Cincinnati Steam

SETTLERS TAKE TWO FROM THE STEAM

Newark, OH – The Cincinnati Steam traveled to Newark, Ohio, to face the Licking County Settlers for their first road games of the season and returned to Cincinnati battered, bruised and road weary. Cincinnati was swept by duplicate 3-2 scores by the Licking County Settlers on Sunday afternoon as the Steam mounted only four hits in game 1 and 6 hits in game 2. While Cincinnati pitchers issued a total of eleven walks in the two contests and now 18 over the three games that they have played. Trailing in both contests, Cincinnati mounted comebacks. In game 1, the Steam tied it up 2-2 in the 6^th inning only to lose the game on a walk off basehit in the 7^th. In game 2, Cincinnati trailed 3-0 then scored two in the 8^th and threatened in the 9^th with two on and two out only to leave the tying and go ahead runs stranded. On the return trip home the team bus broke down on 71 South about 85 miles north of Cincinnati. Bill O’Conner and Steve Brown (Co-owners of the Steam) to the rescue, hopping in 2 suburbans and making the trek to get the boys. The Steam return home Tuesday to face the Lima Locos then will head to Grand Lake on Wednesday before facing the GLSCL’s newest franchise, the Hamilton Joes at Western Hills High School on Thursday.

Game 1
After both teams were retired in order in the first, Cincinnati made some noise by getting the Settlers to commit back to back errors to put runners on first and second. The runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch by Settlers’ starter Phil Klein. After a strike out, Tim Issler walked to load the bases. The Settlers averted disaster when Trace Voshell hit a grounder to second base that Steve Davis fielded and applied a tag to Tim Issler then threw onto first to complete the inning ending double play and rally killer. The Settlers dented the plate with the first run of the game when Aaron Roberts hit a one out single to right then scored from first on a double to left by John Turk. The Settlers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as with one out Licking County put together back to back infield singles. Steam thorn John Turk laced a basehit to center scoring Chris Serritella from second making the Settlers lead 2-0. The Steam broke up the no hitter in the top of the fifth with an infield single from Trace Voshell. Cincinnati erased the goose egg in the top of the 6^thoff Settlers’ reliever Tommy Shirley, when Ryan Strausborger led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Jon Edgington advanced Strausborger to third on a ground out to second base. Kyle Bluestein tripled to right center field scoring Strausborger to cut the lead in half at 2-1. After Travis Shaw strikes out for the second out of the inning, Licking County makes a change on the mound and brings in Aaron Hammons. With Hammons facing Bobby Freking, John Turk allowed a passed ball scoring Bluestein from third to tie the game at 2. Licking County threatened off reliever Cody Elliott in the 6^th leaving the bases loaded. Licking County scored the game winning run in the bottom of the 7^th off reliever Adam Clark. Clark walked lead off hitter Kyle McMillen on four straight pitches. McMillen advanced to 2^nd on a sacrifice bunt by John McCambridge. After another four pitch walk to Brian Kordel, Chris Serritella drove in the game winner with a single to left-center scoring McMillen from second. The loss sends the Steam to 1-1 on the season with Licking County winning their opener of the season.

Game 1
Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Steam 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 0 Settlers 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 3 9 2

WP – Hammons(1-0) LP – Clark(0-1)

Steam Hitting Leaders: Strausborger double and run scored, Bluestein triple, rbi and run scored
Settlers Hitting Leaders: Serritella (2-4) rbi run scored, Roberts (3-3), Turk (2-2) double 2 rbi

Records: Cincinnati Steam (1-1) Licking County Settlers (1-0)

Game 2
The Steam pitching woes continued in the bottom of the 2^nd inning when starting pitcher Ian Kadish issued 3 walks leading to a two out basehit scoring two to give the Settlers an early 2-0 lead. The Settlers scored one in the 5^th inning to make it a 3-0 lead before the Steam mounted a comeback in the 8^th scoring two times cutting Licking County’s lead to 3-2. Cincinnati threatened in the 9^th but pinch hitter Travis Shaw grounded out for the final out leaving two runners on for the Steam.

Game 2

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Steam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 2
Settlers 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 x 3 6 2

WP – Kountis(1-0) LP – Kadish(0-1) Sv – Karow (1)

Steam Hitting Leaders: Thomas (2-3), Jones rbi, Schmidt (2-3) rbi, Elliott (2-4)
Settlers Hitting Leaders: McMillen (2-4) 2 rbi, McCambridge (2-4) Bucholz rbi

Records: Cincinnati Steam (1-2) Licking County Settlers (2-0)