GLSCL Recap - June 28

LIMA LOCOS  6  MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  5 -  FINAL/Sudden Death

MARSH FIELD - The Lima Locos took a standing eight count before bouncing back beating the Muskegon Clippers in sudden 6-5 on Sunday at Marsh Field.

The win for Lima clinched the series victory as the Locos finished the first half of the regular season leading the North Division standings with the best record (15-4) in the GLSCL.

The Clippers (10-11) scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning taking a 5-4 advantage. Muskegon right fielder Justin St. Antione (Kellogg CC), who had the game winning hit for the Clippers on Friday night, blasted an opposite field three-run homer for the lead.

Muskegon were just two outs away from taking the series deciding game when mistakes doomed them in the top of the ninth inning. 

Desmond Francis (Notre Dame commit) reached on a two base error and then advanced to third base on a passed bal. Clippers cather Johnnie Gifford (Paris Junior College) appeared to be crossed up on the pitch but nonetheless the speedy Francis was now at third base representing the tying run. Jimmy Dionne (Purdue University) then grounded to shortstop with Francis running for home on contact. The throw to the plate was slightly up the first base line allowing Francis to slide under the tag at home tying the game 5-5.

The Clippers got out of the ninth with any further damage and couldn't response with a run in the bottom of the inning sending it to extras innings.

Both teams failed to score in tenth inning sending the game to the sudden death 11th inning. Muskegon won the coin flip deciding to take the field in an effort to hold the Locos scoreless.

Avery Wilson (Kennesaw State), the automatic runner at first base, advanced into scoring position at second base when Francis reached on an infield single. Grant McGuire (Winthrop University) became the hero smoking a ball on a line drive to the left field corner allowing Wilson to easily score the winning run.

Parker Datsou (Mercer University) went 3-for-5 with a double for the Locos. Muskegon's Isaiah Domey (Michigan State) also had three hits including a solo homer run.

The the league-wide off day on Monday the Locos return to the state of Michigan taking on the Monarchs Tuesday at Southgate High School. The Clippers stay home welcoming the Flag City Sluggers to Marsh Field.

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  4  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  3  -  FINAL/10 Innings   

STELLER FIELD - The Flag City Sluggers won a thriller on Sunday night in Bowling Green sweeping the series against the Michigan Monarch with 4-3 victory in ten inning.

The contest was actually the Monarchs home game after the team ran into scheduling conflicts. However, the location of Steller Field on the campus of Bowling Green State University is much closer in location to the Sluggers home of Findlay, Ohio.

Flag City (14-7) broke up a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning when the Monarchs walked the bases loaded allowing Brett Reed (Madonna University) scoring on an costly error by the Michigan first basemen. 

The Monarchs (5-14) answered with a run tying the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ryan Metz (Mott Community College) singled to center field, advancing to second on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit by Maddux Bach (UIndy).

The Sluggers took the lead when Miles Mitchell (New Orleans commit) drove home Atticus Huffstutler (University of Toledo) from third base on a sacrifice fly.

The Monarchs rallied in the bottom of the tenth loading the bases with one out. Sluggers pitcher Braylon Sheefel (IU South Bend) beared down getting Metz to first fly out and followed by striking out Bach on a 3-2 count ending the Michigan threat.  

Sheefel earned his first save of the season with Aidan Murphy (Warner University) being awarded his fourth victory of the season.

The Sluggers finished the first half winning 11 out of 13 games and are currently two and a half games behind the Locos in the North Division standings. The Monarchs on the other hand dropped its sixth straight game looking up from the bottom of the North Division cellar.

The Sluggers head to Muskegon on Tuesday taking on the Clippers while the Monarchs host the Lima Locos at Southgate High School in Southgate, Michigan.

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  12  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  2  -  FINAL/7 Innings  

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners continues its torrid pace extending its win streak to six games with a 12-2 mercy rule victory over the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

The Mariners finishes the first half of the season with its second consecutive series sweep and 15-5 record leading the GLSCL South Division by six full games over the Hamilton Joes.

Grand Lake broke the game wide open scoring seven runs in the seventh inning putting a premature end to the day's festivities.

Luke Wildes (St. John's River State College) went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer run and four RBIs for the Mariners. Huston Dunn (Ball State University) had three hits and Marek Bolson, who recently announced his commitment to play for the Horizon League champion Milwaukee Panthers, contributed a double and three RBI.

Bryce Eggleton (West Virginia State) threw four shutout innings out the bullpen giving up only one hit while striking out six batters for his first victory of the season.

The Copperheads (4-17) dropped its fourth straight game despite two hits each by Konner Pittman (Frostburg State) and Cole Davis (Adrian College).

On Tuesday the Mariners go on the road taking on the Xenia Scouts while the Copperheads host the Hamilton Joes at Bob Wren Stadium.

HAMILTON JOES  14  XENIA SCOUTS  1  -  FINAL/7 Innings

GRADY'S FIELD - The Hamilton Joes won its fourth straight game sweeping the weekend series against the Xenia Scouts with a 14-1 victory in seven innings on Grady's Field at Browne Stadium.

Hamilton Joes starter Dale Ellis (Miami University-Hamilton) was the story in this game taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Ellis only surrendered one unearned run on two hits all of which happened in his final inning of work. Ellis only allowed two base runners, both of them were hit batters, through the first six innings improving his record to 2-0 on the season.

The Joes (9-9) scored eight runs in the top of the seven inning putting the game in mercy rule territory with a 14-0 advantage.

Ellis gave up a lead off double to Steven Schneider (Maryville University) scoring when Cayden Calloway (Grace College) reached on error. Trey Tipton (Cedarville University) singled for the only other Scouts hit before Ellis recorded the game's final out of the game. Ellis was efficient pitching to contact with just two strikeouts and allowing zero walks.

Brady Bowen (University of Akron) lead Hamilton's 14-hit attack going 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Alex Koelling (Miami University) scored three runs and Owen McKoon (Louisiana Monroe) had two hits including his second home run of the season.

The Joes recent hot streak has allowed them to pass the Scouts (8-13) for second place in the South Division standings.

Both teams begin new three-game series on Tuesday.  The Joes head east to face the Southern Ohio Copperheads in Athens while he Scouts host the first place Grand Lake Mariners. 

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.