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Picture credit to Dan Gawkowski

MUSKEGON CLIPPERS  9  SANDUSKY BAY ICE HAULERS  8 

MARSH FIELD - The Muskegon Clippers bounced back from an opening game loss by winning the middle game of a three-game series 9-8 over the Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers.

 

Brett Stanley (Youngstown State) was the hero for the Clippers delivering a two-run double in the sixth inning. That hit drove in the tying and go ahead runs capping a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

 

Stanley, who joined the team during an 11-game road trip, was instantly beloved by the Marsh Field crowd. He came to the plate with runners on the corners trailing on the scoreboard 8-7. Stanley dropped a flare opposite way down the right field foul line allowing Stoney Smith (Cumberland University) and Colin Cornwell (Saginaw Valley State) both to cross the pay station.

 

Gavin Sitarz (Michigan State) was pressed with the task of holding the league responding by pitching two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth frames. Sitarz totaled three shutout innings out of the bullpen improving his record to 4-0 on the season.

 

Jaxon Huffman (Michigan State) earned his first save of the season tossing a scoreless ninth inning. 

 

The Ice Haulers, who were looking to be the first team to beat the Clippers in a series this season, put a scare into the Muskegon fan base.

 

Sandusky Bay jumped out to an early 3-1 lead when Rhett Stokes (New Mexico Military Institute) hit the first of his two home runs on the game in the second inning.

 

After the Clippers tied the game 4-4, the Ice Haulers recaptured the lead 8-4 in the fifth inning using the long ball once again. Luke Walton (University of Toledo) sent a two-run bomb over the fence followed by Stokes second round tripper.

 

The Clippers got to within one run reach scoring three times in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sam Lisiak (Biola University) got it started with a two-RBI double. He came around to score on a run producing base hit by Jabin Bates (Lansing Community College) cutting the deficit to just one run.

 

The win for accomplished two goals for the Clippers (25-5). Muskegon has now clinched a playoff spot in the GLSCL North Division race. In addition, the Clippers won its 25th game of the season eclipsing it previous franchise high of 24 wins accomplished back in 2018.

 

The Ice Haulers (16-12) still have a chance to win the series with a win in the rubber game on Sunday at Marsh Field.

 

 

LIMA LOCOS  6  ROYAL OAK LEPRECHAUNS  5

MEMORIAL PARK FIELD - The Lima Locos held up its end of the bargain attempting to secure the final North Division playoff spot with a 6-5 road win over the Royal Oak Leprechauns.

 

The Locos took the lead for good in the third inning scoring three runs without the benefit of a hit.

 

Kolton Schaller (Kent State) scored on a wild pitch and two runs mores crossed the plate when Justin Rumfield (Midland College) reached on a costly Leprechauns error.

 

The Locos scored an all important insurance run when Rumfield scored on a double off the bat of Eduarny Martinez (Faulkner University).

 

That run would turn out to be the difference as Caden Duryea (Northwood University) narrowed the gap to a one-run deficit with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Durywa played long ball on two different occasions has he also launched a two-run shot in the first inning.

 

The Locos are in the driver’s seat to clinch that second playoff spot holding a six game lead over the third place Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers in the North Division standings.

 

These two teams return to Simmons Field on Sunday with the Locos (22-8) looking for a sweep and the Leprechauns (12-18) trying to avoid being the victim same fate.

 

 

RICHMOND JAZZ  9  HAMILTON JOES  6 

FOUNDATION FIELD - The Richmond Jazz continued making life hard on the Hamilton Joes with a 9-6 win on Saturday night at Foundation Field.

 

The Joes have dropped four out of its last fives while the idle Grand Lake Mariners have won six straight and ten out of its last 11 contests. Hamilton is hanging on to a slim half-game lead over the Mariners for a playoff spot in the GLSCL South Division race.

 

The story on this night was the Jazz and its six-run second inning outburst.

 

The Joes jumped out to a 3-0 advantage but Richmond answered by doubling that amount in the next half inning. 

 

Landen Johnson (Wabash Valley College) broke the 3-3 tie with a three-home run. It was Johnson’s fourth homer of the season.

 

Brayton Bowen (University of Indianapolis) launched a two-run homer in the third inning further extending the advantage to 8-3.

 

Max Johnson (Rice University) did his part for the Joes in a losing effort going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.

 

The two teams move the series to historic McBride Stadium in Richmond on Sunday. The Joes (18-14) will try to write ship while the Jazz (16-16) will attempt to go above the .500 mark playing the role of spoiler. 

 

 

CINCINNATI STEAM  @  SOUTHERN OHIO COPPERHEADS  -  DH

BOB WREN STADIUM - The Southern Ohio Copperheads and the Cincinnati Steam spilt a double header in Athens at Bob Wren Stadium.

 

The two games were the opposite ends of the spectrum. The Copperheads lambasted the Steam in the opener 19-4. The Steam came back with a 5-0 shutout win in the night cap.

 

The Copperheads (10-21) scored a whooping 13 runs on just four hits in the third inning blowing the game out of the water. Southern Ohio nearly batted around twice sending 17 batters to the plate.

 

Trent Neuer (Ohio University) hitting a three-run home run off the scoreboard was the highlight of the inning. Neuer went 2-for-5 in the opener driving in four runs and scoring two runs.

 

Tyler Steig (Olivet Nazarene University) also went yard for Southern Ohio with a solo homer in the fourth inning. Steig was a part of the nine-hit effort going 2-for-5 with three RBIs and three scored.

 

The Steam (14-19) bounced back in the second game as three pitchers combined for a 5-0 shutout win.

 

Calvin Mitchell (transfer portal) went the first four innings giving up the only two Southern Ohio hits of the game. Mitchell earned the victory improving to 2-0 on the season.

 

Michael Lorenz (Alcorn State) and Jared Kloth (Wheaton College) combined for the shutout pitching the final three innings.

 

Zimba Cadiz (Lake Erie College) was 3-for-4 with a double and Jack Vogele (Walters State) 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Steam.

 

 

MICHIGAN MONARCHS  @  JET BOX BASEBALL CLUB  -  Postponed

MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL - The Michigan Monarchs vs. Jet Box Baseball Club game schedule for Milford High School was rained out. The game will be made up as part of a double header on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

XENIA SCOUTS  @  LICKING COUNTY SETTLERS  -  Postponed

NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL - The Licking County Settlers and the Xenia Scouts were also chased away due to the weather forecast on Sunday and will be play a double header Sunday at New Albany High School.

 

 

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 league currently consists of 13 active franchises in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.