Lou Fujiwara of the Lima Locos catches a fly ball against the Hamilton Joes during Friday’s game at Simmons Field.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA – The hottest team in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League remained hot at Simmons Field on Friday evening.
Hamilton (10-3) entered its matchup against the Locos (6-7) sitting in first place with a two-game lead and after a 5-1 victory, the Joes became the first team in the league to reach double-digit victories this season.
Lima never got the bats rolling in the series opener, recording just five hits in the loss.
“We had mental breakdowns tonight, and you’ll have that, but we try to limit that,” Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger said. “In the grand scheme of things, this is just one game and obviously it was important because we played a first-place team, but at the end of the day we still have a chance to win the series.”
Through two games at Simmons Field this week, the Locos have received strong efforts from its starting pitchers but have struggled to find a way to back up the arms on offense.
Thomas Howard (University of Louisville) toed the rubber for the third time this summer and gave the Locos five solid innings, but he got into trouble in the third inning and Hamilton capitalized.
Tommy Harrison (Miami University) was plunked on the first pitch of the inning, then Eli Kieser (Ball State University) and Kevin Hilton (Lincoln Trail College) each singled to load the bases.
Brayden Fraasman (North Carolina State) was next to the plate, and after running the count full, he drew a bases-loaded walk to put Hamilton on the board, tying the game at one.
Howard worked out of the jam before allowing any more damage.
“This is the best he has looked this summer. He has dominant stuff, and when he gets in trouble, it’s because he’s getting behind in the counts.” Ehrnsberger said. “He did that with a couple hitters tonight, but for the most part he was ahead and anytime your starter goes five innings and allows one run, you should have a chance to win the game.”
Hamilton’s offense added another run in the fifth inning and never looked back.
Fraasman recorded his second double of the night before coming home on a sacrifice fly from Bryce Habuda (Pasco Hernando Community College).
For the second time this week, the Locos saw a local talent step onto the mound.
Dane Ebel (Lincoln Trail), a former Lincolnview Lancer, relieved Howard in the sixth inning. He powered a pair of 92 mph strikes to the plate on his first two pitches but ran into some issues after that.
Cam Gilkerson (Wright State University) barrelled the ball on a 2-2 count for a single. Tommy Harrison (Miami University) also singled, and Ebel’s collegiate teammate, Kevin Hilton (Lincoln Trail) reached safely on a fielder’s choice to load the bases.
Ebel was able to get out of the inning after retiring Fraasman on a pop-out. Hamilton stranded 13 total baserunners on Friday night.
Ebel worked one-two-three in the seventh and returned for a third inning before his day concluded. He gave up a double to Gilkerson who came around to score on a hit from Hilton.
Ebel allowed three earned runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings.
“Dane has unlimited potential. Right now, we’re building up his pitch count,” said Ehrnsberger. “He threw a lot of innings in the spring, and we’re trying to work him back. By the end of the summer, we hope he’s without a pitch count because he’s tough to hit and has dominant stuff.”
“It was a great opportunity to pitch in front of all my family and some familiar faces, it just, unfortunately, didn’t go our way tonight,” Ebel said.
Lima and Hamilton continue the series at Hamilton on Saturday night before returning to Simmons Field for the finale on Sunday.
Box score (r-h-e)
Hamilton 001010030 5-11-0
Lima 010000000 1-5-0
Hamilton 5 (ab-r-h-rbi)
Kevin Hilton 5-1-2-0, Braxton Baird 4-0-0-1, Brayden Fraasman 3-1-2-1, Ryan Novak 4-0-1-1, Bryce Habuda 4-0-0-1, Paul Osting 4-0-1-0, Cam Gilkerson 5-1-2-0, Tommy Harrison 3-1-1-0, Eli Kieser 4-1-2-0, Totals: 36-5-11-4
Lima 1 (ab-r-h-rbi)
Justin Gorski 4-0-0-0, Lou Fujiwara 4-0-1-0, Blake Bowen 3-0-0-0, Sebastian Alexander 3-1-2-0, Kaden Brown 2-0-0-0, Brooks Wright 4-0-1-0, Tagger Tyson 3-0-0-1, Landon Tate 4-0-1-0, Bo Shinkle 3-0-0-0, Totals: 30-1-5-1
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so)
W — Carson Brower (1-1) 4.0-3-1-1-3-1
L — Thomas Howard (0-3) 5.0-5-2-2-3-5
Nate Stidham wrote this story for LimaScores.com
