XENIA SCOUTS 16 FLAG CITY SLUGGERS 6 - FINAL/7 Innings
GRADY’S FIELD - The Xenia Scouts ambushed the red hot Flag City Sluggers early cruising to a 16-6 run-rule victory on Grady’s Field at Brown Stadium in Xenia.
The Scouts win keep them atop of the GLSCL South Division standings with a 9-6 record just half a game ahead of the second place Hamilton Joes.
After scoring a run in the first inning, Xenia added five more runs in the second inning extending its lead to 6-0.
Catcher Will Lawrence (Samford University) delivered the big blow with towering grand slam into the trees beyond the left field fence.
The Sluggers (7-8) cut that deficit in half putting a three-spot on the board in the top of the third inning. Chris Franks (Ashland University) crossed the pay station first on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brayden Curlis (Bowling Green State). Cameron Baker (Lincoln Trail) added a two-run double plating Trey Gardner (Three Rivers CC) and Tanner Powell (Loyola University commit).
The Scouts brushed that threat off answering with seven runs in the bottom of the third inning. Xenia only needed three hits during the rally but they all produced runs. Noah Manasan (Arizona Christian University commit) started with an RBI-double followed by an RBI-single for Ayden Alsobrooks (East Mississippi College). Troy Lynch (University of Minnesota Duluth) later cleared the bases with a three-run double.
The team’s traded runs until the bottom of the seventh innings when Xenia secured the 10-run mercy rule advantage. Manasan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing home Johnathan Jackson (Harding University) from the third base walking it off the Scouts.
Lynch, Alsobrooks and Gus Gandy (Samford University) each had three hits for the Scouts. Lawrence (five) and Lawrence (four) combined for nine RBIs. The Xenia base running attacked attributed for six stolen bases.
Franks and Bret Reed (Lawrence University) each provided a pair of hits for the Sluggers.
The series continues with the middle game on Wednesday at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex in Xenia with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.
