Deron Swanson pitches Friday night for the Lima Locos against Jet Box at Simmons Field.
Justin Dierkes | The Lima News
It was a completely different story weather wise from Thursday in Michigan, as Friday night Jet Box and the host Lima Locos played their Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League doubleheader at Simmons Field under sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s at Simmons Field.
The Locos started the night 24-8, winners of eight of their last 10 games, taking on the 11-21 Jet Box team, for the second time this season, in the second game of a now three game series after Thursday night’s game was canceled due to weather. The Locos won the first game Wednesday night 10-3 to go 4-0 against Jet Box.
In game one, the Locos got off to a slow start as Jet Box made consistent solid contact throughout the first few innings to grab a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third.
Starting on the mound was Findlay right-handed pitcher Garit Krupp who went 2 2/3 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, and grabbing one strikeout before a walk with the bases loaded resulted in the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Ty Kiehl, a St Marys grad, taking over and not allowing any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom third, things turned around for the Locos, as Anthony Zarlingo got things started with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Caleb Herd for an earned run. Two batters later, Auburn outfielder Cade Belyeu smacked a deep ball to right field for a 3-run home run, his first of the season, bringing home Kolton Schaller and Eduarny Martinez and putting the Locos up 4-3 after three innings.
In the fourth, Jet Box added two more runs to to go up 5-4, but the Locos responded big again. First, with Aidyn Coffey at bat, he knocked a triple to left field to score Connor Ashby for an earned run to tie the game at 5. Next up to bat was Herd, and a wild pitch brought home Coffey from third for the lead. Four batters later, Martinez advanced to first after an error from the first baseman, then made his way to second, while Zarlingo and Herd both came home to give the Locos an 8-5 lead after four innings.
Jet Box grabbed 3 more runs in the top of the fifth to tie the ballgame at eight, eventually taking the game into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Jet Box hit a single into the gap in right field to bring home another run, making it 9-8.
However, in the bottom of the 8th, with two outs and two on, Martinez struck out and the Jet Box Baseball Club took game one 9-8. Te Locos finished with eight hits on three errors.
In game 2, the Locos came out red hot to start. Zarlingo advanced to third with a triple, then Martinez gets on first with a walk, and finally Belyeu went yard once again for another three-run home run, his second of the day, and on the season, to put the Locos up 3-0 at the end of the first.
In the bottom of the second, the Locos kept the momentum by grabbing three more runs. First, Schaller advanced to second with a double to right field bringing in Lima local Caleb Edwards Dugan. Next, Zarlingo got his second triple of the day, allowing Schaller to score. Finally, Zarlingo slid home for another run on a wild pitch to the backstop, as the Locos went up 6-0 to end the second inning.
In the third, the Locos took their offense to a new level. First, a two-run home run from Aidyn Coffey to start things off. Then, Schaller added to it with an RBI double to bring home Mason Sawyer. Next, Belyeu hit a single to center field allowing Schaller and Dugan to score two more runs. Coffey stepped up to the plate once again in the frame and hit an RBI single with bases loaded, allowing Belyeu to score. All a part of a seven-run inning for the Locos to extend the lead to 13-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Belyeu grabbed another RBI single to right field. Schaller came home for the 14th run of the game for the Locos.
Not only was the offense clicking, but Deron Watson was effective on the mound. In 3 1/3innings pitched, he gave up two hits and two runs while striking out 7 Jet Box batters. Dugan got time on the mound as well Friday night. The Lima Senior grad closed out the game, allowing two hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
The Locos finished the game with 14 hits on two errors with Schaller producing three tuns, three hits, and three RBI in four at bats. Zarlingo had two runs, 3 hits, and one RBI in five at bats. Belyeu ended the game with two runs, three hits, and 6 RBI, including one home run in four at bats. Coffey grabbed one hit, two runs, and three RBI in his 5 at bats, and Dugan helped his own cause with two runs and one hit in 3 at bats.
The Locos have four games remaining on the schedule, all at Marsh Field in a series to take against first place 29-win Muskegon Clippers, with back-to-back doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. The Locos split a doubleheader with the Clippers on July 4. Both teams have qualified for the playoffs but first place has not been assured yet.
Justin Dierkes wrote this story for The LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
