Big Fifth Inning Propels Mariners Past Sluggers in Celina
CELINA, OH — For four innings on Sunday afternoon, the Flag City Sluggers were locked in a highly competitive, back-and-forth battle with the first-place Grand Lake Mariners. Then came the bottom of the fifth.
The Mariners exploded for an unbelievable, modern-day record 14 runs in a single frame, turning a tight game into a 19-5 run-rule defeat for the Sluggers at Montgomery Field. The loss drops Flag City to 17-16 overall, while Grand Lake improves to a powerhouse 27-5.
Flag City jumped out to an ideal start, tagging Mariners starter Taylor Seay (2-0) for three runs in the top of the first. Draden Wardrop doubled and later scored, while Cameron Spezia delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing three-run double. Jimmy LaForce added an RBI single in the second, and Kaden Ford drove in a run in the fourth to keep the Sluggers out in front 5-4 heading into the fateful fifth.
What followed in the bottom of the fifth was a perfect storm of defensive frustration and pitching struggles. The Mariners sent 20 batters to the plate, capitalizing on 10 walks and five hit batsmen issued by the Sluggers' pitching staff over the course of the game.
Collin Roelofs (0-1) took the loss in relief, but the entire bullpen struggled to find the strike zone during the blitz. Landon Tiesing drove in five runs on the day for the Mariners, while Parker Vaughn went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs to anchor the 14-run explosion.
By the time the dust settled, a 5-4 ballgame had transformed into a 19-5 deficit. Grand Lake's Kaden Plank tossed two scoreless frames to close out the seven-inning, run-rule conclusion.
Key Stats
Flag City Sluggers
Cameron Spezia (RF): 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI
Draden Wardrop (SS): 1-for-2, 2B, 2 R, BB, SB
Jimmy LaForce (3B): 1-for-1, RBI, Sac
Grand Lake Mariners
Parker Vaughn (3B): 3-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, BB
Landon Tiesing (SS): 1-for-1, 2B, 5 RBI, R, BB, Sac
Maalik Perkins (RF): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, SB
Up Next
Flag City returns to action on Tuesday, July 14, when they take on the Southern Ohio Copperheads at 6:05pm. Admission is free for everyone thanks to the Findlay-Hancock Community Foundation.
