Joes advance and Monarchs walk it off in Divisional Playoffs

GLSCL South Division - Game 2

HAMILTON JOES  7  XENIA SCOUTS  0  -  FINAL 

(Joes win the series 2-0)

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Hamilton Joes punched its ticket to the GLSCL Championship Series with a 7-0 victory over the Xenia Scouts on Tuesday night at Foundation Field. 

Hamilton, the defending GLSCL champions, extended its six-game winning streak as it looks to win its sixth GLSCL title in franchise history.

Joes pitching was the story in this two-game series sweep as the Hamilton did not allow a run through 18 innings of postseason baseball. The Joes pitching only gave up a cumulative six hits in the series.

In game two, Michael Murphy (Xavier University) got the start and was phenomenal in his four and 2/3 shutout innings of work. Coming off two elbow surgeries, Murphy  was limited to only 66 pitches but made all of them count.

Murphy did not give up a hit allowing just two base runners, one walk and one hit batter. The right hander out of nearby Mason, Ohio struck out five Scouts batters.

CLICK HERE to watch the postgame interview with Michael Murphy.

The Joes only needed two hits as the Scouts pitching staff allowed way too many free passes. Four Xenia pitchers combined to allowed 12 walks and hit three batters.

Joes center fielder Mark Nowak (Northern Kentucky) accounted for both of the Hamilton hits. Nowak doubled in the third inning eventually coming around to score on a bases loaded walk issued to Jackson Wang (Wabash Valley College). 

Hamilton scored its second run in the fifth on another bases loaded walk to game one's starting pitcher Marc Iozzo (Miami University). Iozzo's free pass forced home Brett Denby (Wright State) from third base.

In the sixth inning, the Joes increased its lead to 3-0. Jaxson Christ (Trevecca Nazarene) scored all the way from second base thanks to a Xenia throwing error on a ground ball to shortstop hit by Denby.

The Joes batted around in ninth inning scoring four runs without the benefit of a hit. One bases loaded hit batter and three bases loaded walks gave the Joes what turned into and insurmountable 7-0 lead.  

Matty Helms (Chattahoochee Valley CC) came in out of the bullpen in the ninth closing it out for the Joes. After giving up a leadoff walk, Helms recorded two strikeouts and a game-winning groundout securing the victory.

Dean Brown (Chattahoochee Valley CC) came into the game in relief of Murphy in the fifth inning. He also pitching well for the Joes going three and 1/3 shutout innings giving up just two runs and one walk with three strikeouts.

The Scouts season ends short of its second championship series appearance in the last three years. Xenia won division titles in both 2023 and 2025 finishing as league runner-up in 2023. The Scouts also shared a division crown winning the tie breaker for its first ever division crown in 2016.

The Joes await the winner of the North Division series between the Michigan Monarchs and the Lima Locos. The Championship Series will begin on Thursday night at the home of the lowest remaining seeded team.  

GLSCL North Division - Game 1

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  8  LIMA LOCOS  7  -  FINAL 

(Monarchs take a 1-0 advantage)

HILLSDALE COLLEGE - The Michigan Monarchs got off the mat after an big early deficit knocking out the Lima Locos with a walk off 8-7 victory on Tuesday night. The Monarchs now take a 1-0 advance in the best-of-three game North Division playoff series.

The Monarchs trailed 6-0 in the fourth and 7-2 in the fifth before making beginning its comeback. 

The Locos lead 7-5 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Luke Babcock (Mercyhurst College) lead off the inning for the Monarchs reaching a walk. Wyatt Epple (Davenport University) traded places with Babcock at first base when he grounded into a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. Keegan Knupp (Eastern Michigan) singled advancing Epple to third base.

Lima went to its bullpen calling on its closer Brady Fitzpatrick (Morehead State) with the tying run at the plate and one out. The first batter Fitzpatrick faced was Greg Guzik (Central Michigan) who singled to right field driving in Epple.

That brought up Christian Holmes (Wisconsin Milwaukee) who had already homered earlier in the game. Guzik stole second base putting both runners into scoring position. Holmes connected on a two-run base hit scoring both Knupp and more importantly Guzik completing the unlikely come-from-behind victory.

Holmes finished the night as the hero going 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs, two runs scored and a memory lasting a lifetime.

The heroics by Holmes overshadowed and memorable night for Monarchs right fielder Cole Van Ameyde (Michigan State). Van Ameyde went 3-for-4 hitting two home runs becoming the first GLSCL player to hit multiple home runs in a playoff games since 2021 when Lima's T.J. Reeves did it against the Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers.

The Locos were cruising in the early going scoring five runs in the third inning. The big blow was a two-run double by catcher Evan Holstein (Kennesaw State).

Lima extended its lead to 6-0 before the Monarchs crossed the pay station for the first time. Van Ameyde hit the first of his two homers, a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.

After Lima's Marwynn Matthews (Macomb CC) scored on a passed ball the Locos had a 7-2 advantage going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Monarchs got back in the game scoring three times in the sixth. Holmes hit a two-run homer and Van Ameyde hit a solo shot later in the inning shaving the deficit to 7-5.

The Locos had plenty of chances to extend its lead but couldn't take advantage of its opportunities. Lima stranded a total of 14 runners on base including leaving the bases loaded on two different occasions.

Monarchs reliever Johnny Stavola (Michigan-Dearborn) was effective getting in and out of some jams during his four innings of work. Stavola kept the Locos batters off balance with his left handed knuckle ball when he was able to get it across the plate for strikes. Stavola struck out five batters walking five batters others but only gave up one hit and one unearned run.

Michigan is now one win away from winning the series and joining the Hamilton Joes in the upcoming GLSCL Championship Series. 

With Thursday's forecast in Lima for calling for rain again, GLSCL officials made the adjustment to determine that Wednesday would be a double header (two nine-inning games) if necessary.

All the Monarchs have to do is win one game to make its first appearance in the championship series since 1999. The Locos must win the first game, which is scheduled for 5:05pm at Simmons Field, to force the if necessary game.

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.