Gonzalez bomb leads North to GLSCL All-Star Game victory

Written by Isaac Morrison (Lima Locos)

MASON, Ohio - The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League's top talent took the field Sunday as the North Division defeated the South Division, 8-5, in the 2026 GLSCL All-Star Game.

Gabe Gonzalez (Mercer University) of the Lima Locos hit a towering three-run homer over the fence in left field breaking up a 5-5 tie in bottom of the ninth inning. Gonzalez's heroics earned him the GLSCL All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.

CLICK HERE to watch postgame interview with Gabe Gonzalez

The North wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning. Lima Locos shortstop Elijah Buffaloe (Bethune-Cookman) lined a double over the third baseman's head before teammate Cameron Greene (Southeastern Louisiana University) reached on an infield hit, allowing Buffaloe to score the game's first run for an early 1-0 advantage.

The South answered in the second inning after Ryder Kirtley of the Hamilton Joes (Miami University) walked and stole second base. Consecutive walks loaded the bases before Steven Schneider (Maryville University) of the Xenia Scouts lined a two-run single up the middle. Luke Wildes (St. John's River State College) of the Grand Lake Mariners added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give the South a 3-1 lead.

The South extended its advantage in the fourth inning. Kirtley once again reached base and stole both second and third before Schneider drove him home with a sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 4-1.

The North began to chip away in the fifth when Tyler VanSumeren (Kennesaw State) of the Lima Locos singled, stole second and later scored on an RBI single by Drew Tajblik (University of Toledo) of the Flag City Sluggers, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Momentum shifted in the sixth inning as the North rallied to take its first lead since the opening frame. Gonzalez drew a walk before Emmanuel "Manny" Gutierrez (Henry Ford CC) of the Michigan Monarchs singled and Cameron Owens (University of Kentucky) of the Lima Locos loaded the bases with a base hit. Trent Smith (Owens CC) of the Flag City Sluggers worked a bases-loaded walk to trim the deficit to one before VanSumeren tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Justin St. Antoine (Kellogg CC) of the Muskegon Clippers then reached on an error, allowing Owens to score and giving the North a 5-4 lead.

The South answered immediately in the seventh. Parker Falkenstein (Wright State) of the Hamilton Joes opened the inning with a triple and later scored on a groundout by Landon Tiesing (Bellarmine University), evening the game at 5-5.

The game remained tied until the ninth inning when the North delivered the decisive blow. Isaiah Domey (Michigan University) of the Muskegon Clippers singled to begin the rally before Gonzalez launched a three-run home run putting the North back in front for good.

The South mounted one final threat in the bottom of the 10th inning. Alex Koelling (Miami University) of the Hamilton Joes singled before Zach Reeder (Sienna Heights University) and Eli Mandler (Seton Hill University) of the Southern Ohio Copperheads reached to load the bases with two outs. Michigan Monarchs pitcher Luke Stevens (Grand Valley State) escaped the jam, recording the final out to secure the North Division's 8-5 victory.

The North was led offensively by Gonzalez, whose three-run home run proved to be the difference, while Schneider finished with three RBIs for the South. The victory capped off another successful Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All-Star Game, showcasing many of the league's top performers before teams return to regular-season action for the final week of the season.

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.