Cincinnati Steam

Cincinnati Steam Defeat Licking County Settlers 3-1 in 10 innings

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Cincinnati Steam at Licking County Settlers

Newark, OH – The Cincinnati Steam raised their record to 3-2 after defeating the Licking County Settlers 3-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday night. Licking County took the early lead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning off Steam starter Jake Stapf (Badin HS/Eastern Michigan), when he gave up a two out walk that eventually scored off a base hit. Stapf settled out, working his way out of a jam in the third and seventh. Stapf went seven innings on the evening striking out three and scattering six hits along the way.

The Steam got on the board in the top of the sixth inning on an rbi producing bases loaded hit by pitch for Adam Eaton (Kenton Ridge HS/Miami University) tying the score at 1. The score remained tied until the top of the 10^th inning when Brandon Besl (Oak Hills HS/Ohio University) led off the inning with a base hit. Jon Edgington (Wyoming HS/Miami University) came in to pinch run for Besl. Brad Gschwind (Lakota West HS/Miami University) sacrificed Edgington to 2^nd. With one out Zach Hurley (Springboro HS/Ohio State University) hit a ball to left center that fell in between the left fielder and center fielder for a base hit. With Edgington heading for the third and the throw coming in, Hurley alertly scampered to second base. With runners on 2^nd and 3^rd, catcher Ryan Bellamy (Northwest HS/Xavier University) hit a line drive down the first base line off a diving first baseman’s glove for a two run basehit, on the throw to the plate Bellamy advanced to second. Nate Fields (Anderson HS/Ball State University) hit a ball that eluded the shortstop and went into centerfield, Bellamy was thrown out at the plate attempting to score.

With the Steam in the lead 3-1, Justin Schultheiss (Hamilton HS/University of Cincinnati) entered for his third inning of work. After striking out the first hitter, the next two batters walked and got a basehit respectively to put runners at 1^st and 2^nd with one out. Pitching Coach Mike Maundrell replaced Schultheiss with D-3 All American closer Steve Matre (Purcell Marian HS/College of Mount St. Joseph). Matre got a fly out and a ground out to earn the save and preserve the first victory of the season for Schultheiss.

Next up for the Steam is a trip to Celina, Ohio Thursday night, to face the Grand Lake Mariners at Westview Park 7:15pm.