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HAMILTON, Ohio - The Hamilton Joes took a 1-0 advantage in the GLSCL Championship Series winning the first game 10-3 at Foundation Field over the Lima Locos in a best-of-three game series

 

The Joes scored four runs in the second inning creating the initial separation and further building on it for the eventual victory.

 

Sammy Sass (Wright State) reached base in all five of his plate appearances going 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs.

 

Click here to watch postgame interview with Sammy Sass.  

 

The Joes offense only generated eight hits but forced pressure on the Locos defense and pitchers with nine stolen bases.

 

Hamilton got a nice outing out of starter Clay Brock (Central Michigan) who went five and 2/3 innings earning the victory. Brock gave up three runs, scattering six hits while striking out seven batters and giving up three walks.

 

Zach Dugan (Thomas More) was all the help Brock needed coming out of the bullpen. Dugan threw three and 1/3 innings of hitless, scoreless ball allowing just three base runners.

 

The Locos struck in the first inning taking an early 1-0 lead with an RBI-single by first basemen Derrick Jackson, Jr. (Jacksonville State).

 

The Joes answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning when Sass hit a two-run homer deep to left field.

 

Trevor Austin (Mercer University) led off the second with a triple and tied the score 2-2 when Nate White (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) singled to left field.

 

The Joes batted around in the second inning taking a 6-2 lead scoring four runs on just two hits chasing Locos starter Casey Thomas (Northwestern Ohio) in the process.

 

After the Joes tacked on another run in the third inning the Locos showed a glimmer of hope. Jackson hit a solo home run just to the right of the batters eye in centerfield.  

 

The Joes squashed any other hope for the Locos in the fourth inning extending the margin to 9-3. A pair of RBI-singles by John San Jule (Columbia University) and Daulton Miller (Miami-Hamilton) did the trick.

 

Hamilton added an unearned run in the eighth inning reaching double-figures when pinch hitter Evan Ulrich (Charleston) smacked a double down the third base line scoring Sass from third base.

 

Dowd Ritter (Samford University) was a bright spot for the Locos out of the bullpen. Ritter, who had struggled mightily during the summer with control, threw three strong innings of relief retiring the first six batters he faced striking out six overall.

 

Game two will be Friday at Simmons Field and it will be an elimination game for the Locos as the Joes look to clinch its third all-time GLSCL Championship title.

 

 

ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE 

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate, founded in 1986 playing its first season in 1987, is a wood-bat league that is certified by the NCAA and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The league currently consists of 14 active franchises in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.