GLSCL Recap - July 2

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  1  LIMA LOCOS  1  -  Monarchs win in Sudden Death

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Michigan Monarchs snapped its eight-game losing streak in dramatic fashion taking down the first place Lima Locos in sudden death.

It was the second sudden game of the series with each team taking a victory by holding the other scoreless during the 11th inning.

The game was tied 1-1 going into sudden death with the Monarchs taking the field tasked with holding Lima scoreless. 

Michigan reliever Sean Parker (Adrian College) returned to the mound for his fourth inning of work. Parker induced the leadoff man Jimmy Dionne (Purdue University) to line into a double play taking the automatic runner off the base paths. Cameron Greene (UT Martin transfer) then reached on a two-out single for the Locos giving the Locos one final chance. Tyler VanSumeren (Kennesaw State) came to the plate as a pinch hitter flying out to left field for the game's final out.

Parker pitched four shutout innings in his Monarchs debut retiring 10 straight batters before Greene's 11th inning hit while registering three strikeouts.

The Monarchs (6-16) scored a run in the first inning loading the bases against Locos starting pitcher B.C. Harrison (Chattahoochee Valley). Another newcomer Braylon Orsette (Henry Ford CC), making his season debut for the Monarchs, grounded into a fielder's choice driving home Ryan Metz (Macomb CC) from third base.

The Locos answered with a run in the third inning tying the score 1-1. Desmond Francis (Notre Dame commit) scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Elijah Buffaloe (Central Florida).

The game remained scoreless until sudden death thanks to good pitching by both teams and missed opportunities by the Monarchs offense. 

The Locos were held to just four hits on the night by three Monarchs pitchers. Emmanuel Gutierrez (Henry Ford CC) went the first five innings giving up just the one unearned run on one hit but did walk four batters. Kade Ward (Michigan-Dearborn) followed with two scoreless innings before handing things over the Parker.

The Michigan offense was able to scratch 10 hits but left a small village on the bases path stranding a league high 15 runners on the night.   

Gutierrez was a true two-way threat in the game going 3-for-5 at the plate. J.J. Fontana (CSU Pueblo) and Chance Sobbry (Central Michigan) each had two hits with a single and a double.

Despite the loss the Locos still have a commanding lead in the GLSCL North Division standings. Lima is four games ahead of the suddenly slumping Flag City Sluggers.

The Locos (17-5) will host the Southern Ohio Copperheads for the holiday weekend beginning with a double header on Friday at Simmons Field versus the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

The Monarchs look to keep the momentum hosting the Xenia Scouts on Friday at Hillsdale College.

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  12  XENIA SCOUTS  6  -  FINAL

GRADY'S FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners won its ninth straight game sweeping the Xenia Scouts with a 12-6 road victory on Grady's Field at Browne Stadium.

The Mariners not only swept the Scouts in the series but also for the season winning all six times the teams were matched up against each other. Also, the nine-game winning streak equals the GLSCL best undefeated string also held earlier in the season by the Lima Locos.

Grand Lake overcame an early four-run deficit as the Scouts came out of the gate hot. Xenia took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first when Gabe Mathison (University of Akron) hit an RBI-double and then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat on Ethan Moore (North Alabama). The Scouts then scored three unearned runs in the second inning thanks in part to a costly Mariners error that should have been the third out of the inning.

The Mariners took the lead 6-5 in the fourth inning but the Scouts answered tying the game 6-6 in the sixth. Mathison struck again with an RBI-single driving home Mack Skeels (The Masters University). 

Grand Lake took the lead blowing the game open with a five-run seventh inning. Forrest Day (Centre College) scored the go-ahead run on a bases loaded RBI-single by Luke Wildes (St. John's River State College). Brandt Kendall (Ball State University) followed with an RBI-single of his own with the bases still juiced allowing Parker Vaughn (Lansing CC) to ring the bell. C.J. Filipek (Lawrence University) put the game out of reach with a bases clearing three-run triple.

