Liam Richards of the Lima Locos hits a three-run home run against the Grand Lake Mariners during Tuesday’s game at Simmons Field.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA – This weekend, the No. 2 seed Lima Locos face the No. 1 seed Hamilton Joes in a three-game series in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs.
However, the Locos had business to take care of first.
In Wednesday’s final regular-season game, Lima’s bats came alive and pounded 14 hits, en route to an 18-7 run-rule victory in seven innings over visiting Grand Lake.
With the win, Lima improved to 21-15. Grand Lake ended its season at 11-25.
Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger feels like his team has the right mindset as it heads into this weekend’s playoffs.
“I feel good. Like I just said in the huddle there (with his team), ‘A lot of times the teams that win the championships are the ones who want to be there the most’. It’s been a long spring and summer. The teams that are mentally strong and want to be there are usually the ones that end up on top. I think these guys are in a good frame of mind right now,” he said.
On Wednesday night, the Locos jumped all over Grand Lake starting pitcher Mason Reyes. The lanky right-hander worked just an inning-plus before he was replaced. Reyes was tabbed for 10 runs on six hits, while walking five and hitting two batters.
Lima led 12-0 by the end of the second inning. Its largest lead was 16-2 after four innings.
Sebastian Alexander (Coastal Carolina) led the Locos’ hitting attack on Wednesday, going 4 for 4 with a home run, a double and four RBI.
“It seems like every game he’s getting three or four hits,” Ehrnsberger said of Alexander. “Hopefully that continues. He just goes about his business the right way. He’s a veteran when it comes to college baseball. I look for him to continue that.”
Landon Tate (Kennesaw State, 4 for 5 with 3 RBI) and Bo Shinkle (Portal, 2 for 4) had multi-hit games for the Locos on Wednesday. Brice Estep (Coastal Carolina) also belted a two-run home run for Lima.
Hunter Allen (Ashland University) started on the mound for the Locos. He worked three innings before Jacob Emerson (Lourdes University) came in and replaced him.
Allen was tabbed for two runs on two hits. Allen struck out two, walked two and hit a batter. He threw 56 pitches.
Emerson, who got the win for the Locos, pitched three innings. He gave up five runs on six hits. Calvin Urish took over in the seventh with one out and finished the game for Lima.
Richards evens series with walkoff
LIMA – The Locos had already clinched a playoff berth heading into Tuesday’s home game against Grand Lake.
However, Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger wanted his team to keep playing hard in its last two regular-season games.
On Tuesday, Lima jumped out to an early lead but found itself battling back down the stretch, en route to a hard-fought 10-9 victory over the Mariners.
After Lima pulled out to a 7-1 lead over Grand Lake through six innings, the Mariners scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to claim an 8-7 lead.
The score was knotted at 9 apiece in the bottom of the ninth until Liam Richards (Yavapai College) – who blasted a three-run home run in the first inning – hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield that drove in Lou Fujiwara (Portal) for the winning run.
“We’ll definitely take it. It was an ugly game, but somebody had to win it,” Ehrnsberger said. “A lot of times you say, ‘Somebody had to lose’. But this time, somebody had to win it. … Fortunately, it was us. With everything that we’ve got going on with the playoff seeding, we needed it, and we got it.
“We’ve lost a few in a row, so getting this win obviously helps us in the standings, but our mindset needs to get back to the winning ways. A close game like this – where we had such a big lead and lost it – will hopefully refocus us, and the guys will come ready to go tomorrow.”
For the game, Lima had seven hits, committed one error and left six runners on base. Grand Lake made five errors and left six baserunners stranded.
For the Locos, Sebastian Alexander (Coastal Carolina) went 2 for 4, including a double.
Ty Davis led the Mariners at the plate, going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI.
Bush, Grand Lake bats blank Lima
CELINA – The Locos entered play on Monday night needing a sweep of Grand Lake and some help around the league to clinch the second seed in the GLSCL postseason.
