GLSCL Recap - July 11

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  @  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  -  DH 

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Grand Lakes Mariners extend its winning streak to 17-games with a double header sweep on the road over the Flag City Sluggers. Grand Lake won the two games by scores of 10-2 and 4-2.

In the opener, the Mariners threw an early knockout blow scoring five times in the first inning cruising to the victory. Noah Drake (Indiana University) broke the seal driving home Brandt Kendall (Ball State University) with an RBI-single. C.J. Filipek (Lawrence University) followed with the big blow hitting a grand slam home run giving the Mariners a 5-0 advantage.

Filipek provided an RBI-single during his next at bat in the third inning giving himself a five-RBI game. Sean Krueckeberg (Ashland University) hit a three-run homer in the sixth putting the game out of reach.

The nightcap was more competitive but never in doubt as the Mariners lead the whole game continuing its torrid steak. 

Parker Vaughn (Lansing CC) doubled down the left field line driving home Solomon Harwood (University of Sciences & Arts of Oklahoma) giving Grand Lake a first inning 1-0 lead. 

In the fourth inning the Mariners scored two more runs. Maalik Perkins (Ball State) scored from third base on a safety squeeze bunt laid down by Marek Bolson (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Drake crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Perkins scored again in the seventh on another sacrifice bunt this time by Landon Tiesing (Kent State University).

The Sluggers scored a pair of runs in the seventh avoiding the shutout but failed in making it a game winning rally. Jovanny Skrelja (Tiffin University) delivered an RBI-single allowing Miles Mitchell (LSU New Orleans) to score. Aiden Booth (Huntington University) scored from third base when Cameron Spezia (Oakland University) grounded into a double play.

Mariners closer Alex Dues (Marietta College) finished off the Sluggers striking out Drew Tajblik (University of Toledo) ending the game and completing the sweep.

Cournell Bennett McCoy (Miami University-Middletown) pitched four shutout innings for his second win of the season. Bennett McCoy scattered three hits while registering a season high six strikeouts.

Grand Lake boasts the best record in the GLSCL with a mark of 26-5. The Mariners are now eight games ahead of the second place Hamilton Joes in the GLSCL South Division standings. 

Flag City's (17-16) lead over the Muskegon Clippers for the second playoff spot in the North Division has shrunk to just half a game. 

The Mariners will go for the sweep of the series when they host the Sluggers at Montgomery Field on Sunday at 4:05pm.

LIMA LOCOS  vs.  XENIA SCOUTS  -  DH

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos pitching staff proved to be dominant sweeping the Xenia Scouts in a double header by scores of 2-1 and 8-0. Three Locos pitchers combined to allow just one run and three hits over the course of 14 innings or play. Lima hurlers recorded 18 strikeouts allowing just three walks and four hit batters.

The opener was devoid of offense as the two teams combined for just four hits. The game was scoreless until the fifth when the Scouts finally crossed the pay station. Ethan Moore (North Alabama) reached leading off the inning after being hit by a pitch then advanced to second base on a groundout. Drew Snipes (Bluffton University) hit a ball to the warning track that Lima left fielder Avery Wilson (Kennesaw State) couldn't corral allowing Moore to score on the RBI-double.

The Locos answered in the bottom of the inning manufacturing a pair of runs. Cameron Owens (University of Kentucky) reached on a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Xenia  catcher Ethan Papalios (Vincennes University). With Owens at third and Braylon Cordonnier (Marshall University) at first base, Owens pulled off some alert base running at Papalios' expense. Papalios lobbed a ball back to the pitcher and Owens broke toward the plate for a successful delayed steal of home. Cordonnier stole second on the play and scored on a double down the left field line by Wilson.

That's all the Locos needed as Callaghan O'Connor (Notre Dame) pitched two shutout innings with four strikeouts earning his first save of the season. 

Lima starter Taylor Echols (Miami University) pitched the first five innings allowing the Scouts only hit of the game. Echols did give up one walk and hit three Xenia batters while recording eight strikeouts.

Xenia pitcher Trey Tipton (Cedarville University) deserved a better fate pitching all six innings for a complete game loss. Tipton struck out seven batters giving up just two runs on three hits.

In the nightcap, Grant Jolly (Marshall University) pitched a gem throwing a two-hit complete game shutout in the Locos 8-0 victory. Jolly notched six strikeouts only one walk and one hit batter.

The only real trouble Jolly got into took place first in the sixth inning. Jolly gave up a leadoff infield single and allowed a base runner after a two-out error. He got out of that jam getting Gabe Mathison (University of Akron) to ground out ending the inning. 

In the ninth Jolly allowed and lead off walk starting the inning. He struck Cole Rohlmeier (The Masters University) before Snipes reached on the second Lima error of the game. Jolly then buckled down recording back-to-back strikeouts ending the threat and the game.

