GLSCL Recap - June 6

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  11  HAMILTON JOES  8 -  FINAL

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners held off a late surge remaining undefeated with an 11-8 home opening win over the Hamilton Joes.

After just two games, Grand Lake (2-0) is the only undefeated team in the GLSCL clinching the series victory over the Joes (0-2).

The game at Montgomery Field started one hour behind schedule avoiding weather possibilities around the Grand Lake St. Mary area. The game proceeded to grind out for three hours and 42 minutes before the Mariners finally put away the Joes.

Grand Lake never trailed in the game but needed eight pitchers, including four during a tumultuous ninth inning, securing the high scoring victory.

The Mariners took a 6-0 lead after scoring five times in the second inning. Grand Lake benefited from two Joes errors but its was the long ball that capped the rally.

First basemen Matthew Hutchinson (Yale University) blasted a towering two-run homer over the center field batter's eye beginning a huge night. Hutchinson reached base in all five of his plate appearances going 4-for-4 with a walk and three RBI. Three of his four hits were of the extra base hit variety with two doubles and a home run.

The Joes trailing 11-5 rallied going into the ninth inning scored three times. A.J. Gundler (Lincoln Trail) hit a two-run double closing the gap to 11-8.

The home crowd started getting nervous when Mariners pitchers walked a pair of batters loading the bases and bringing the potential go ahead run to the plate.

Matt Aldridge (Pitt Community College) came in to pitch with two outs assigned to get the final out. Joes leadoff hitter Alex Koelling (Miami University) scorched a line drive right a Mariners shortstop Landon Tiesing (Kent State) putting an end to the white knuckle ride.

The series winds up on Sunday in Hamilton with first pitch at 7:05pm. The Mariners, looking to remain undefeated, goes for the series sweep while the Joes will try to get its first win of the season.

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  6  XENIA SCOUTS  4 -  FINAL 

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Southern Ohio Copperheads even its record on the young season with a 6-4 win over the Xenia Scouts in front of a near capacity crowd at Bob Wren Stadium.

Xenia (1-1) took sting out of the crowd initially scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Cooper Schutte (Harding University) walked, stole second base and scored on an RBI-double down the left line off the bat of Cayden Calloway (Grace College). The Scouts stretched its lead to 2-0 on a third inning solo homer by Dawson Cleveland (Harding University). 

Southern Ohio (1-1) answered in the bottom of third scoring twice tying the game 2-2. Copperheads designated hitter Zach Reeder (Siena Heights University) was responsible for both runs driving one and scoring the other run. Reeder doubled to right field driving in Eli Mandler (Seton Hill University). Reeder scored on a sacrifice fly by Konnor Pittman.

The "Cheads" took the lead 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI-ground out by Lance Morgan (High Point University) driving home Nate Silvus (Davis & Elkins) from third base.

The Copperheads created some breathing room scoring three runs in the sixth inning. Morgan doubled allowing two runs scored and then scored on an RBI-single by Mandler.

Xenia narrowed the gap 6-4 taking advantage of a pair of Southern Ohio errors scoring twice in the eighth inning. 

Nicholas Massie (Detroit Community Christian) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Copperheads securing the victory. 

Rylan Sams (Ohio University), pitching on his college mound, got the start striking out seven batters in four and 2/3 innings or work. Alex Noe (Hocking College) bridged the gap pitching two and 1/3 innings allowing just one base runner without giving up a run.

The series shifts back to the Athletes in Action Sports Complex in Xenia for the rubber game. First pitch on Grady's Field at Browne Stadium is schedule for 5:05pm.

FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  4  LIMA LOCOS  0  -  FINAL  

SIMMONS FIELD - The Flag City Sluggers took the life out of the Simmons Field party with an impressive 4-0 victory over the Lima Locos.

The Locos organization celebrated the first regular season game on its new field turf by inviting many of its former players and staff for "Alumni Night."

