Cincinnati Steam

Steam Get 30^th Win, End Regular Season In Style

The Cincinnati Steam were able to get their 30^th win of the season defeating the Anderson Servants 8-4 on Friday night. A back and forth contest until the bottom of the sixth inning, the Steam put together a string of runs to put this one on the back burner. The Steam set a franchise best with 30 wins and an 18-2 home record heading to the playoffs in Xenia.

Steam pitcher David Middendorf found himself in a tough situation in the top of the second inning. Middendorf walked Anderson’s Reed Spitaels to lead off the inning and Anthony Lymberopoulos doubled, advancing Spitaels to third. Middendorf walked Tony Bruns to load the bases with no one out. Middendorf then got an infield pop out and short fly ball to left field that kept the runners in their place. Cameron Branock was able to come through with a ground ball between short and third to score Spitaels and give the Servants a 1-0 lead.

The Steam answered in their half of the second. Adam Eaton doubled down the third base line and Billy O’Conner singled to put runners on the corners. Steve Brown grounded into a double play, but got the job done, scoring Eaton and tying the score at 1-1.

The Steam took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Billy O’Conner led off with a single and stole second. Brandon Besl moved O’Conner to third and a sacrifice fly from Brad Gschwind plated O’Conner, giving the Steam the lead, 2-1.

The Servants took the lead back from Cincinnati in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs. Tony Bruns hit a bloop single to left field and a walk issued to Ryan Nevill put two men on. Matthew Jensen hit a slow groundball to Gschwind at short who could only get the runner at first, putting runners on second and third. Cameron Branock hit a single to left field with two outs plating Bruns and Nevill, reclaiming the lead for Anderson 3-2 .

Cincinnati answered right back in the home half scoring four runs and taking a three run lead. Zach Hurley led it off with an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Tommy Nurre hit a double down the left field line to plate Hurley and tie up the game at 3. Brandon Besl came up and doubled in Nurre to make it back-to-back RBI doubles giving the Steam the lead at 4-3. Billy O’Conner kept the hot bats going with a single, putting runners on the corners for Steve Brown. Brown singled, scored Besl and moved O’Conner over to third. Jon Edgington added the last RBI of the inning, singling in O’Conner to make the score 6-3 in favor of Cincinnati.

The Steam added some insurance in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Hurley led it off again with a single and a stolen base, putting him in scoring position for Brandon Besl. Besl hit a towering blast off the top of the chain link monster in right field, scoring Hurley and improving the lead to 7-3 Steam.

The Servants chipped away at the Steam lead in the eighth inning. Adam Eaton walked Tony Bruns who was able to advance all the way to third on two wild pitches. Cameron Branock knocked in another run, cutting the lead to 7-4.

Cincinnati added one more in the bottom of the eighth. Jon Edgington walked and Nate Fields was able to convert on a hit and run with a double to right center, plating Edgington from first, making the Steam lead 8-4.

The Steam ended the season winning the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and will be the top seeded team in the playoffs that begin August 5^th at the Athletes in Action Stadium in Xenia. Check the Steam website, www.cincinnatisteam.com and the league website, www.greatlakesleague.org for more details how you can support the Steam in their quest for the GLSCL Championship.

WP – Zemanek (1-0) LP – Raines (2-1)

Anderson 010 002 010 4 7 0

Cincinnati 010 014 11X 8 14 0

Hitting Leaders:

Servants – Branock (3-5, 3 RBI) Bruns (1-2, 2 runs)

Steam – O’Conner (3-3, 2 runs) Hurley (2-4, 2 runs) Edgington (2-3, 1 RBI, 1 run)