GLSCL Recap - July 5

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  4  MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  2  -  FINAL

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners continue one of the hottest streaks in recent GLSSCL memory finishing the week 6-0 with a 4-2 win over the Muskegon Clippers.

The victory gives the Mariners (21-5) its second series sweep of the week and its 12th straight win.

The Clippers (13-14), who are battling for the second playoff spot out of the North Division, got off to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Dalton Dick (Arkansas Pine Bluff) pulled a single to the right center field gap driving in both Kaden Howard (Grand Valley State) and Isaiah Domey (Michigan State).

Grand Lake answered in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Mariners struck first when Brandt Kendall (Ball State University) scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Landon Tiesing (Kent State University). With runners on first and second base, the Mariners went for a double steal. The catcher's throw got past the third basemen allowing Maalik Perkins (Ball State University) to score on the throwing error. Grand Lake scored the go ahead run when Noah Drake crossed the plate on an RBI-single by Huston Dunn (Ball State University). 

Dunn finished 3-for-3 at the plate accounting for half of the Grand Lake's six hits in the game.

The Mariners pitching staff made that 3-2 lead stand up Christian Douglass (Lansing CC) pitched three shutout innings out for the bullpen improving his record to 2-1 on the season. Alex Dues (Marietta Express) pitched the final two innings earning his league leading fifth save of the year.

Grand Lake tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning when Matthew Hutchinson (Yale University) singled up the middle driving in Parker Vaughn. 

The Mariners end the week with a six-game lead over the Hamilton Joes in the GLSCL South Division standings. Despite being swept the Clippers are just one game behind the Flag City Sluggers for the second playoff spot in the North Division.

Grand Lake goes on the road playing a double header on Tuesday against the Michigan Monarchs at Hillsdale College. The Clippers return home hosting the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

HAMILTON  JOES  9  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  8  -  FINAL

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Hamilton Joes overcame a late 8-4 deficit walking it off on the Flag City Sluggers with a 9-8 victory on Sunday at Foundation Field.

In the sixth inning, Noah Wagster (Earlham College) lead off with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout. Wagster crossed the pay station on an RBI-groundout by Brady Bowen (University of Akron).

The Joes scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh tying the game 8-8. The Joes pulled off a double steal with Alex Koelling (Miami University) scoring on a throwing error. A.J. Beggs (Southwest Illinois College) scored from third base on an RBI-infield single by Ryder Kirtley (Miami University). The game was tied when Bowen was issued a bases loaded walk forcing home Kirtley.

The stage was set for Owen McKoon (Louisiana Monroe) to be the hero when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. McKoon slapped a single to left field allowing pinch runner Gavin Brewer (University of Cincinnati) to easily score the winning run from third base.

McKoon led the Joes offense going 3-for-5 at the plate. Hamilton stole 12 bases as a team with Beggs and Kirtely each swiping bags.

Despite being swept in the series and for the week, the Sluggers (14-13) didn't lose any ground in the North Division standings race over the weekend. With Muskegon suffering the same fate at the hands of Grand Lake this weekend, the two teams remain just one game apart for second place in the division.

The Joes (13-10) was able to gain ground on the first place Mariners but hold its spot while also creating more separation from the third place Xenia Scouts.

Hamilton will play back-to-back double headers on Tuesday and Wednesday against the North Division leading Lima Locos. Flag City begins a three-game series on Tuesday facing against the Xenia Scouts at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex. 

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  6  XENIA SCOUTS  4  -  FINAL

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Michigan Monarchs won its fourth straight game wrapping up a series sweep over the Xenia Scouts with a 6-4 victory at Hillsdale College.

The Scouts, who have struggled mightily of late, tied the game 4-4 scoring three runs in the seventh inning. Cayden Calloway (Grace College) doubled leading off the inning and scored on an RBI-single by Drew Snipes (Bluffton University). Next up was Steven Schneider (Maryville University) who was hit by a pitch advancing Snipes to second base. On a double steal attempt, the throw went into left field allowed Snipes to score and with Schneider moving up to third base. Schneider scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

Schneider had quite a day especially on the base paths. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with four stolen bases. Schneider's four steals equals Grand Lake's Matthew Aldridge for most in a game this season by any GLSCL player.

Ryan McKay (Macomb CC) had a big day for the Monarchs coming up huge in the late innings during his a 2-for-4 performance. McKay broke up the 4-4 tie doubling down the line in the seventh inning driving in Trent Hartman (Notre Dame). In the eighth inning, McKay's RBI-single chased home Chance Sobbry (Central Michigan) making it a 6-4 Michigan advantage.  

Monarchs reliever Gavin Moczydlowsky (Central Michigan) pitched three shutout innings closing out the Scouts for his first victory of the season. Moczydlowsky recorded two strikeouts while scattering three hits and not allowing a walk.

The Monarchs (9-16) take its momentum into next week hosting the hottest team in the GLSCL the Grand Lake Mariners in a double header at Hillsdale College. The Scout (8-19) look to snap its nine-game losing streak when they host the Flag City Sluggers on Tuesday 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.