GLSCL Recap - July 7

HAMILTON  JOES  @  LIMA LOCOS  -  DH

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos salvaged a split as the Hamilton Joes committed a costly error allowing the Locos to win the nightcap 4-3 after dropping the opener to the Joes 1-0.

The Locos (21-6) were down to its final out trailing 3-0 when Hamilton snatched a loss out of the jaws of victory. With two outs in the seventh and final inning and a runner at first base, Locos shortstop Elijah Buffaloe (Central Florida) worked an 11-pitch at bat staying alive with four straight foul balls. Buffaloe hit a routine ground ball that should have been the final out of the game but the ball was booted by the Hamilton shortstop. This allowed Buffaloe to reach and Nick Fumich (Gardner Webb) to advance to third base.   

Hamilton starter Eli Wagner (North Greenville), who had pitched a gem to this point was lifted due to a high pitch count. Nik Copenhaver (Ohio State University), making his season debut, proceeded to allowed an RBI-double to Jimmy Dionne (Purdue University). Grant McGuire (Winthrop University) was up next delivering a two-run single tying the game 3-3. McGuire then scored the winning run with a head first slide into home plate after a single by Cameron Greene (Southeastern Louisiana University).

Wagner was robbed of a victory striking out 11 batters and only giving up two unearned runs in six and 2/3 innings or work. The left hander from Crestview Hills, Kentucky was credited with 118 pitches scattering five hits and two walks.

The Joes took the opener thanks to three-hit shutout thrown by Dale Ellis (Miami-Hamilton). Ellis needed just 83 pitches to dispose of the Locos. He was efficient needing just four strikeouts and facing only three batters above the minimum. Ellis, a second year player for the Joes, improved his record to 3-0 on the season.

Ellis was opposed by Wyatt Dion (Central Florida) and he was good enough for the Locos to deserve a better fate. Dion only gave up one run off five hits but did allowed three walks to go with his four strikeouts.

Hamilton (15-11) scored the only run of the game in the second inning when Alex Koelling (Miami University) scored from third base when his future college teammate Ryder Kirtley grounded into a double play.

The two teams will play another double header on Wednesday in Hamilton with first pitch at Foundation Field scheduled for 5:05pm.

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  @  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  -  DH

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Grand Lakes Mariners sweep the Michigan Monarchs in convincing fashion winning by scores of 10-0 and 12-2 in a double header on Tuesday at Hillsdale College.

The two wins allow the Mariners (23-5) to extend its winning streak to 14 games which is the longest in the GLSCL in five years. The Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers won 14 straight games back in 2021.

The Mariners took the first game easily winning 10-0. Three Grand Lake pitchers combined to shut out the Monarchs on just four hits. Landon Nichols (Florence Darlington) went the first four innings earning his first win of the season. Elias Alvarado (St. John's River State College) pitched a scoreless fifth inning and Bryce Eggleton (West Virginia State) closed it out allowing just one hit in the final two innings.

Huston Dunn (Ball State University) led the way offensively going 2-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly. Forrest Day (Centre College) also had a single and a double with Maalik Perkins (Ball State University) chipping with a double and two runs scored. 

In the nightcap, Grand Lake broke it open in the sixth inning after trailing 2-1. The Mariners scored 10 runs on just three hits while sending 15 batters to the plate.

Grand Lake only needed five hits thanks to the Monarchs pitching staff allowing 13 walks. Jack Murphy (Kalamazoo College) actually pitched well in the first five innings but the same can't be said after he left the game. Murphy struck out eight batters allowing four walks, one run and two hits.

Alex Dues (Marietta College) pitched the final two and 2/3 innings earning his fifth win of the season. Dues held the Monarchs scoreless giving up just two hits and two walks.

After the sweep the Monarchs (9-18) saw it four-game winning snapped at the hands of the Mariners.

The series wraps up on Wednesday with the Mariners going for the sweep and its 15 consecutive victory. First pitch at Montgomery Field in Celina is set for 6:35pm.

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  9  XENIA SCOUTS  7  -  FINAL

GRADY'S FIELD - The Flag City Sluggers held off a late push by the Xenia Scouts hanging on to win 9-7 on Grady's Field at Browne Stadium.

Flag City (14-13) jumped out to a 9-1 lead and looked to be in full control of the game. The Sluggers scored six runs in the third inning fueled by a three-run homer off the bat of Cameron Spezia (Oakland University).  

The Scouts answered scoring four runs in the fifth inning. Mayo Fernandez (Northern Kentucky University) hit a two-run double followed by and an RBI-single by Ethan Papalios (Vincennes University) were the two big hits during the rally. Papalios finished with a game-high three hits going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Xenia scored two more runs in the eighth inning. Gabe Mathison (University of Akron) scored on a base hit by Zachary Pearrow (UT Dallas commit) and Owen Roether (Southwest Tennessee CC) drove in Cole Rohlmeier (The Masters University) with a run scoring single. The Scouts left a lot still on the table stranding the bases loaded with the potential go ahead run at the plate to end the inning. 

Max Dunaway (Florida Southern), who struggled in the eighth inning, had a much better ninth setting down the Scouts securing the victory.

The win for Flag City allows them to keep the pace for the second playoff spot out of the GLSCL North Division. The Sluggers remain one game ahead of the Muskegon Clippers for second place in division standings.

The middle game of the series takes place on Wednesday as the two teams return to the Xenia Athletes in Action Sports Complex for a 7:05pm first pitch.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  14  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  4  -  FINAL/7 Innings 

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers kept its playoff hopes alive with a 14-4 mercy rule victory at home over the Southern Ohio Copperheads. 

The Copperheads (5-23) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after scoring two runs in each of the first and second innings. 

In the first inning, Zach Reeder (Sienna Heights University) doubled home Eli Mandler (Seton Hill University) and scored when Brady Kaufmann (Princeton University) reached on an error. Mandler doubled to center field in the second inning driving home Easton Nuzum (Muskingum University) then scored himself on an RBI-single by Kaufmann.

The Clippers responded scoring seven runs on just two hits in the bottom of the second inning putting the Cheads in its rearview mirror. Muskegon would go on to score 14 unanswered runs evening its record on the season to 14-14.

Nick Moss (Milligan College) scored from third base on an RBI-single by Nolan Lasky (Grand Valley State) in the bottom of the seventh inning sending everyone home early from Marsh Field. 

Ben Meyers (Muskegon CC) had a big night at the plate for Muskegon. Meyers was 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a two-run single and a bases loaded walk scoring three runs in the for the Clippers.

Taylor Head (Freed Hardeman) scored three runs and stole four bases out of the Muskegon lead off spot. Head's four stolen bases tied two other players in the GLSCL for the most in a game this season. 

The Clippers remain in third place in the the GLSCL North Division standings. Muskegon is just one game behind the second place Flag City Sluggers for the division's second playoff spot.

The two teams wrap up the series with a double header on Wednesday with first pitch at Marsh Field scheduled to take place at 4:05pm.

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.