GLSCL Recap - July 3

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  @  LIMA LOCOS  -  DH

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos steam rolled the Southern Ohio Copperheads in a double header on a sweltering night at Simmons Field by scores of 23-4 and 11-4.

The three-game series schedule was adjusted to avoid weather complications forecasted for Sunday but as it turned out Friday's weather became quite an inconvenience to try and get two games in the books.

In the opener, the Locos had a 23-4 lead in the midst of an eight-run bottom of the sixth inning. The game was initially delayed because of lightning and during that time a thunderstorm barreled through the area. It was agreed upon by all parties to end the blowout game and wait it out to play the second game. The nightcap went into the late hours with first pitch pushed back to 9:35pm.

In the first game, the Locos scored early and often setting season highs in most individual and team single game categories. The 23 runs was a Locos single game high for this season just one short of the Grand Lake Mariners 24-run total from June 23rd for league high water mark. Lima's 21 hits did set a new single game high for his season but was still well short of the Hamilton Joes 31 hits for a game that happened in 2016 against the Cincinnati Steam.

The Locos (19-5) turned a modest 2-0 lead into a 12-0 advantage after a 10-run onslaught in the second inning. Lima sent 16 men to the plate benefiting from three-runs homers by both Cameron Greene (UT Martin transfer) and Tyler VanSumeren (Kennesaw State).

The Copperheads avoided being shutout thanks to a fourth inning grand slam homer off the bat of catcher Wyatt Fether (Clarion University).

VanSumeren answered with a grand slam of his own during the fateful eight-run sixth inning. Things could have been uglier as the Locos had the bases loaded when play was halted by the original lightning delay.

VanSumeren and Greene both had games for the ages at the plate for the Locos. VanSumeren went 3-for-3 with two home runs, eight RBIs, a sacrifice fly and four runs scored. It was the first time a GLSCL players drove in eight RBI since Muskegon's Noah Marcoux did it against the Jet Box Baseball Club on June 26, 2021.

Greene was overshadowed by VanSumeren's game but put up very impressive number nonetheless. Greene was 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, six RBI and three runs scored.

Grant McGuire (Winthrop University) was also somehow a footnote after going 4-for-4 with two RBI and four runs scored.

Locos starter Grant Jolly (Marshall University) only ran into trouble during the fourth inning when he loaded the bases on back-to-back singles and hitting a batter before giving up Fether's grand slam. Jolly finished with a season-high 10 strikeouts in five innings of work improving his record to 2-0 on the season.

After waiting it out the Locos were still locked in at the plate for the second game winning it 11-4. 

VanSumeren went 2-for-3 with three more runs batted in giving him an 11-RBI day. For the double header, VanSumeren finished 5-for-7 at the plate with 11 total bases.

Lima catcher Gabe Gonzalez (Mercer University) launched a solo homer in the second inning for his second of the year. 

Taylor Echols (Miami University) was the second Lima pitcher of the night recording double digit strikeouts registering 10 punch outs in his five innings of work.

Southern Ohio (5-21) used the long ball accounting for three of its four runs. Brady Kaufman (Princeton University) hit a two-run homer in the third inning. Nate Silvus (Davis & Elkins) went yard with a solo shot in the seventh but it wasn't enough to overcome the hefty deficit.

The series wraps up on Saturday with a special 6:05pm first pitch at Simmons Field. The game precedes the annual post game fireworks show taking place at nearby Farout Park where fans are invited to stick around and enjoy the show.

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  0  MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  0  -  Suspended/Top of 1st

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners and Muskegon Clippers played a grand total of three pitches before a lightning delay followed by a torrential lake effect rain storm suspended its game in the top of the first inning.

The status of game suspension, even after just three pitches, is a significant procedural distinction. That means when the game is picked up at the point of interruption its still a scheduled nine-inning game. That will take place on Saturday at 2:05pm in Celina at Montgomery Field.

The regularly scheduled game will be approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended game and will be a seven-inning affair.

HAMILTON  JOES  1  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  0 -  Suspended/Bottom of 5th

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Hamilton Joes took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning before the skies opened in Findlay suspending its game with the Flag City Sluggers.

Parker Falkenstein (Wright State) led off the game reaching on an error advancing to second on a stolen base. With one out, Owen McKoon (Louisiana Monroe) was hit by a pitch and a double steal advanced both runners into scoring position. Brady Bowen (University of Akron) hit a sacrifice fly driving home Falkenstein for what turned out to be the game's only run.

The sky started to darken in the fifth inning as fans began to gather belongings and head for shelter. By the bottom of the fifth, the storm came so quickly that the tarp couldn't even be pulled and the game was suspended. 

The game will be resumed at the point of interruption on Saturday at 5:05pm in Findlay. The regularly scheduled game will follow and be scheduled for seven innings.

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  vs.  XENIA SCOUTS  -  POSTPONED

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The start of the Michigan Monarchs versus Xenia Scouts three-game series will be pushed back another day after Friday's game was rained out and postponed.

The game will have to be made on Sunday, July 5 due to the fact the Saturday was already scheduled to be a double header. That means the Scouts will have to stay in town one extra day in an attempt to get in all three games.

The Saturday double header is scheduled to begin at 11:05pm with the Sunday game at 4:05pm. All three games will be played at Hill Stadium on the campus of Hillsdale University.

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.