GLSCL Recap - July 24

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  2  MICHIGAN MONARCHS  0  -  FINAL

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers punched its ticket into the GLSCL playoffs in front of a capacity crowd winning a 2-0 thriller over the Michigan Monarchs at Marsh Field.

Offense was at a premium in this game as the two teams combined for just two hits. However, walks and one costly error turned out to be the difference in this game.

Each starting pitcher had dueling no-hitters going into the seventh inning. Monarchs starter Casey Robertson (Henry Ford CC) was the first to blink when he surrendered a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning to Muskegon's Taylor Head (Chattanooga State CC). 

Robertson was pulled after giving up the hit and his pitch count sitting at 90 pitches. He struck out six batters in six and 2/3 innings giving up just the one hit and issuing three walks. Unfortunately for Robertson, the best he could do for his efforts was walk away with a no-decision.

Owen Shimel (Schoolcraft College) came into the game striking out Justin St. Antione (Kellogg CC) ending the threat.

Muskegon starter Brady Young (Saginaw Valley State) left the game in the top of the seventh inning with his no-hit bid still in tack. Young went six 2/3 innings no hits innings but had issued four walks and thrown 104 pitches. Sam Briggs (Saginaw Valley State) came in out of the bullpen in relief of Young overpowering Monarchs batters. 

After recording the final out of the seventh inning, Briggs gave up a leadoff double to Trent Hartman (Notre Dame) leading off the eighth. That would be the only blemish on Briggs' line as he mowed down the competition. Briggs would go on to strikeout six out of the seven batters that he retired.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Clippers took advantage of its opportunity. Nick Moss (Milligan College) came to the plate as a pinch hitter drawing a one-out walk. Moss advanced on a passed ball following by a walk issued to Drake Roa (University of Michigan). A groundout to the Monarchs first basemen recorded the second out advancing both runners into something position. 

Ben Meyers (Aquinas College) was up next for the Clippers. He hit a bouncer up the middle just to the left side of the second base bag. Monarchs shortstop Ryan Metz (Macomb CC) was shading the right handed hitter towards the "five-and-a-half hole" went far to his left sliding to stop the ball. The ball took a tough hop with Metz catching the ball in front of his face. Metz came to his feet firing to first but Sebastian Nelson (Aquinas College) mishandled the throw allowing Meyers to be safe and both base runners to score.

That was all Briggs needed to work with as he finished off the Monarchs in the ninth inning. Briggs slammed the door overpowering the Monarchs recording back-to-back strikeouts for the victory.

The Clippers (21-19) will now face off against the North Division champion Lima Locos in the best-of-three game divisional series beginning on Monday. Muskegon hosts the first game at the Marsh Field with game two and the if necessary game three taking place in Lima at Simmons Field.

The final game of the regular season and the series takes place Saturday at Hillsdale College. The Monarchs (15-23) look to avoid being swept in the series and finish up its season with a victory with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.  

LIMA LOCOS  11  FLAG CITY SLUGGERS  1  -  FINAL/7 Innings 

SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos put an empathic end to the Flag City Sluggers playoff aspirations with an 11-1 run-rule victory on Friday night at Simmons Field.

In a pregame ceremony with commissioner Deron Brown on hand, Locos president Dr. William "Bill" Leahy, MD was inducted into GLSCL Hall of Fame. The Locos staff deciding to make the announcement a surprise to Dr. Leahy using a ruse with the ceremony being to recognize the Locos recent 900th all-time win as a franchise. Leahy fell for it and was indeed surprised with becoming the third member of the GLSCL's Hall of Fame Class of 2026. He joins Tom Keefe and Darrel Grissom who were recognized earlier this week at the all-star game played at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio.

After the pregame pomp and circumstance the Locos (31-10) went to work recording it franchise record 31st win of the season. The win surpasses the 2017 GLSCL champion Locos team led by head coach Brian Garman that earned a previous best 30-11 record.

