Hamilton dominates Locos in postseason opener

The Lima Locos find themselves in a precarious position in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs after 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 need to win in Game Two at 7:05 p.m at Hamilton on Saturday to extend the series to a decisive third game, also at Hamilton, at 7:05 p.m. Sunday.

In seven games between the two teams this season, Hamilton has won five times.

Friday night’s game started with the Locos 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 by 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.

But 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 also was 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.

In the other GLSCL semifinal first-round game the Michigan Monarchs defeated the Muskegon Clippers 8-7 after falling behind 6-2 early in the contest.