Cincinnati Steam

Steam Dominate Settlers, Claim Regular Season Title

The Steam came into the second game of their three-game homestand with a chance to clinch the GLSCL regular season title with a win over the visiting Licking County Settlers. After last week’s eleven-inning loss to the Settlers, the 10-1 victory to clinch the GLSCL was even sweeter.

After a quiet first inning, Adam Eaton (Miami) got the offense going with a stand-up triple in the bottom of the 2^nd before scoring on an RBI ground-out by Billy O’Conner (Xavier), giving the Steam an early 1-0 lead. They proceeded to add to the lead in the bottom of 3^rd, with a Licking County error starting things for the Steam, putting Nate Fields (Ball St.) on first to lead things off. After Ryan Strausborger (Indiana St.) was hit by a pitch, Zach Hurley (Ohio St.) singled up the middle to score Fields for the Steam’s second run of the game. After Strausborger was thrown out at home, Adam Eaton beat out an RBI infield single to increase the lead to three runs.

The Settlers finally got to Steam starter Bryan Earley (Lincoln Trail College) in the top of the 4^th, as Licking County DH Dan Buchholtz hit an RBI single to narrow the lead to two runs before Earley left the game to Steam newcomer Jorge Marban (Florida Int’l.), with the bases loaded and only one out. Marban quickly got out of the jam, though, striking out one and getting a fly-out to center, leaving the bases loaded.

As Marban kept the Licking County bats at bay, the Steam finally got the bats going again in the bottom of the 6^th, started by a lead-off walk to Billy O’Conner. After a balk moved O’Conner into scoring position, Chris Scahill retired the next batter before his night finished, as Chris Smith came in to try and finish off the Steam in the 6^th. He had no such luck, though, as Nate Fields immediately ripped an RBI ground-rule double to third, scoring O’Conner. After two walks loaded the bases, a Ryan Bellamy (Xavier) bloop single scored Fields. Steve Brown (Xavier) crossed home plate after a wild pitch, and a Brandon Besl (Ohio) sac fly scored Zach Hurley, making the Steam lead 8-1 going into the 7^th, where they would strike again.

With one away in the bottom of the 7^th, Jon Edginton hit a single up the middle and moved to second on a throwing error before two walks loaded the bases, before Hurley dropped in a two-RBI single in shallow center, making the lead a comfortable 10-1 going into the 8^th.

In his second inning of work, Brian Sand (Cincinnati) found himself in a jam, with two men in scoring position and none out, before retiring the next three batters, keeping the Steam lead at nine runs going into the final inning, when Eric Braeckel came in to finish things off, as the Steam clinched the GLSCL regular season title and the top seed in next week’s playoffs in Xenia, starting on Wednesday, August 3.

The Steam will be in action again tomorrow night against the Anderson Servants, making up a rain-out from July 3. It will be Fan Appreciation Night at the ball park, as the Steam look to make it a 30-win season.

Licking County Settlers 000 100 000 1 8 3

Cincinnati Steam 012 005 20X 10 9 1

WP – Marban (1-0) LP – Scahill (1-2)

Hitting Leaders:

Settlers – Turk (3-4), Buchholz (1-3; 1 rbi), Clayton (1-4; 1 run); Rosado (2-4)

Steam – Hurley (2-3; 2 runs, 2 rbi); Edgington (2-3; 2 runs, 1 rbi); Fields (2-4; 2 runs, 1 rbi)