GLSCL Recap - July 15

LIMA LOCOS  10  GRAND LAKE MARINERS  8  -  FINAL

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos move into to tie for the overall number one playoff seed with a 10-8 victory over the Grand Lake Mariners on Wednesday at Simmons Field. 

The win not only clinches the Locos a victory in the four-game series but it also evens the respectively division leaders overall records on the season at 27-8.

Lima had to hold off a scare in the ninth inning when Grand Lake scored three runs and had the tying run on third base and the go ahead run at the plate.

The Mariners jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Huston Dunn (Ball State University) broke the seal with a two-run double driving home both Landon Tiesing (Bellarmine University) and Brandt Kendall (Ball State University). Forrest Day (Centre College) doubled up the advantage with a two-run single to left field bringing home Dunn and C.J. Filipek (Lawrence University).

The Locos chipped away at the deficit eventually taking the lead by scoring five runs in the fifth inning. Lima took the lead 7-5 thanks to a three run homer off the bat of third basemen Braylon Cordonnier (Marshall University).

Gabe Gonzalez (Mercer University) delivered a two-run single in the eighth giving the Locos what looked like a comfortable 10-5 advantage. As it turned out those two runs were very important insurance runs as they turned out to be the difference in the game.

In the top of the ninth inning, Locos reliever Montgomery O'Brien (Notre Dame) started his third inning of work running into some big time trouble. After throwing two scoreless innings only giving up one hit, O'Brien suddenly lost his command of the strike zone. 

Noah Drake (Indiana University) lead off the inning with an infield base hit coming around to score after three consecutive walks were issued by O'Brien. Locos head coach Chad Ehrnsberger turned to his centerfielder Cameron Owens (University of Kentucky) coming into pitch and stop the bleeding.

Owens issued a bases loaded walk to the first batter he faced allowing Marek Bolson (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) to be forced home from third base. Owens then induced a ground ball double play that did score a run but trading that run for two outs was a worthwhile transaction.

With two outs, the tying run at third base and the potential go ahead run at the plate, Owens put an end to the late inning drama. Dunn flew out to right field ending the threat and securing the win for the Locos.

Owens had quite the night earning his first save of the season while going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, two RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases.

On Thursday, the series returns to Montgomery Field where the Locos look to sweep the four-game series and the six-game season set when first pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  11  XENIA SOCUTS  2  -  FINAL

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers move into sole possession of second place in the GLSCL North Division standings with an 11-2 victory over the Xenia Scouts.

The Clippers (19-16) leap frogged the Flag City Sluggers (18-17) as the two teams are battling for the second and final playoff spot that comes out of the North Division.

Andrew Pohlmann (Saginaw Valley State) earned the victory on the mound for the Clippers scattering six hits in five innings. Pohlmann struck out five batters while only giving up one walk and one run. Sam Briggs (Saginaw Valley State) pitched the final three innings for his first save of the season. Briggs notched seven strikeouts while not allowing a run but did issue one hit and five walks.

Isaiah Domey (Michigan State) delivered the power for the Clippers launching two home runs on Clippers Clobber Cancer Night. Domey hit a pair of two-run "Clipper Clobbers" as they are known at historic Marsh Field.

Nick Moss (Milligan College) also had four RBIs on the night including three on a bases clearing single to center field in the fourth inning.

Owen Roether (Southwest Tennessee CC) was 2-for-4 for the Scouts including an RBI-double in the top of the first inning. Ethan Papalios (Vincennes University) was responsible for the other Xenia run with and RBI-single driving home Cole Rohlmeier (The Masters University) in the sixth inning.

The series wraps up at Marsh Field with an early 5:05pm first pitch. The Clippers go for the sweep while the Scouts (8-27) look to snap its 17-game losing streak.

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  9  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  8  -  FINAL

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Southern Ohio Copperheads played the role of spoiler holding off a ninth inning rally to defeat the Flag City Sluggers 9-8 at Bob Wren Stadium.

The Sluggers (18-17) fell into third place in the GLSCL North Division standings with the loss combined with Muskegon's win over Xenia.

The lead was traded back-and-forth twice when the Copperheads scored three runs in the seventh inning taking a 7-5 advantage.

