Sluggers Split DH with Xenia
GRADY’S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts and Flag City Sluggers each made some history while splitting a double header on Grady’s Field at Browne Stadium in Xenia.
The Scouts won the first game 5-3 clinching the GLSCL South Division title. It’s the second division title for the Scouts in the last three seasons. Xenia was the GLSCL runner-up in 2023 falling in the championship series to the Lima Locos.
The Sluggers bounced back winning the nightcap 6-1 on the back of its newest signee starting pitcher Andrew Onuegbu.
The opener was the resumption of a suspended game from the night before in Findlay. The Scouts had runners on first and second base with one out when play resumed.
Xenia’s first batter Jacob Winzenread (Oakland City) promptly smacked a double driving in Troy Lynch (University of Minnesota Duluth) home from second base.
The Sluggers crossed the pay station three times in the fifth inning taking a 3-1 lead. Hayden Gilmore (Three Rivers CC) reached on a one-out ground run double. Matt Gardner (Little Rock) doubled past the out stretched attempt of Scouts centerfielder Johnathan Jackson (Harding University) driving in Gilmore tying the game 1-1. Flag City took the lead when Brett Reed (Lawrence University) reached on an error and Gardner was able to score on the play. Harrison Engskov (Arkansas State transfer) delivered an RBI-single driving home Reed who scored just ahead of the throw home.
Lynch became the hero when he hit an opposite field three run homer in the top of the seventh inning. The two-time GLSCL all-star gave the Scouts a 5-3 lead. Lynch’s third home run of the season was part of 2-for-4 game at the plate with two runs scored.
Xenia pitching also was part of the story and three Scouts hurlers kept the Sluggers in check.
Nolan Phillips (University of St. Thomas), who started the game in Findlay facing three batters, returned for the resumption on Sunday. Phillips went six innings giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, despite not factoring in the decision.
Luke Holcomb (Iowa Lakes CC), another Scouts all-star, went two innings out of the bullpen improving his record to 4-0 on the season. Holcomb got himself out of jam when he struck out back-to-back batters ending the seventh inning.
J.T. Spears (Harding University) went the final two innings earning his second save of the season.
After a brief celebration between games it was back to work for the Scouts in the regularly scheduled game.
However, they ran into a buzz saw in the name of Andrew Onuegbu. The right hander just finished his junior college eligibility at Glen Oaks CC has yet to commit to a four-year school.
Onuegbu joined the team when he got in the van for the trip to Xenia and was outstanding in his GLSCL debut. He pitched six shutout innings facing just one batter above the minimum while notching five strikeouts.
Onuegbu only allowed one base runner to reach second base giving up just one hit, two walks and hit one batter. He forced the Scouts into two double plays and picked off a base runner.
CLICK HERE for the postgame interview with Andrew Onuegbu.
The Sluggers bats woke up in the nightcap in support of its new teammate. Caleb Smith (Three Rivers CC) and Matt Gardner each went 2-for-4 at the plate. Reed hit a solo homer in the sixth inning, his first round tripper of the season.
Xenia goes into the all-star break with a record of 24-15. If Scouts can win its final three games it will match its franchise record for wins in a season (27) when they won its first ever division title in 2016.
The Sluggers (18-19) are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs but will need to win all four of its remaining games for a chance to grab the final playoff spot out of the GLSCL North Division.
