The Lima Locos’ Ty Gill makes a throw from the outfield during Saturday night’s game against the Michigan Monarchs at Simmons Field. See more Locos photos at LimaScores.com.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — The Locos came up with a little of everything Saturday night.
The Locos got the key hits, three stolen bases and plenty of solid pitching.
It added up to a 7-1 Locos’ victory over Michigan at Simmons Field.
The Locos are 4-2. Michigan is 3-2.
“The pitching was the best (tonight). We basically shut them out,” Locos coach Matt Furuto said. “They did a great job attacking the zone and putting us in a good spot.
“Offensively, we had key hits and some big swings.’’
For the Locos, Isaiah Velazco (Glendale CC) went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI.
“We have it all,” Velazco said. “Lima is a phenomenal team. We have every little bit. We have the hitting, the fielding and the pitching.’’
Clay Jacobs (Edison State/Indian Lake) was 2 for 2 with an RBI.
Ty Gill (Purdue) 1 for 3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
Lima went up 3-0 in the third and Michigan cut the margin to 3-1 in the fifth. The Locos took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
The Locos took a 3-0 lead in the home third.
Gill walked, then stole second and third.
Jacobs’ sacrifice fly to center gave the Locos a 1-0 lead.
Caleb Dugan was hit by a pitch and Josh Mrozek walked.
Velazco’s RBI single to right gave the Locos a 2-0 lead.
The Michigan catcher tried to pick Mrozek off third, but the throw hit Mrozek and ended up in left field. Mrozek strolled home and the Locos’ lead grew to 3-0 in the third.
Michigan got within 3-1 in the fifth on a solo home run to left by Sandyn Cuthrell. The ball appeared to bounce over the fence in left, but was ruled a home run. Cuthrell even stopped at second, as he felt the ball bounced over the fence.
The Locos expanded their lead to 5-1 in the home fifth.
Mrozek walked and Velazco followed with a two-run home run to right to make it 5-1.
“I felt I had a good year in the spring (.434 with seven HRs at Glendale),” Velazco. “My main concern was just carrying that on.’’
The Locos added a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout to second to make it 6-1.
Gill added an RBI single in the eighth to push the score to 7-1 Locos.
Right-hander Hunter Pidek (Oakland) started for the Locos and flashed an 87 mph fastball with a big breaking ball for strikes.
He went four innings and gave up no runs on one hit. He struck out four and walked one.
Pidek threw 63 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Matt Gauer (Indiana State) picked up the win with three innings of work. He gave up one run on three hits.
Gauer struck out three and walked none.
Patrick Dillon (Toledo/Findlay HS) threw final two innings and gave up no runs and no hits.
Dillon struck out five.
Locos notes: The Locos’ final game of the three-game series with Michigan is 7 p.m. tonight at Simmons Field. It marks the third game of the Locos’ nine-game homestand. The Locos are home Tuesday through Sunday this week.
Locos right-hander Brayden Lybarger (Indiana State/Elida) made his first appearance on a mound Thursday since Tommy John surgery last spring. Lybarger threw the final inning of a 4-3 victory at Sandusky to earn the save. He gave up one hit and struck out three.
Locos infielder Brennen Norton (Jacksonville State) reported to the team on Saturday.
