GLSCL Recap - June 11

GRAND LAKE MARINERS  4   XENIA SCOUTS  3  -  FINAL

MONTGOMERY FIELD - The Grand Lake Mariners found a way to keep its unbeaten streak alive with some ninth inning magic defeating the Xenia Scouts 4-3 at Montgomery Field.

The Mariners (6-0) trailed 3-0 going into then bottom of the ninth looking listless on offense most of the night. Up until that point, the Grand Lake bats could only muster three hits on the night.

The unlikely comeback began innocently enough when the leadoff hitter of the inning, Luke Wildes (St. John's River State College), struck out but reached when the third strike got away from Xenia's catcher Ethan Papalios (Vincennes University) on a wild pitch.

Now needing to essentially record four outs things started to melt down for Xenia while the Grand Lake dugout found new energy.

After Wildes reached the Mariners loaded the bases with no outs after Matthew Hutchinson (Yale University) was hit by a pitch and Parker Vaughn (Lansing CC) singled to right field.

The Scouts (2-4) went to the bullpen calling on its fourth pitcher of the night in lefty Zachary Pearrow (Redlands CC). 

The Mariners pulled off the safety squeeze for its first run when Noah Drake (Indiana University) bunted back to the pitcher. Pearrow fielded it and simply "put it in his pocket" in order to not risk committing an error allowing Wildes to score.

With the bases still loaded, Forrest Day (Centre College) and pinch hitter Holden Murcer (Gardner Webb) where each walked in back-to-back at bats tying the game 3-3.

Grand Lake catcher Marek Bolson (Kent State transfer) came to the plate with a chance to be the hero for the Mariners. With the count 2-0, Bolson was hit by a pitch allowing Drake to trot home scoring the winning run.

CLICK HERE to watch postgame interview with Marek Bolson

The Scouts wasted an excellent pitching performance out of its starter Sid Phillips (Toccoa Falls College). Phillips went five-plus shutout innings keeping the Mariners offense off balance. He allowed only three base runners, two hits and and a walk, while striking out six batters for a tough no decision.

Xenia took a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to and RBI-single by Cayden Calloway (Grace College) driving home Papalios.

The Scouts extended the lead scoring a pair of runs on a two-run throwing error committed by the Mariners third basemen. This allowed both Mason Golabek (St. Clair CC) and pinch runner Drew Snipes (Bluffton University) to score on the play. 

The Scouts return home on Friday hosting the Michigan Monarchs. The Mariners put its undefeated streak on the line going on the road this weekend playing the Muskegon Clippers at Marsh Field.

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  13  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  10  -  FINAL

MARATHON DIAMONDS - The Muskegon Clippers avoided being swept on the road winning a high powered 13-10 slugfest over the Flag City Sluggers.

The Clippers (3-3) scored a whopping 10 runs in the sixth inning sending 14 men to the plate. Muskegon only needed three hits but they all pushed runs across the plate during the onslaught.

Caden Thelen (Grand Valley State) and Cayden Nieto (Kellogg CC) produced back-to-back RBI singles. Ben Meyers (Muskegon CC) finished off the scoring splurge with a bases loaded double driving in three RBI.

The Clippers offense produced double digit hits for the fourth consecutive game. Thelen lead the way with three hits while Meyers drove in four RBIs

Kaden Ford (Transylvania University) made his season debut for the Sluggers making a great first impression. Ford was 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, two stolen bases and two runs scored. 

The two goes their separate ways for a new weekend three-game series. The Clippers return home to Muskegon hosting the Grand Lake Mariners while the Sluggers head to Foundation Field taking on the Hamilton Joes.

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  9  LIMA LOCOS  3  -  FINAL  

SIMMONS FIELD - The Michigan Monarchs offense came to life avoiding being swept with a 9-3 win on the road over the Lima Locos at Simmons Field.

The Monarchs (2-4) never trailed taking an early advantage easing to its second win of the young season. 

Casey Robertson (Henry Ford CC) put in a two-way performance that helped lead the Monarchs to its victory. As the starting pitcher, Robertson pitched four shutout innings giving up just two hits despite allowing four walks. Once he was lifted as the pitcher, Robertson stayed in the game as the designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two stolen bases.

Bret Perry (UIndy) led the hit parade with three out of Michigan's 13 hits on the night. Robertson was joined by Ryan Metz (Mott CC), J.J. Fontana (CSU Pueblo) and Tyler Bruggeman (Longwood University) with two hits apiece for the game.

The Monarchs took a 6-0 advantage through the first five innings creating enough separation for the victory.

The Locos (4-2) avoided being shutout on an RBI-ground out by Nick Fumich (Gardner Webb) driving home Parker Dastou (Mercer University). Fumich drove in a second RBI with a single up the middle in the seventh inning chasing Cameron Owens (University of Kentucky). 

Lima scored a run in the eighth inning on a Monarchs throwing error but it was not enough to come from behind for a victory.

Both teams play on the road on Friday night with the Monarchs heading to Xenia playing the Scouts The Locos venture east to Athens invading Bob Wren Stadium against the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

HAMILTON JOES  12  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  8  -  FINAL

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Hamilton Joes overcame a 6-0 deficit taking the series victory with a 12-8 win over the Southern Ohio Copperheads on Thursday night at Foundation Field. 

The Joes (2-4) fell behind by six runs early before putting an eight-spot on the board in the bottom of the third inning.

A two-run single by Ryder Kirtley (Miami University), who went 2-for-5 with three RBI in the game, and an RBI-single by Ashton Bennight (Panola College) helped fuel the rally.

Eric Fleetwood (Triton College) drove in three RBI including a solo homer in the eighth inning for the Joes.

Southern Ohio (2-4) got off to a fast start scoring four runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. The Copperheads added to the early lead with an RBI-groundout off the bat of Zach Reeder (Siena Heights) plus a Nate Silvus (Davis & Elkins) run scoring double driving in Wyatt Fether (Clarion University).

Eli Wagner (North Greenville) was forced into making an early bullpen appearance for the Joes. Wagner was brought in with two outs in the first inning and ended up going four and 2/3 innings earning the victory. In his time on the mound, Wagner struck out a game-high five batters.

Sam Rufenacht (University of Toledo) also helped steady the ship for the Joes during the later innings. Rufenacht pitched three shutout innings out of the bullpen striking out three batters while only giving up one hit and two walks.

Both teams start the weekend at home each hosting the first game of a new three-series. Hamilton welcomes the Flag City Sluggers to town while Southern Ohio plays host to the Lima Locos.

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.