The Lima Locos’ Ty Gill slides safely into home plate during Wednesday night’s playoff game against the Michigan Monarchs at Simmons Field.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — The Lima Locos dug out of a first-game hole and remain alive.
The Locos evened the series with a 6-4 victory over Michigan in Game 2 of the Great Lakes Collegiate League best-of-three semifinal playoff series Wednesday at Simmons Field.
The series is tied at 1 with final game, Game 3, at Michigan’s Siena Heights at 7:05 p.m. today.
“How we played the last three innings, take that into the game tomorrow and just play that way the entire game,” Locos second baseman Jayden Davis said.
The Locos scored three in the home eighth to take the lead 6-4 after trailing most of the way.
“We had been pushing and couldn’t get anything going, then we were able to catch some breaks, have some good at-bats and string them together and we were able to make an impact when we needed to,” Locos coach Matt Furuto said.
Kevin Korte (Saginaw Valley State) started for Michigan. He gave up only three runs through seven innings.
But Korte gave up singles to Bryant Herring and DJ Jackson to start the eighth and his day was over.
Korte left with a 4-3 lead in the eighth.
Jaylen Jones (Michigan) came on in relief for Michigan.
Brennen Norton reached on an error on the Michigan third baseman to load the bases.
Davis pounded an RBI single to right to tie the game at 4.
“I got ball up and out and the guy was throwing pretty hard so I tried to stay easy with it and take it that way,” Davis said. “I like opposite field. That’s when I’m hitting my best, when I’m hitting up the middle and opposite field.’’
Furuto added, “He stayed simple and he’s done it all year. He can hit.’’
Jake Hutchins walked with the bases loaded and the Locos had a 5-4 lead.
Norton scored from third on a strikeout/wild pitch and the Locos’ lead grew to 6-4.
Anthony Kyle (Findlay) came on in relief for the Locos to get the victory. He threw four shutout innings and gave up three hits.
“That was fun. That was a blast,” Kyle said. “I felt good. Everything was working well. It’s fun to play in front of this Lima crowd. They’re a rowdy bunch.
“In the ninth, the objective didn’t change (with the lead). It’s getting after guys and getting outs.’’
Kyle struck out six and walked none. He struck out the side in the ninth.
“He did a great job and he’s done a great job all season,” Furuto said. “He kept us in that ballgame and the offense found a way to score a couple of runs. He really earned that win.’’
For the Locos, Herring went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Jackson was 2 for 4.
Davis was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI.
Isaiah Velazco went 2 for 4.
Carter Doorn (Purdue) started for the Locos. Doorn, the league ERA champion (0.88), gave up two unearned runs in the third.
It was Doorn who had a throwing error, allowing Reece Longstaff to reach first in the third.
Tyler Nelson then walked.
Seth Gergely delivered an RBI single to left to give Monarchs a 1-0 lead. Nelson scored from third on a wild pitch and it was 2-0, Michigan.
The Locos got within 2-1 in the home third.
Ty Gill walked and went to second on a passed ball. Gill scored on an RBI single to right by Herring to make it 2-1, Michigan.
Lima tied the game at 2 in the home fourth on a solo home run to left by Davis. While it was ruled a home run, Michigan’s center fielder and left fielder both protested that the ball had bounced over the fence into the bullpen.
But with a blinding sun coming straight toward the plate, it was hard to tell if it bounced over or not.
The three umpires had a conference and ruled it a home run.
Michigan took a 4-2 in the fifth on a two-run single to left by Joe Kido.
With two out in the single home seventh, the Locos’ Carson Garner singled. He scored on an RBI double to left by Gill.
That brought the Locos within 4-3.
Doorn went five innings for the Locos and gave up four runs, two earned, on five hits. He struck out four and walked three.
Doorn threw 97 pitches, 58 for strikes.
Locos notes: The Hamilton Joes won their semifinal series over Licking County in two straight games.
If the Locos win the series against Michigan, they will play Hamilton in Game 1 of the championship series at 7:05 p.m. Friday in
Lima. Games 2 and 3 will be in Hamilton on Saturday and Sunday.
Locos pitcher Carter Doorn (Purdue) was named the pitcher of the year and the pitching prospect of the year for the North Division of the GLCL. Doorn went 2-1 with a league-leading 0.88 ERA. He struck out 47 in 41 innings.
He was also named to the first team all-GLCL team.
Joining Doorn on the first team were second baseman Jayden Davis (Samford) and pitchers Anthony Kyle (Findlay) and Miller Riggins (Kennesaw State).
Named to the second team were shortstop Ty Gill (Purdue), who led the league in hitting at .375, third baseman Brennen Norton (Jacksonville State) and pitcher Patrick Dillon (Toledo/Findlay).
Named honorable mention were catcher Isaiah Velazco (California) and outfielder Bryant Herring (Kennesaw State).
