Lima Locos’ Diego Gines fields a ground ball against the Sandusky Ice Haulers during Sunday’s game at Simmons Field.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA – Sandusky’s Josh Kross has a growing fondness for Simmons Field.
Switch-hitter Kross (Toledo) rolled out his home run swing from both side of the plate as Sandusky knocked off the Lima Locos 13-4 Sunday at Simmons Field.
Kross went 3 for 4 with two home runs, one from each side of the plate, and had five RBI on the day.
Both of his homers were no-doubt cannon shots.
Kross has four home runs on the summer and three in two days came against the Locos.
“I love it (playing in Lima),” Kross said. “I think the fans help me because I feed off their energy. I love to get them going and have them chirp me is what baseball is all about. It’s a fun time.’’
Kross said he has been switch-hitting since the age of 12.
“I’ve done it since I was young with power to both sides. It started when I was playing Wiffle Ball in the backyard.’’
The Locos are 10-9. Sandusky (11-7) is atop of the North Division of the Great Lakes Collegiate League.
Sandusky took the series in Lima two games to one.
“We didn’t play good baseball in those two games and they’re a good team,” Locos coach Matt Furuto said. “They’re right at the top and when you give a good team opportunities, they’re going to take advantage of it.
“But I think we are just as good as they are. But we haven’t played good baseball in the games we’ve lost.’’
Earlier in the year, Lima swept Sandusky three games at Sandusky.
“We knew since we lost three (to Lima) we didn’t want to lose another series to them,” Kross said. “We came out fighting and took the series this time.’’
Kross added that while he was at Toledo this spring, he is currently in the transfer portal and searching for a new school.
On the mound, Sandusky’s Owen Kovacs went the first two innings and gave up no runs on no hits. He struck out one. He worked 3 2/3 innings of relief on Friday.
Alec Mendoza threw five shutout innings in relief and gave up four hits to earn the win. He struck out five and walked two.
The Locos also made five errors on the night. Of the 13 runs the Locos pitchers gave up, only six were earned.
For the Locos, Brennen Norton (Jacksonville State) went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Jayden Davis (Samford) was 2 for 5.
Carson Garner (Murray State) was 2 for 3.
Bryant Herring (Kennesaw State) was 2 for 3.
Kross (Toledo) gave Sandusky a 2-0 lead in the first with a long two-run home run to right in the first. It was Kross’ second homer in two nights against the Locos.
That Kross home run came left-handed against the right-handed Brayden Lybarger.
Then, in the fourth, batting right-handed against the left-handed Dillon Masters, he pounded a solo home run to left.
That gave the Ice Haulers a 3-0 lead.
“He’s a good hitter and he was on and when you make a mistake with a good hitter, he makes you pay for it,” Furuto said. “He did that tonight.’’
Sandusky added two more runs in the fifth to push their lead to 5-0. Nathan Archer had a sacrifice fly and Andrew Horvath added an RBI single to left to make it 5-0.
Sandusky kicked the lead to 6-0 in the sixth.
The Locos got within 6-2 in the home eighth.
Carson Garner had an RBI double in the eighth, while Joe Salvo had a sacrifice fly to center.
Sandusky then went after the Locos’ bullpen in the ninth, scoring seven to push the lead to 13-2.
Locos starter Lybarger (Indiana State) left the game with a right arm injury while warming up before the second inning. He was flexing his arm after a pitch and left the game with the Lima coaches.
Lybarger, who had Tommy John elbow surgery in May of 2021, went one inning and gave up two runs, both earned, on one hit. He struck out one and walked one.
Masters went five innings for the Locos and gave up four runs, only one earned, on six hits. He struck out three and walked two.
LOCOS NOTES:The Locos start a nine-game road trip at Michigan on Tuesday. The Locos will play three games at Michigan, three at Royal Oak and three at Jet Box. The Locos return home for a 4:35 p.m. doubleheader against Muskegon on July 8 at Simmons Field.
Locos second baseman Jayden Davis (Samford) leads the team in hitting at .457. But he doesn’t have enough at-bats (16 for 35) yet to qualify
for the league batting leaders. Davis has three doubles, one home run and six RBI.
Locos starting pitchers have compiled and ERA of 3.94. The bullpen’s ERA is 5.73.
Over the last eight games, the starters have a 4.09 ERA. The bullpen’s ERA over the last eight is 8.90.
