Cincinnati Steam

Steam Sink the Mariners

Thursday, June 19, 2008 Cincinnati Steam at Grand Lake Mariners

Celina, OH – The Cincinnati Steam continued their hot hitting extending their win streak to four on Thursday night by defeating the Grand Lake Mariners 13-0. The Steam exploded for 13 runs on 15 hits in the game. Additionally, the Steam utilized four pitchers to get a combined shutout on the night. Steam pitchers struck out thirteen Mariner hitters, while scattering eleven hits. In the game there were 26 combined hits, all singles for the two teams. The victory raises Cincinnati’s record to 4-2 on the young season while dropping the Mariners to 2-4.

The Steam took an early lead in the top of the first inning sending eight to the plate and scoring three times. Last night’s hero Ryan Bellamy (Northwest HS/Xavier University) singles in the game’s first run. And Billy O’Conner (Elder HS/Xavier University) plated two more with a two out single.

The Steam extended their lead in the top of the 2^nd off a two out rally started by Brad Gschwind (Lakota West HS/Miami University) who got a basehit to right, followed next by Ryan Strausborger (Indiana State) who received a four pitch walk. Zach Hurley (Springboro HS/Ohio State University) reached on an error to load the bases and Gschwind scores on yet another error off the bat of Ryan Bellamy.

Grand Lake attempted a comeback off Steam starter Ryan Kruzska (Butler University) with a lead off hit to right center but Kruzska retired the next two hitters and after an infield single in the hole to short putting runners on first and third, Kruzska gets a fly out to short to end the inning.

The Steam exploded for five runs in the top of the 3^rd sending 11 hitters to the plate to extend the lead to 9-0. The inning started innocently with Billy O’Conner flying out to right for the first out, a walk to Jason Cisper and a caught looking by Adam Eaton mixed in with a stolen base for Cisper. So the Mariners had one on and two out, the wheels fell off from there for Grand Lake. Jon Edgington singled to right scoring Cisper making it 5-0. Brad Gschwind and Ryan Strausborger walked to load the bases for Zach Hurley who hit an infield rbi single scoring Edgington, along with Gschwind on an error by the pitcher. With the Steam leading 7-0 and runners on 1^st and 3^rd with two outs, Ryan Bellamy singles to left scoring Strausborger to make it 8-0. Jake Brown walked to load the bases and Billy O’Conner walked to drive in the 9^th run of the game for the Steam.

The Mariners threatened again in the bottom of the 3^rd but strands two runners. In the top of the fourth the Steam plated one more run off a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Zach Hurley to make the score 10-0. In the top of the 6^th the Steam scored three more times to make the score 13-0, capped by a two out two run single by Brandon Besl.

On the mound, Kruzska went five, scattering six hits and striking out five to earn the victory making his record 1-1 on the season. Eric Braeckel followed Kruzska, striking out three in his two innings worth of work. Michael Korfhagen pitched the 8^th inning and after allowing the first two Mariners to reach base, struck out the side. And last but not least, Jordan Conley, struck out two in the 9^th inning for the combined shutout of Grand Lake.

Next up for the Steam is a return home tomorrow night against the Delaware Cows at Western Hills High School at 7:05pm for Price Hill Night. Everyone in attendance will be admitted for a $1.00.