The Locos (1-1), who have played at Simmons Field since 2008, benefited from the off-season improvements made by the Lima City Parks and Recreation Department. A new turf infield was installed as well as a new backstop and grand stands behind home plate.

The Sluggers (1-1) were impressed enough to shut out the Locos on just two hits. Jackson Urenovitch (Bowling Green) and Aidan Murphy (Warner University) combined to stymie the Lima offense that scored 10 runs in Findlay the night before.

Urenovitch got the start going the first six innings earning the victory. He did get himself out of some trouble, made by his own doing, walking three and hitting three other batters. Urenovitch notched three strikeouts while only giving up two hits.

Murphy, a GLSCL all-star last season for the Sluggers, pitched the final three innings earning the save. After allowing his first two batters to reach on a walk and a hit batter, Murphy took command of the situation. The sidearming right hander retired the next nine batters he faced in order shutting down any Locos threat. He struck out three batters including Braylon Cordonnier (Marshall University) for the game's final out.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Flag City manufactured a pair of runs taking a 2-0 lead. Jimmy LaForce (Salem University) scored on a bases loaded walk issued to Tim Leark (Maryville University). With the bases still loaded, Miles Mitchell (New Orleans commit) grounded into a double play allowing Cameron Spezia (Oakland University) to score from third base.

The Sluggers extending its advantage to 4-0 scoring a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth.

Mitchell hit a two-out, two-run single to right field driving in both Brett Reed (Madonna University) and pinch runner Trenten Smith (Owens CC).

Reed finished with three hits for the Sluggers with Lima's leadoff hitter Tyler VanSumeren (Kennesaw State) accounting for both of the Locos hits.

The rubber game of the series takes place on Sunday at Simmons Field with first pitch scheduled for 5:05pm.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  vs.  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  -  DH 

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers and Michigan Monarchs split a double header opening the season with the Clippers taking the first game 12-8 and the Monarchs winning the night cap 3-2.

Friday night's scheduled season opener was postponed but it was well worth the wait because conditions were beautiful at Marsh Field for these two seven-inning games.

Muskegon won a high scoring affair in the opener. The Clippers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Michigan catcher Anthony Elezaj (Michigan State) responds by tying the score 3-3 hitting a three-run homer to straight away center field.

The Clippers answered in the bottom of the third with a two-run double off the bat of Jonnie Gifford (Paris Junior College) retaking the lead 5-3.

In a wild fourth inning exchange Michigan scored five runs with Muskegon come back to score six runs of its own giving the Clippers an 11-8 lead.

The Clippers scored an insurance run in the sixth securing the 12-8 victory.

The nightcap was controlled more by both team's pitching staffs.

The Clippers took the lead early when Justin St. Antoine (Kellogg Community College) scored on a double off the bat of Isaiah Domey (Michigan State). In the second inning, Caden Thelen (Grand Valley State) drove in Drake Roa (University of Michigan) with an RBI-single in second for the 2-0 Muskegon lead.

The Monarchs offense became opportunistic scoring all three of its runs in the sixth on the benefit of just one hit.

Casey Robertson (Henry Ford CC) scored from second base on an infield error. Ryan Metz (Mott CC) crossed the plate on a bases loaded walk issued to Tyler Bruggeman (Longwood University) tying the game 2-2. The Monarchs took the lead 3-2 when Elezaj scored from third base on a wild pitch.

That was all the Monarchs relief pitcher needed to Kayden Schankowski (St. Clair County CC) as he record the final six outs capping three innings of work out of the bullpen.

The final out was recorded in the bottom of the seventh innings on an outfield assist from the shortstop. 

Muskegon's Kaden Howard (Grand Valley State) singled to dropping a parachute into shallow left field toward the foul line just out of the reach of Chase Chopin (Bowling Green). Shortstop Ryan McKay (Michgian State transfer), who was converging on the play, picked up the ball and threw a bullett to Metz at second base. Metz laid down the tag in time gunning down Howard ending the night.  

The rubber match will take place on Sunday on the campus of Hillsdale College as the Monarchs will host its home opener at 5:05pm.

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