NEWARK — Even a flat tire couldn’t slow down the Lima Locos.
The Locos had a rough trip down to Newark when their bus suffered a flat tire along State Route 33 near Marysville.
But in spite of starting the game an hour late, the Locos knocked off Licking County 6-3 to win the the best-of-three Great Lakes Collegiate League semifinal series 2-0 Friday at Don Edwards Field.
It marked the fifth straight year the Locos had met Licking in the postseason playoffs, with Licking winning the last three times, including in the semifinals last year. Licking County was the three-time defending GLCL champions.
“It feels good to beat them,” Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger said. “But the goal is to get to the championship series and win that.”
In the other GLCL best-of-three semifinal series, Xenia defeated Hamilton 6-3 at Xenia. That evens that series at 1-1, with Game 3 at Hamilton at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Locos are off today and open the best-of-three championship series at home at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Hamilton/Xenia winner at Simmons Field. Game 1 on Sunday and Game 3 on Tuesday, if necessary, will be at home. Game 2 on Monday will be on the road.
The Locos scored three in the second to grab a 3-0 lead. Hunter Williams (Tulane) had an RBI double to give Lima a 1-0 lead. Michael Emodi (Creighton) delivered an RBI single to make it 2-0. Grant Williams (Kennesaw State) had an RBI single to give the Locos a 3-0 lead.
“It was great to get the first lead of the game,” Ehrnsberger said. “It relaxed all of them. We strung together several hits. … We get up 3-0, it takes the pressure off.”
For the Locos, Hunter Williams went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. Emodi was 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI. Luke Reynolds (Mississippi State) was 2 for 4. Brett Murray (Creighton) was 2 for 4 with two doubles in the nine-hit attack.
Licking County scored one in the home second to get within 3-1.
Reynolds (Mississippi State) drilled an RBI double in the third to push the Locos’ lead to 4-1.
The Locos scored two in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. Licking scored one in the ninth to close to 6-3.
Right-hander Tyler Anderson (Bowling Green/Shawnee) started for the Locos. He went four innings and gave up two runs, two earned, on four hits. He struck out one and walked one.
Ryan Ruggles (Alabama-Birmingham) came on next and tossed two shutout, one-hit innings for the win. Seth Kinker (Ohio State) followed with two shutout, two-hit innings.
“The guys have battled through stuff all summer and they weren’t going to let a blown tired affect them,” Ehrnsberger said.
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