The Mariners quickly erased that hope for the Locos by taking game one of the final regular season series in dominant fashion with a 12-0 shutout in seven innings at Montgomery Field.
Grand Lake put seven runs on the board in the first two innings and never looked back in its home finale.
Lima’s Ryan Yingst (Tiffin University) received the starting nod for the fifth time this season and he walked four Mariners, allowed four hits and seven earned runs in two innings of work.
Caden Lockwood (Ball State University), Liam Richards (Yavapai College) and Brice Estep (Coastal Carolina University) pieced together the rest of the game on the mound. All three position players turned relievers were making their second appearance of the summer.
“Obviously we want to win every game, but this week is more so about preparing for the playoffs,” said Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger. “We were short on pitching tonight, and we will be all series because I’m trying to get guys rested and ready for the playoffs. Ryan (Yingst) struggled with strikes early on and then we made the decision to go with position players the rest of the way and preserve our pitchers for the next two days.”
Grand Lake only needed one arm to control the Locos.
Hayden Bush (Tiffin University), the roommate of Locos starter Ryan Yingst pitched a complete game for the Mariners. He struck out a season-high seven batters, didn’t issue a walk and allowed just five hits.
Cameron Bryant (Ohio University) and Jackson Rains (transfer portal) each drove in three runs while combining for five hits. Stefan Di Corrado (Dartmouth College) and Ty Davis (Ball State University) also collected two RBI.
Top performers
Lima Locos 19, Grand Lake Mariners 7
• Sebastian Alexander (Coastal Carolina University) went 4 for 4 at the plate, scored four times and drove in four runs in the run-rule victory.
• Andrew Stechschulte (Ohio Northern University) reached base safely four times and drove in three runs.
• Landon Tate (Kennesaw State University) went 4 for 5, drove in three runs and scored three times.
Lima Locos 10, Grand Lake Mariners 9
• Liam Richards (Yavapai College) homered and drove in the game-winning run, recording four total RBI in the walk-off win.
• Carter Parks (St. Johns River State College) was the winning pitcher after he struck out six batters and limited Grand Lake to one earned run on seven hits.
• Kaden Brown (Kennesaw State University) went 1 for 5 at the plate with two runs batted in.
Grand Lake Mariners 12, Lima Locos 0
• Sebastian Alexander (Coastal Carolina University) stole his 32nd base in the loss.
• Brice Estep (Coastal Carolina University) pitched a scoreless inning in his second appearance of the summer.
• Landon Tate (Kennesaw State University) went 2 for 3 at the plate.
GLSCL FINAL STANDINGS
Team`Record
Hamilton Joes`26-9
Lima Locos`21-15
Muskegon Clippers`20-16
Michigan Monarchs`17-19
Xenia Scouts`17-19
South Ohio Copperheads`13-22
Grand Lake Mariners`11-25
RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Monday
Grand Lake Mariners 12, Lima Locos 0
Michigan Monarchs 4, Muskegon Clippers 3
Hamilton Joes 3, South Ohio Copperheads 2
Tuesday
Lima Locos 10, Grand Lake Mariners 9
Michigan Monarchs 8, Muskegon Clippers 5
Hamilton Joes 1, South Ohio Copperheads 0
Wednesday
Lima Locos 18 Grand Lake Mariners 7
Muskegon Clippers 12, Michigan Monarchs 5
Friday
Games ended after The Lima News deadline. Find scores, game stories, photos and more on LimaScores.com.
GLSCL Playoffs
Hamilton Joes at Lima Locos, 7:05 p.m.
Muskegon Clippers at Michigan Monarchs, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday
GLSCL Playoffs
Lima Locos at Hamilton Joes, 7:05 p.m.
Michigan Monarchs at Muskegon Clippers, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday
GLSCL Playoffs
Lima Locos at Hamilton Joes, 7:05 p.m.
Michigan Monarchs at Muskegon Clippers, 7:05 p.m.
