Locos notebook: Locos end season against Hamilton

HAMILTON — The Locos battled and made the most of only three hits but saw their season end with a 6-5 loss to the Hamilton Joes on Saturday night in a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoff semifinal.

Saturday night’s win added to a Friday night win over the Locos in the best-of-three series sent the Joes to the championship round of the GLSCL playoffs against Muskegon Clippers, who beat the Michigan Monarchs over the weekend.

Hamilton, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, improved its record to 28-9. The Locos, the No. 2 seed, finished the season 21-17.

The Locos scored three runs in the top of the first inning when Justin Gorski reached base on an error, Liam Richards and Blake Bowen walked and Sebastian Alexander cleared the bases with a 3-run double.

Hamilton got a run in the bottom of the first when Brayden Fraasman singled and Cam Gilkerson doubled.

The Joes tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning but the Locos went back in front in the top of the fifth inning at 4-3 when Bo Shinkle walked, Gorski reached base on an error and Shinkle scored on a double play.

Hamilton’s three runs in the bottom of the seventh made it a 6-4 game. Paul Osting’s two-run triple put the Joes in the lead again and Braxton Baird drove in Osting with a sacrifice fly.

The Locos reduced the lead to one run, 6-5, in the eighth inning when Gorski was hit by a pitch, moved up on a ground out on Bowen’s single, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Alexander.

In the ninth inning, Andrew Stechschulte and Shinkle drew walks. A wild pitch moved them up to second and third base with two down, but Hamilton relief pitcher Parker Dillhoff struck out Gorski to end the game.

Thomas Howard started for the Locos, pitched four innings, allowed six hits and three runs, walked five and struck out two. Chase Jarnigan also pitched four innings, allowed four hits and three runs, walked one and struck out three.

Hamilton starter Nathan Ciemmy went four innings, gave up two hits and four runs, walked four and struck out four. Eric Rawlings pitched four innings, gave up one hit and one run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out three. Dillhoff did not allow a run or a hit, walked two and struck out one.

Locos drop playoff opener

The Lima Locos put themselves in a precarious position in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs with a 10-4 loss to the Hamilton Joes in the opening game of a best-of-three first-round match-up at Simmons Field on Friday night.

The Locos started things off by taking a 2-1 lead after a two-run home run by Brice Estep in the second inning but Hamilton scored four runs in the top of the third inning and added three more in the fourth inning to take control of the game.

The Joes’ third inning began with a single and a stolen base by Paul Osting. That was followed by a run-scoring single, a run-scoring double by Ryan Novak, another run-scoring single by Cam Gilkerson, a double by Charlie Niehaus and a groundout from Tommy Harrison that scored the fourth run of the inning.

The Locos cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the third inning on three consecutive singles by Liam Richards, Blake Bowen and Sebastian Alexander.

However, they would not score again until the ninth inning when Richards singled and Hamilton pitcher Corbin Ausman walked Tate, Estep and Andrew Stechschulte on a total of 12 pitches.

Novak went 3 for 5, including a first-inning home run and a double for Hamilton (27-9). Gilkerson was also 3 for 5, including a triple and a double.

For the Locos (21-16), Richards was 3 for 5, Alexander and Caden Lockwood were 2 for 5 and Tate was 2 for 4.

Cooper Fiehrer (6 innings, 9 hits, 3 runs, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk) was the winning pitcher. Matteo Pare (4 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks) took the loss.

Top performers

Hamilton Joes 10, Lima Locos 4

• Brice Estep (Coastal Carolina University) hit a two-run homer in the second inning.

• Liam Richards (Yavapai College) collected three hits and scored two runs.

• Landon Tate (Kennesaw State College) went 2 for 4, drew a walk and scored a run.

Hamilton Joes 6, Lima Locos 5

• Sebastian Alexander (Coastal Carolina University) went 1 for 4 with a double and drove in four runs.

• Bo Shinkle (transfer portal) reached base two times and scored one run.

• Justin Gorski (Miami University) scored two runs and stole one base.