Three Lima pitchers combined to hold the Slugger's offense to just three hits. Carson Klausing (Judson University), who pitched in high school at Kalida for Locos head coach Chad Ehrnsberger, got the start earning his first victory of the season. Klausing gave up one run and all three Flag City hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Michael Strickland (Mercer University) came in out of the bullpen first throwing two shutout innings. Callaghan O'Connor (Notre Dame commit) threw a perfect seventh inning closing out the historic victory.

The Locos offense was a balanced attack with first basemen Grant McGuire (Winthrop University) being one of the stand outs. McGuire went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored. Shane Miranda (Notre Dame) also had two hits with Gabe Gonzalez (Mercer University) and Braylon Cordonnier (Marshall University) each scoring three runs. Cameron Greene (Southeastern Louisiana University) reached base in three of his four plate appearances. Greene drew three walks and scored two runs.

The series and the regular season wraps on Saturday in Findlay. The Sluggers (20-20) look to win the series and finish with a winning record for the first time in its brief franchise history. First pitch is schedule for 6:05pm at Marathon Diamonds.

HAMILTON JOES  4  GRAND LAKE MARINERS  2 -  FINAL

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Hamilton Joes evened up its series with the Grand Lake Mariners with a 4-2 win on Friday night at Foundation Field.

The series is a prelude to the upcoming South Division series in the GLSCL playoffs beginning in Hamilton on Monday night.

The Joes denied Grand Lake the opportunity of breaking the GLSCL record for wins in a season. The best the Mariners can now do is tie the record of 33 wins with a win on Saturday.

Grand Lake took a 2-0 lead scoring twice in the first inning. Back-to-back RBI-singles by Forrest Day (Centre College) and Luke Wildes (St. John's River State College) did the trick for the Mariners. However, that would be the only time in the game that Grand Lake would cross the pay station.

Hamilton answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Brady Bowen (Ball State University) reached on a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI-single by Owen McKoon (Bowling Green State).

The Joes (21-8) took the lead in the fifth inning pushing three runs across the plate. A.J. Gundler (Lincoln Trail ) tied the game with a bases loaded RBI-single driving home Gavin Brewer (University of Cincinnati). Hamilton took the lead with a two-run double off the bat of Parker Falkenstein (Wright State).

Hamilton pitchers scattered three hits across the final eight innings holding off Grand Lake's usually powerful offense. 

Hudson Boring (Panola College) got the start striking out six batters in the first four innings. Newcomers Carter Williamson (Muskingum College) and Nik Copenhaver (Ohio State transfer) combined for three scoreless innings. Noah Kubasky (Ball State University), who began the game as the designated hitter, threw two shutout innings closing it out for his first save of the season.

Saturday will be the rubber game of the series at Montgomery Field. The Mariners (32-9) look to join three other teams, the 1988 Toledo Glass Sox, the 2000 Northern Ohio Baseball Club and the 2023 Muskegon Clippers with 33 wins in a regular season.

SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  3  XENIA SCOUTS  1 -  FINAL

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Southern Ohio Copperheads (8-31) took down the Xenia Scouts (11-29) in front of its home crowd at Bob Wren Stadium sending fans home happy after a 3-1 victory.

Jacob Napier (Kentucky Wesleyan) pitched seven strong innings on the hill for the Copperheads earning the victory. Napier gave up just one unearned run scattering four hits and for time this season did not allow a walk. The right hander from Campbell County High School in Alexandria, Kentucky tied his season high with eight strikeouts.

Napier's only blemish came in the fifth inning when Xenia's Mack Skeels (The Masters University) lead off the inning reaching on an error. Skeels advanced to second base on single by Cooper Schutte (Harding University). Steels and Schutte both landed in scoring position on a ground out by Steven Schneider (Maryville University). Skeels scored the unearned run on a passed ball. 

The Cheads took the lead scoring all three of its runs in the sixth inning. Cal Leighton's (Bradley University) two-run single plated both Fox Spears (Hanover College) and Zach Reeder (Siena Heights University). Brady Kaufman (Princeton University) later scored an insurance run on a passed ball.

The season comes to an end for both teams on Saturday in Athens. Its the rubber game of the series with first pitch taking place at 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.