CELINA — Locos starter lefty Dan Sexton looked a little rusty.
Meanwhile, Grand Lake starter left-hander Curtis Wilson appeared like he was in midseason form.
Wilson gave up one run and two hits over his six innings in an 8-2 Grand Lake victory over the Lima Locos Friday at Montgomery Field.
It was the opening night for both teams in the Great Lakes Collegiate League.
“I thought we hit the ball well, but we were unlucky with a couple of balls that were just foul,” Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger said. “Give them credit. They made a couple of great plays on defense that were run-saving plays. … It was one of those days.”
Wilson (Danville C.C.) pitched for Grand Lake last year and was named to the GLCL All-Star team. On Friday, he flashed that form with two strikeouts, one walk. He pounded the strike zone with his fastball and breaking ball, throwing 70 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Wilson was able to get two innings of work on Tuesday before Friday’s opener.
“It’s good being back here,” Wilson said. “I had some confidence and did pretty well last year. I think try to keep things the same and not overdo things. … It’s a wood-bat league, I go after hitters and don’t try to beat around the bush.”
Added Grand Lake coach Sam Slavik, “Curtis was our best guy last year. He goes out there and competes. He throws it over the plate and lets them hit it. He doesn’t walk guys. He knows how to pitch.”
Meanwhile, for Sexton, it was his first outing since finishing at Sinclair CC with a 10-0 record. Sexton was named to the all-GLCL first team with the Locos last year.
He went three innings and gave up six runs, four earned, on five hits. He struck out four and walked three. Sexton threw 77 pitches, 44 for strikes, as he struggled with his Grade A command.
“I think he (Sexton) was a little rusty and it’s been close to a month since he’s thrown in a game,” Ehrnsberger said. “He needs pitches. He needs appearances to get his feel. He’s a feel-type pitcher. When we couldn’t get him out there in exhibitions (because of the postponement), it kind of hurts, but we’re not worried.”
Tyler Anderson (Bowling Green/Shawnee) came on next for the Locos and threw well, including good velocity and good movement on his curve. Anderson, who was shut down with the Falcons most of the spring with a sore right shoulder, went three innings and gave up one run on four hits.
Anderson pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the fourth inning, giving up only a sacrifice fly.
“If this is what we’re going to get from Tyler all year, we’re going to be really, really happy, even more happy than last year with him,” Ehrnsberger said.
Grand Lake scored two in the home first to take a 2-0 lead.
The Locos closed it to 2-1 in the second on Nick Eltzroth’s (Ohio Northern) solo home run to left.
Grand Lake opened it up with a four-run fourth to make it 6-1. Derek Parola and Tyler Frank both had RBI singles in the inning.
For the Locos, Elzroth went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI. Luke Reynolds (Mississippi State) had a double.
Locos notes: The Locos’ home opener is at 7 tonight against Xenia at Simmons Field. In the top of the first inning, with two outs and Brett Murray at second, the Locos’ Will Kilgore scorched a ball down the left-field line, which was foul by inches. Kilgore ended up lining out to second to end the inning.