Zach Reeder (Siena Heights University) led off the inning with a double advancing to third base when Brady Kaufmann (Princeton University) reached on an infield single. Cole Davis (Adrian College) grounded out with runners on the corners driving in Reeder tying the game 5-5. The Cheads took the lead 6-5 when Kaufmann scored after Jayden Kennedy (Russell Sage College) reached on an error. Matthew Bright (Southwest Tennessee CC) delivered an RBI-single to right field driving home Kennedy giving Southern Ohio a 7-5 lead.

Davis provided a pair of much needed insurance runs with a two-run single to center field in the eighth inning making the score 9-5 in favor of the Copperheads.

Trent Smith (Owens CC) triggered a rally for the Sluggers in the ninth inning. Smith hit an RBI-single driving in Drew Tajblik (University of Toledo). Smith advanced to second base and then third on back-to-back wild pitches that went behind the back of the batter Mickey Anderson (Montgomery College). Anderson reached on a walk before he advanced to second and Smith scored on yet another wild pitch. 

All of this damage happened with nobody out and the Copperheads now clinging to a slim 9-8 lead. Southern Ohio reliever Jack Bracken (Seton Hill University) suddenly found his control recording three straight outs. Bracken recorded a pair of strikeouts sandwiched around a pop out to shallow left field stranding the tying run in scoring position.

The Copperheads (7-27) had plenty of heroes to choose form starting with Kaufmann who went 3-for-4 including a solo homer in the first inning. Eli Mandler (Seton Hill University) also had three hits and Davis contributed three RBI.

Smith had a great night in a losing effort for the Sluggers going 3-for-5 with a triple, four RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base.

The series returns to Findlay for the rubber game at Marathon Diamonds with first pitch set for 6:05pm.

HAMILTON JOES  @  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  -  DH

SOUTHGATE ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL - The Hamilton Joes and Michigan Monarchs split a double header on Wednesday at Southgate Anderson High School with Joes winning the opener 4-0 and Monarchs taking the nightcap 5-4.

Dale Ellis (Miami University-Hamilton) pitched a seven-innings complete game shutout in the first game for the Joes. Ellis scattered six hits while registering five strikeouts and walking two batters.

Hamilton newcomer Nate Colyer (Ohio Wesleyan) lead off the game reaching on a walk. Colyer eventually scored from third base on a wild pitch scoring the game's first run. 

The Joes posted three more runs in the fourth inning starting with a two-run single by Brady Bowen (Ball State University) driving in Gavin Brewer (University of Cincinnati) and Preston Zumwalt (University of Toledo). The Joes tacked on an additional run in the inning during a double steal that saw Colyer swipe home plate. 

The Monarchs were about to be shutout again in the second game before an unlikely five-run bottom of the sixth inning flipped the script on the Joes.

Hamilton stater Eli Wagner (North Greenville) was cruising along until the sixth inning while enjoying a 4-0 lead. Wagner struck out seven batters while scattering five hits that were all left on base. Things changed in the sixth when Wagner issued his first walk of the game after recording the first out of the inning.

Back-to-back singles by Casey Robertson (Henry Ford CC) and J.T. Thomas (Saginaw Valley State) loaded the bases with still only one out. Chance Sobbry (Central Michigan) scored the Monarchs first run on a wild pitch. Ryan McKay (Macomb CC) was walked to reload the bases. Maddux Bach (UIndy) singled driving home Robertson spelling the end of the day for Wagner.

Trayce Mercer (Drury University) came in out of Hamilton bullpen making his Joes debut. Mercer proceeded to uncork a pair of wild pitches allowing Michigan to tie the score 4-4. The Monarchs scored the go ahead run when Bach crossed the plate on a passed ball.

Michigan's Oscar Pace (Wayne State University) was handed the ball for his third inning of work pressed with closing out the game in the seventh inning. Despite getting into trouble, Pace finished off the Joes earning his first victory of the season.

The two teams still have unfinished business to settle on Thursday as they will be picking up a suspended game from Tuesday at the point of its interruption. The Monarchs (13-20) will have a 7-4 lead over the Joes (19-15) in the fifth inning when play resumes at 3:35pm.

The regularly scheduled game will wrap up the series at Southgate Anderson High School on Thursday at approximately 5:35pm.

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.