Lima Locos’ Caleb Herd tags out Michigan Monarchs’ Silas Butler during Friday’s game at Simmons Field.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — The Lima Locos are showing they know how to win the close games in the early part of the season.
For the third time this year, the Locos produced a one-run victory, an 8-7 comeback thriller against Michigan, in front of a near capacity crowd in the team’s home opener Friday night.
The Locos improve to 3-1 on the year. The team’s lone loss came in an extra inning Thursday affair where the tiebreaker favored Sandusky. Michigan dips to 2-2 on the year.
Leading 6-4 going into the eighth it appeared the Locos were heading towards the victory but the Monarchs tallied four runs to go up 7-6 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Showing determination, some grit and getting a little luck, the Locos’ Caleb Herd opened the inning with a single, followed by another hit from lead-off man Kyle Answorth to put runners on first and second with no out. The Monarchs recorded the next two outs and Herd and Answorth were now on second and third. The game appeared over when Cade Belyeu hit a sharp grounder to the second baseman, however, the ball went through the infielder’s legs and Herd and Answorth came into score to what would turn out to be the tying and winning runs.
Locos skipper Chad Ehrnsberger was encouraged by his team’s ability to rally for the win and producing at the plate as Lima lashed out 14 hits and four extra base hits. In the first three games, the Locos struggled to bring runners home and had not scored three or more runs in a game.
“We talked a lot before the game, and we worked on it in batting practice about just seeing the ball deeper and letting the ball travel and using the whole field,” the Locos manager said. “I think up in Sandusky we got a little pull happy but today we were using the whole field and we got a lot of hits because of it.
“You don’t get 14 hits looking to pull it or yank it. I give the guys a lot of credit. They came out and executed our game plan.”
Garit Krupp, one of five pitchers used by the Locos, picked up the win after throwing a third of a inning while giving up two hits and two runs. Krupp was called on to replace Johnathon Allen who opened the eighth but tossed two-thirds of an inning and was taken out due an undisclosed injury.
Shutting the door in the ninth on the mound was Micah Takac who had just arrived from Mercer and promptly established himself as a solid arm in the bullpen by striking out the side and earning the save.
“I am not sure what happened to John and hopefully he is OK,” Ehrnsberger said. “Garit came into a tough spot. You really can’t read anything into that (his outing) but he got through the inning and Micah, who I had not even seen throw a baseball yet and got here right before the game got started, but I like what I see. The coaches at Mercer love him and I can see why.”
Reese Bassinger went the first three, giving up no hits and two runs while striking out three and walking two. Defiance High School product Jayden Jerger went four innings and gave up four hits and one run while fanning four and walking none.
“A lot of these guys were relievers at their schools in the spring and their schools want them to come back as starters and we are going to stretch some guys out but right now the pitch count leans towards them being three and four inning guys but as the summer goes on we may get four or five innings but we don’t want to overuse anybody,” Ehrnsberger said.
“I am not opposed to bring in a fresh arm. I think what we have been doing we will stick with and maybe it will be four and four instead of three and three.”
The Locos return to action against the Monarchs at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Game summary
Monarchs 101 100 040 — 7 6 1
Locos 212 000 12x — 8 14 4
WP — Garit Krupp; LP — Robert Klann
2B: T. Khela (M), K. Ashworth (L), J. Porter (L), L. Underhill (L), C. Ashby (L)
HR: C. Vance (M)
Reach Jose Nogueras at 567-242-0451