Cordonnier lead the offense going 3-for-3 with an RBI-single and a two-run double. Owens had two hits including a solo home run in the third inning.

The Locos (23-8) will go for the series sweep on Sunday in Xenia. The Scouts (8-24) look to avoid being swept and snap its 14-game losing streak in the process.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  @  HAMILTON  JOES  -  DH

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers and the Hamilton split a double header as the Clippers won the first game 6-2 with the Joes taking the nightcap 8-1.

The Clippers clinched the series victory after winning Friday night's game and then taking the opening game win on Saturday. 

Muskegon took a 1-0 advantage when Ben Meyers (Aquinas College) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing home Kaden Howard (Grand Valley State) from third base.

The Clippers scored three more runs in the fourth inning without a ball leaving the infield. The bases were initially loaded leading off the inning with a hit batter, walk and infield single by Brayden Turner (Dyersburg State). Taylor Head (Chattanooga State CC) scored the first run on a bases loaded walk. Nolan Laskey (Grand Valley State) was forced home when Howard was the one hit by a pitch with the bases still juiced. Turner scored from third base when Justin St. Antione (Kellogg CC) grounded into a double play.

A.J. Park (Davenport University) pitched six innings for the Clippers improving his record on the season to 2-0. Sam Briggs (Saginaw Valley State) pitched a scoreless seventh inning closing out the win.

In the nightcap, the Joes avoided being swept in the series winning 8-3. Ryder Kirtley (Miami University) came up with the big blow hitting a bases clearing three-run double to right field in the fourth inning.

The Joes (17-13) pulled off a double steal scoring a run when Alec Halter (Wright State) took second base allowing Gavin Brewer (University of Cincinnati) to swipe home.

Muskegon (17-15) avoided the shutout with an RBI-single by Nick Moss (Milligan College) driving in Howard. Drake Roa (University of Michigan) shaved the deficit in the ninth inning with a two-run double to center field.

Dean Brown (Chattahoochee Valley) evened his record to 2-2 earning the victory after going five and 2/3 innings. Brown gave up just one run on two hits with six strikeouts.

The two teams have the rest of the weekend off before returning to action in Tuesday. The Joes head north of the Ohio border picking up a suspended game against the Michigan Monarchs before playing the regularly scheduled game on Tuesday. 

The Clippers, who are now just a half game behind the Flag City Sluggers for the second playoff spot in the GLSCL North Division, will host the Xenia Scouts on Tuesday night at Marsh Field.

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  10  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  1  -  FINAL

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Michigan Monarchs defeated the Southern Ohio Copperheads 10-1 in a what turned out to be a long awaited single game at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, Ohio.

A double header was scheduled to begin at 5:05pm with a postgame fireworks show to follow afterwards. Those plans were changed by Mother Nature as the start of the double header was rain delayed until nearly 7:30pm.

Since the twin bill was started over two hours late it was decided by GLSCL Commissioner Deron Brown, who happened to be on site for the game, it was decided to shorten the itinerary to one nine-inning game. Unfortunately, because the Monarchs travel plans couldn't be rearranged on such short notice, the second game was cancelled and will not be made up.

The decision turned out to be the right one as the two teams went on to play and three hour and 20 minute contest through a steady rain. 

The Monarchs didn't allow the long delay, the weather condition and any other uncertainty to affect its offensive performance. Michigan scored twice in the top of the first and never trailed in the game. Evan Morrison (Macomb CC) singled to left field driving home Braylon Orsette (Henry Ford CC). Morrison would eventually come around to score from third base when Trent Hartman (Notre Dame) grounded into a fielder's choice.

Michigan scored twice more in the fourth inning thanks to a two-run double by Ryan McKay (Macomb CC) allowing both Morrison and Orsette to scored making it a 4-0 lead.

Monarchs starting pitcher Luke Stevens (Grand Valley State) made the lead standup going five and 1/3 innings. Stevens recorded a season high 10 strikeouts giving up just one runs on two hits. Trey Nurenberg (Lansing CC) followed that up pitching the final three and 2/3 not allowing a hit or a run. Nurenberg struck out four batters allowing just two walks.

Morrison finished the night 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored. 

Cole Davis (Adrian College) provided the Copperheads with its only run on a single to right field in the sixth inning driving home Zach Reeder (Sienna Heights University).

The Monarchs (11-19) return to its home state of Michigan hosting the Hamilton Joes on Tuesday at Grosse Isle High School. The teams will pick up a suspended game from last month starting at 5:05pm. The regularly schedule game takes place 30 minutes of the concussion of the resumpted game. 

The Copperheads (6-26) will travel to Findlay on Tuesday taking on the Flag City Sluggers 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 eight active franchises in Ohio and Michigan boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.