Lima Locos’ Justin Rumfield, left, scores and fist bumps team mate Anthony Zarlingo during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Sandusky Ice Haulers at Simmons Field.
LIMA – At times, the Lima Locos have struggled to drive in base runners this summer.
In Sunday’s doubleheader with the visiting Sandusky Ice Haulers, the Locos stranded a total of 15 baserunners in the two games.
Despite leaving some opportunities on the base paths, the Locos managed to split the twin bill with Sandusky.
In Sunday’s opener, the Locos pulled away late to notch a 5-0 victory at Simmons Field.
In the second game, the Locos pounded 10 base hits, but left 10 runners on base, en route to a 4-3 loss.
The Locos now stand 16-6 in the North Division of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Lima came into Sunday’s action sitting in second place in the division to the Muskegon Clippers, who were 16-2, heading into Sunday.
The Ice Haulers are now 12-8 and are sitting in third place in the North Division.
“Our problem all summer has been our approach at certain at-bats,” Locos head coach Chad Ehrnsberger said. “When we get guys on base, for some reason, we keep changing what we’re doing. When we get guys on base, we change our approach, and it’s obviously not working.
“The positive is that we’re 16-6, and we have time to get better at it (scoring base runners). We need to start getting better because we haven’t done it, yet.”
In the opener, the Locos got on the scoreboard first, on a fielder’s choice by Kyle Ashworth (Long Beach State) in the home half of the third, that plated a run.
In the fifth, the Locos gave themselves some breathing room, when they scored three runs on one hit, to extend their lead to 4-0.
Anthony Zarlingo (Southwest Tennessee CC) drove in two runs with a single in the fifth for Lima.
The Locos added another run in the sixth, on a grounder to the right side of the infield by Kolton Schaller (Kent State) that drove in Jack Porter (University of Central Florida). Porter led off the sixth with a double off the left field fence.
Peyton Nelson (College of Charleston) got the starting nod on the pitching mound for the Locos in the first game.
Nelson worked six innings, en route to recording the win. The lefthanded Nelson allowed just two hits, while striking out seven, walking one and hitting a batter. He threw 88 pitches on the day, 53 of those for strikes.
Reese Bassinger (Tarleton State) came in to close out the game for the Locos in the seventh.
“Peyton (Nelson) threw great,” Ehrnsberger said. “Peyton has thrown great for us all summer. So, it’s something we come to expect. I think we’ve been spoiled by the way he’s thrown for us this summer. Hopefully, he can continue to do that.”
Nelson had a no-hitter, heading into the fifth inning.
With one out in the fifth, Sandusky right fielder Luke Walton, hit a slow roller to the left side of the infield that he beat out for the first hit of the game for the Ice Haulers.
The Locos collected just four hits in the first game.
For the Ice Haulers, Parker Newby started on the mound.
Newby worked four-plus innings, before giving way to Ben Keller in the sixth.
Newby was tabbed for three runs on one hit, while striking out three, walking four and hitting two batters. He threw 61 pitches.
Jake Shaver came in to pitch the sixth inning for the Ice Haulers.
In the nightcap, Sandusky jumped out to an early lead on the Locos, scoring three runs in the first inning on three hits off former Lincolnview standout Landon Price (Ohio State).
Price worked five innings, en route to recording the loss on the mound for the Locos.
The left-handed Price was tabbed for four runs on six hits, while striking out three, and hitting a batter. He threw 73 pitches, 56 of those were strikes.
Price had two innings in which he retired the side in order.
“Landon’s problem is sometimes he gets behind on the count,” Ehrnsberger said. “When he stays even or is ahead on the count, he’s a really, really good pitcher. When he’s gotten into trouble is when he has thrown balls early in the count. … Guys at this level will take advantage of that. But overall, he’s done a great job for us. We’re glad that he’s a Loco this summer.”
Ryan Denison, a righthander from Florida State, took over pitching duties for the Locos in the sixth.
The Locos cut the deficit to 4-2 in the home half of the third.
Justin Rumfield (Midland CC) had a single that drove in the two runs for the Locos. Rumfield led all hitters in the second game, going 3 for 4 at the plate.
The Locos added a run in the sixth, but left the bases loaded.
Kyle Ashworth (Long Beach State), Anthony Zarlingo (Southwest Tennessee CC) and Cade Belyeu (Auburn) each had two hits in the second game for the Locos.
