Flag City Slips in Game 2 of Locos Series
Wednesday’s matchup between the Flag City Sluggers and the Lima Locos featured Flag City’s most competitive contest yet. Weston Speir made his second start of the season and came out firing, striking out three Locos in the top of the first inning.
Flag City scored in the first for the third consecutive game, thanks to four walks issued by Locos starter Landon Vandegrift. Right fielder Harrison Engskov picked up where he left off in Tuesday’s 10–4 loss, reaching base on a fielder’s choice. The mix of walks and timely baserunning allowed Engskov to cross home plate, giving Flag City a 1–0 lead after one.
Speir followed up with a quick, clean second inning, setting the stage for the Sluggers’ most productive frame of the night. Left fielder Ashton Williams got things rolling with a single, followed by another from shortstop Brett Reed that brought Williams all the way home. Engskov then singled, moving both runners into scoring position. Center fielder Tanner Powell delivered a two-RBI single, stretching the lead to 4–0 after two innings.
Lima turned to reliever Cameron Darrington to stop the bleeding, and he silenced the Sluggers' offense over the middle innings. Darrington faced nine batters through the 4th, 5th, and 6th and retired them all—eight by strikeout—before being pulled after a dominant seventh.
While Flag City’s bats cooled off, Lima’s offense started to heat up. Shortstop Charlie Vercruysse led off the third with a single. Designated hitter Braydon Kersey followed with a double to the fence, allowing Vercruysse to score and put the Locos on the board.
In the fourth, third baseman Grant McGuire was hit by a pitch, and first baseman Declan Magee and catcher Will Briggs followed with singles to load the bases. Right fielder Luke Mottola then hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Brayden Curlis, who turned a textbook 4–6–3 double play with shortstop Brett Reed and first baseman Trey Gardner. McGuire scored during the play, trimming the Sluggers’ lead to 4–2.
Sluggers pitcher Jacob Brandon came in for the fifth and dazzled, striking out the side before exiting. Flag City held a 4–2 lead entering the 8th, with Hayden Gilmore taking over on the mound. His first pitch hit Kersey, who took first base. Center fielder David Falloon then doubled, putting runners on second and third. Left fielder Cole Crafton grounded out, allowing Kersey to score and Falloon to move to third.
Cooper Ashby was called in to pitch and would finish the game for Flag City. McGuire then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Falloon and tying the game at 4–4 heading into the final frame.
Two defensive substitutions—Chris Franks and Andrew Stechschulte—entered in the top of the 9th. The Locos loaded the bases with just one out, following hits from Mottola and second baseman Matt Rose, and Vercruysse being hit by a pitch. Kersey then hit a sharp grounder to Curlis, who fired home to catcher Jaxon Brown. A controversial call followed, as the umpire ruled Mottola safe at the plate, saying Brown’s foot had come off before the tag.
Falloon added a sacrifice fly, and Crafton capped things off with a ground-rule double, bringing the final score to 7–4 in favor of Lima. The Locos improved to 5–0, while the Sluggers fell to 0–5.
The final game of this exciting series will take place Thursday, June 12, at Marathon Diamonds, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Come out and support the Sluggers as they chase their first win!