GLSCL Recap - July 23

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  10  HAMILTON JOES  4  -  FINAL

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners claimed a historic victory on Tuesday at Montgomery Field with a 10-4 win over the Hamilton Joes.

The Mariners victory sets a new franchise record for wins in a regular season with 32. The previous best record came in 1994 when the team went 31-9 on the way to winning its first of three GLSCL championships.

The win also gives Grand Lake a two-game lead over the Lima Locos for the No. 1 overall seed in next week's GLSCL playoffs. Both teams have just two more regular season games as they both fight for the top spot. Lima does own the tie breaker with a 5-1 record during the season series over the Mariners.

Grand Lake designated hitter Matthew Hutchinson (Yale University) broke up a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run single. That was part off a big night for Hutchinson who went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and three RBI.

The Mariners added three more runs in the fifth inning extending the advantage to 5-0. Solomon Harwood (University of Sciences & Arts of Oklahoma) hit a two-run homer followed by Landon Tiesing (Bellarmine University) scoring on an RBI-single by C.J. Filipek (Lawrence University).

The Joes (20-18) answered with three runs in the sixth inning shaving the deficit to 5-3. Hamilton crossed the pay station first when Brady Bowen (Ball State University) was forced home from third base after Noah Kubasky (Ball State University) was issued a bases loaded walk. Preston Zumwalt (University of Toledo) doubled to center field driving home both Gavin Brewer (University of Cincinnati) and Owen McKoon (Bowling Green State University).

Hutchinson drove in another run for the Mariners in the sixth sending home Forrest Day (Centre College) with a sacrifice fly. Grand Lake put it out of reach in the seventh putting a three-spot on the scoreboard. Filipek contributed his second RBI-single of the night. Brandt Kendall (Ball State University) tagged up and scored from third base on a sac fly by Huston Dunn (Ball State University). Hutchinson capped the scoring in the inning doubling for the second time driving in Filipek.

The Grand Lake pitching staff used a group effort holding off the Joes offense. Five Mariners pitchers combined including Kaden Plank (Indiana Tech) pitching three shutout innings out of the bullpen earning the victory. Alex Dues, who recently announced his transfer to Ball State University, pitched the final two innings securing the historic victory.

The Mariners next potential accomplishment is to tie the GLSCL record for most wins on the season (33) with a victory on Friday. The series will shift to Foundation Field for the middle game of the series with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  12  LIMA LOCOS  2  -  FINAL/7 Innings

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Flag City Sluggers made a statement coming out of the all-star break with a commanding 12-2 run-rule victory over the North Division champion Lima Locos.

The Sluggers (20-19), who have limped down the stretch, are battling the Muskegon Clippers for the second and final playoff spot coming out of the North Division.

Flag City seemed refreshed coming out of the break playing in front of a sell out crowd. The Sluggers never trailed finishing off the Locos after an eight-run outburst in the fifth inning. 

Braden Sprague (Central Oklahoma) led the way at the plate for Flag City with three hits. Atticus Huffstuttler (University of Akron) drove in a game-high three RBI. Four other Sluggers batters had two hits each combining for 13 on the night.

Tate Martino (West Virginia Tech) got the start for Flag City going six innings improving his record on the season to 4-0. Martino struck out a season-high eight batters while scattering six hits. He gave up just two runs and two walks while earning the victory.

Braylon Cordonnier (Marshall University) was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Locos who were held to just six hits overall. 

Cameron Owens (University of Kentucky) reached base four times on two hits and two walks. Owens also had a league high for the season five stolen bases. It was the first time in the GLSCL that happened since Cooper Hums of the Muskegon Clippers stole five bases in a playoff game in 2024.

The Sluggers need to keep winning as the Clippers hold the tiebreaker in the race for the final playoff spot.

The Locos (30-10) will host the middle game of the series finishing up its regular season home schedule. Lima will once again go for a franchise record 31st win first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  7  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  3  -  FINAL

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Muskegon Clippers took the first game of an important in-state rivalry series with a 7-3 win over the Michigan Monarchs on Thursday at Hillsdale College.

Muskegon starter Chase Schwierking (Central Michigan University) earned his fourth victory of the season improving his record to 4-1 on the season. Schwierking went six innings giving up just one run on five hits, walking two and striking out five batters.

Drew Diehl (Calvin University) pitched the final three innings for his second save of the summer. Diehl gave up two runs and three hits with two strikeouts. 

Muskegon third baseman Taylor Head (Chattanooga State CC) broke the seal in the fourth inning delivering a two-RBI double. After Nick Moss (Milligan College) and Justin St. Antione (Kellogg CC) crossed the plate the Clippers owned a 2-0 lead.

After the two teams traded single runs, Dalton Dick's (Arkansas Pine Bluff) RBI-single combined with Moss hitting a two-run base knock in the seventh game the Clips held a 6-1 lead. Isaiah Domey (Michigan State) provided an insurance run in the eight inning sending home Drake Roa (University of Michigan) with a base hit to center field.

The Monarchs rallied in the eighth inning scoring a pair of runs. J.T. Thomas (Saginaw Valley State) hit his second RBI-double of the game this time driving in Ryan Metz (Macomb CC). Manny Gutierrez (Henry Ford CC) hit an RBI-infield single allowing Thomas to score from third base.

The Clippers (20-19) return to Marsh Field on Friday night for the regular season finale. The Clips are looking to win out this weekend gaining a spot into the playoffs and hosting at least one more game in front of its fans. Muskegon does hold the tie breaker over the Flag City Sluggers for that final playoff spot.

The Monarchs (15-22) look to play the role of spoiler as the middle game of the series is scheduled to take place Friday night at 6:35pm. 

XENIA SCOUTS  9  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  4  -  FINAL

GRADY'S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts (11-28) said goodbye to its home crowd for the season celebrating a 9-4 win with its fans over the Southern Ohio Copperheads (7-33) on Grady's Field at Browne Stadium.

The story of the night was initially thought to be the brilliance of Southern Ohio starting pitcher Jack Bracken (Seton Hill University). Bracken went the first six innings recording 15 strikeouts. Bracken, who left the game with the score tied 3-3, fanned the last seven batters that he faced. Bracken is the first GLSCL pitcher with 15 strikeouts in game since Xenia's Timothy Watkins (Polk State College) punched out 15 Licking Country Settlers back in 2019.

Bracken was pulled at the end of the sixth inning after throwing 111 pitches. That's when the uncertainty of the bullpen gate swinging open became the story.

In the seventh inning, the Scouts found new confidence while not facing Bracken on the mound. The first two Copperheads relievers failed to record an out while not surrendering a hit. 

Drew Snipes (Bluffton University) scored the go-ahead run when Steven Schneider (Maryville University) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Bo Solley (Harding College) hit a two-run single, the first hit of the rally, followed by an RBI-single by Owen Roether (Southwest Tennessee CC). Solley, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and four stolen bases, then scored his third run of the game on an RBI-groundout by Jack Drew (The Masters University) giving the Scouts an 8-3 lead. 

Ryan Redding (DePauw University) held off the Copperheads pitching the final three innings earning the victory. Redding improved his record to 2-2 on the season giving up just one run on three hits.

Cheads catcher Cal Leighton (Bradley University) was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored.

The series now shifts to Athens for the middle game of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled at Bob Wren Stadium for 7:05pm.

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 eight active franchises in Ohio and Michigan boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.