Locos win two advancing to the GLSCL Championship Series

GLSCL North Division - Game 2

LIMA LOCOS  2  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  1 -  FINAL 

(Locos tie the series 1-1)

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos understood the assignment that they had to win the first game on Wednesday to force the if necessary game later that same night.

The game was a pitcher's duel throughout with Locos starter Anderson Hayes (Notre Dame) being the standout performer. Hayes pitched a complete game for the Locos leading them to the 2-1 victory.

Hayes was efficient giving up just one run on five hits not allowing a walk while registering four strikeouts. The redshirt freshman who did not appear in a game this past spring for Notre Dame, threw 111 pitches.

Hayes became the first GLSCL pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete game in a playoff game since Miguel Cienfuegos of the St. Clair Green Giants in 2018. Cienfuegos struck out seven batters in a 4-2 win over the Saginaw Sugar Beets.

The last Lima Locos pitcher to throw a nine-complete game in the playoffs was Cory Wilder back in 2014. Wilder threw a two-hit shutout against the Licking County Settlers in a 5-0 game at Simmons Field.

CLICK HERE to watch the postgame interview with Anderson Hayes.

The game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth when things unraveled for the Monarchs.

The Locos were down to its final out before the game would have went into extra innings. With runners on second and third base, the potential winning run was standing 90-feet away at third base.

Marwynn Matthews (Macomb CC), who at one time was under contract to the Monarchs, stepped to the plate with the chance to be the hero against his former team. Matthews, a fast base runner, rolled a grounder hit weakly toward the second basemen Fox. With Matthews racing up the line, Fox slid to keep the ball in front of him fielding it cleanly. However, Fox rushed his throw getting it past the first basemen allowing Grant McGuire (Winthrop University) to scamper home with the winning run.

The Locos got on the board early taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Julian Jimenez (Maryland Eastern Shore) singled to center field and advanced to third an a base hit to right by Payton Ebbing (Kent State). Jimenez raced home from third base on a wild pitch delivered with Cole Crafton (University of Illinois) at the plate.

The Monarchs tied the game 1-1 starting the sixth inning by loading the bases on three straight singles. Wyatt Epple (Davenport University) grounded out to third base but the Locos surrendered the tying run when Tyler Fox (University of Massachusetts) crossed the plate.

The Monarchs pitching staff was short changed in this game. Owen Elsey (Schoolcraft College) went the first five innings giving up just one run on four hits.

Johnathan Meyette (Macomb CC) entered in relief pitching the rest of the way not allowing a base runner past first base until the ill fated bottom of the ninth inning. 

The win for the Locos forced the if necessary game later in the night in a winner-take-all scenario for a spot in the championship series.  

GLSCL North Division - Game 3

LIMA LOCOS  16  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  6  -  FINAL/7 Innings 

(Locos won the series 2-1)

SIMMONS COLLEGE - After the pitcher's duel the first game, the series deciding game was anything but that as the Locos beat the Monarchs 16-6 in a mercy-rule game in the night cap.

The Locos scored 16 runs on just eight hits as four Monarchs pitchers struggled to throw strikes. The Monarchs issued 16 walks, hit five batters, uncorked five wild pitches and committed a balk that forced home a run.

Ryan Yingst (University of Northwestern Ohio) pitched the final two and 1/3 innings earning the victory for the Locos. Yingst did walk three batters but he did not allow a run or a hit and struck out one batter in his relief appearance.

Marwynn Matthews (Macomb CC) was again a thorn in the Monarchs' side going 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and three stolen bases.

Tyler Fox (University of Massachusetts) hit a three run homer in the fifth inning for the Monarchs cutting the deficit to 8-6.

The Locos answered with scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth without the benefit of a hit. Lima was gifted four walks, had two batters get hit by a pitch plus there was two wild pitches and a balk.

The game ended in the bottom of the seventh when the Locos loaded the bases with the mercy-rule clinching run at third base. Matthews grounded to the first baseman  who threw home with Carter Schueler (Sauk Valley CC) sliding safely for the final run.

The Locos will now travel to Foundation Field on Thursday for the first game of the GLSCL Championship Series against the defending champion Hamilton Joes. First pitch is scheduled in Hamilton for 7:05pm.

After game on Thursday, the Locos will host game two on Friday at Simmons and the if necessary game three on Saturday also at Simmons Field.

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.