on an RBI-single by C.J. Filipek (Lawrence University). Lima answered when Cameron Owens (University of Kentucky) reached on an infield single, stole both second and third base, scoring on a fielder's choice off the bat of Tyler VanSumeren (Kennesaw State).

The Locos tied the game 3-3 in the sixth when Owens struck again. This time the Lima right fielder drove in the run with an RBI-single plating Grant McGuire (Winthrop University).

The Mariners took the lead back briefly in the seventh when GLSCL and NACSB Player of the Week Matt Aldridge (Pitt Community College) launched a sacrifice fly sending home Huston Dunn (Ball State University).

The Locos scored four runs in the eighth taking the lead 5-4 on a two-run single by Braylon Cordonnier (Marshall University). Lima tacked on a pair of add-on run when VanSumeren delivered base hit driving in two RBIs.

Drew Ferguson (Louisiana Tech), who came in to pitch when the game was resumed retired the Mariners in order in the ninth slamming the door. Ferguson earned his first victory going and five and 1/3 innings giving up two runs on hits while striking out six batters and not allowing a walk.

In the night cap, two Locos pitchers scattered five hits on its way to the 5-1 victory.

B.C. Harrison (Chattahoochee Valley) got the win going five innings while striking out six batters. Konnor Quinn (Southern Indiana) was dominate at times out of the bullpen in his two innings of work. Quinn allowed three walks but struck out all six batters that he retired closing out the game.

Dionne led the Locos offensive attack going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBIs. Buffaloe contributed with three hits and Nick Fumich (Gardner Webb) scored two runs.

Grand Lake centerfielder Maalik Perkins (Ball State) accounted for two out of the five Mariners hits during the game.

Both teams play at home on Friday night each beginning a new three-game series. The Locos welcome the Xenia Scouts to town while the Mariners play host to the Flag City Sluggers. 

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  @  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Flag City Sluggers earned a pair a road wins sweeping the Southern Ohio Copperheads by scores or 1-0 and 18-3 on Thursday at Bob Wren Stadium.

The opening game was a high intensity pitcher's dual that saw tempers flare with the pitchers being dominate for both teams. Each team had a player ejected arguing balls and strikes after being rung up a strike three calls.

Flag City scored the game's only run in the top of the first inning. Tim Leark (Maryville University) led off the game with a single and later advanced to third base on a two-base error during a pickoff attempt. Leark scored on a sacrifice fly by Mickey Anderson (Montgomery College).

That was all the Sluggers needed to work with as two Flag City pitchers combined for a one-hit shutout.

Dominic Elia (Tiffin University) pitched well going the first five and 1/3 innings for Flag City. He only gave up second inning single until running into trouble in the sixth inning. Elia, who walked just three batters on the night, issued a pair free passes in the sixth. Not risking any further damage, Sluggers head coach Ben Babcock went to his bullpen bringing in his closer.

Aidan Murphy (Warner University) came in with runners on first and second base. Murphy struck out Cole Davis (Adrian College) and induced Brady Kaufman (Princeton University) into a groundout getting out for the jam without any further damage. Murphy came back out for the seventh setting down the Copperheads in order recording the final five outs of the game earning his GLSCL-high fourth save of the season.

The nightcap was a complete beatdown by the Sluggers has they scored and GLSCL single game high of 18 runs. 

Atticus Huffstutler (University of Akron) was the star of the show going 5-for-6 at the plate for Flag City with a double and six RBIs. The five hits and six RBIs set a single game highs in the league for this season.

Gino Williams (Millersville University) also had a day going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Both teams go on the road Friday each beginning a new three-game series. Flag City (7-5) travels to Celina taking on the the Grand Lake Mariners at Montgomery Field. Southern Ohio (2-10) crosses the border into the state up north taking on the Michigan Monarchs at Hillsdale College.

XENIA SCOUTS  vs.  MUSKEGON CLIPPERS 

GRADY'S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts secured a series victory with a double header sweep over the Muskegon Clippers winning 12-6 in the opener and in the nightcap  winning 5-4 in sudden death.

The opening game really wasn't as close as the final score would indicate as the Clippers rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

Xenia starting pitcher Trey Tipton (Cedarville University) was great on mound until tiring and falling into trouble during the final inning. Scouts head coach Dr. John Groth allowed Tipton the opportunity finish off the complete game attempt but it wasn't meant to be on this day.

The Scouts lead 12-1 after scoring four runs in the second inning and seven more in the third inning. Bo Solley (Harding University) lead the way at the plate for Xenia going 3-for-3 with a double, five RBIs and reaching base two others times via the base-on-balls. 

Tipton allowed just one run on five hits during the first six innings but the Clippers came alive in the seventh. Muskegon scored five runs on three hits cutting the deficit to 12-6.

Caleb Shreve (Hiram College) came into he game out of the bullpen finally securing the last out striking out Muskegon's Jonnie Gifford (Paris Junior College).

The night cap was 4-4 after the extra (eighth) inning of play forcing sudden death tiebreaker. The Scouts won the coin flip and elected to go one offense needing to score a run for the victory.

As per the GLSCL sudden death rules, the automatic runner is placed on first base. Disaster struck when the free runner was picked off giving away an out before the Clippers had even thrown a pitch. 

The Scouts regrouped as leadoff hitter Cole Rohlmeier (The Masters University) walked and his college teammate Jack Drew singled to left field. The runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch forcing the Clippers to load the bases with an intentional walk to Ethan Moore (North Alabama). With Gavin Kent (Southern Wesleyan University) at the plate, Clippers reliever Jack Perry (University of Michigan) uncorked a wild pitch allowing Rohlmeier to scamper home with the winning run.

Muskegon reliever A.J. Park (Davenport University) did his part for the Clippers and deserved a better fate. Park pitched five shutout innings out of the bullpen striking out 11 Xenia batters. He lasted through the end of the eighth inning throwing 62 pitches before being taken out of the game.

The Scouts (7-5) embark to Simmons Field on Friday starting a three-game series versus the first place Lima Locos. The Clippers (5-7) return home to the friendly confines of Marsh Field hosting the Hamilton Joes. 

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.