The Mariners (18-5) attempt to extend its winning streak to ten straight games when they welcome the Muskegon Clippers to town on Friday. The Scouts (8-16) look to get off the deck when its makes the trip to Hillsdale College facing the Michigan Monarchs.

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  9  HAMILTON JOES  5  -  FINAL

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Southern Ohio Copperheads avoided being swept while snapping a six-game losing streak defeating the Hamilton Joes 9-5 at Bob Wren Stadium.

Southern Ohio Copperheads designated hitter Cole Davis (Adrian College) was one of the heroes for the Cheads hitting two home runs. Davis hit a solo shot in the first inning and tied the game 4-4 with a two-run bomb in the fourth inning.

The Copperheads took the lead in the seventh inning pushing three runs across the plate. Jayden Kennedy (Russell Sage College) scored the go ahead run when Josh Caudill (Southwest Tennessee CC) reached on an error. Caudill then scored on an RBI-single by Dawson Kennedy (Waynseburg University). Konner Pittman (Shepherd University) crossed the pay station when Mason Wagner (Salem University) was issued a bases loaded walk.

Hamilton (11-10) answered with a run in the eighth on the second of two RBI-doubles on the night by A.J. Beggs (Southwest Illinois College). Beggs drove in three RBIs out of the five runs scored by the Joes.

The Copperheads tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning. Lance Morgan (High Point) tripled driving home Caudill and scored on a groundout by Pittman.

Southern Ohio (5-19) will now head on the road playing a double header against the North Division leading Lima Locos. Hamilton will also be on the road Friday taking on the Flag City Sluggers at Marathon Diamonds.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  9  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  8  -  FINAL

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers held off a late surge sweeping the three-game series over the Flag City Sluggers with a 9-8 win on Thursday at Marsh Field.

The three wins this week over Flag City gets Muskegon back in the race for the second playoff spot in the GLSCL North Division. The Clippers (13-11) are now just one game behind Sluggers (14-10) in the standings.

The Clippers broke up a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a two-run double by Dalton Dick (Arkansas Pine Bluff). Dick scored on and RBI-single by newcomer Nick Moss (Milligan College) giving Muskegon a 6-2 advantage.

The Clippers extended its lead to 9-4 when the Flag City made its move beginning with scoring three runs in the eighth inning. The Sluggers loaded the bases to start the inning with back-to-back singles by Jimmy LaForce (Salem University) and Brandon North (Bluffton University) plus a walked issued to Jovanny Skrelja (Tiffin University). LaForce scored from third base on a balk followed by a two-run single by Drew Tajblik (University of Toledo) cutting the Clippers lead to 9-8.

In the top of the ninth Draden Wardrop (Oakland University) lead off with a single, stole second base and scored when LaForce reached on an error. LaForce advances to second base on a passed ball. Both North and Gino Williams (Millersville University) were struck out by Clippers reliever Zander Wills (University of Dayton) leaving the Sluggers down to its final out.

With LaForce representing the tying run on second base and two outs Skrelja lines a single into left field. Muskegon's left fielder Zane Wilson (Saginaw Valley State) charged, fielded the ball and threw home gunning down LaForce at the plate for the game's final out. Wilson had come into the game as a late inning pinch hitter and was playing his first inning in the field when making the game saving defensive play for the Clippers.

Dick was 3-for-5 at the plate for the Clippers with a double and four RBIs. Justin St. Antione (Kellogg CC), who was returning after missing two games with an illness, and Isaiah Domey (Michigan State) each provided two hits and two runs scored.

Maddox Kipling (Michigan State) pitched three shutout innings for the Clippers out for the bullpen notching three strikeouts on the way to earning victory.

The Clippers will embark on an three-game weekend road series against the GLSCL South Division leading Grand Lake Mariners. The Sluggers return home hosting the Hamilton Joes at Marathon Diamonds.

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.