Grand Lake Mariners 2, Galion Graders 0
CELINA — Sunday marked a road trip to Montgomery Field in Eastview Park for the Graders to take on the Mariners in their final game before the all-star break.
In what turned out to be a weather shortened game of just 4+ innings, the Grand Lake squad took the victory, 2-0. Grand Lake is now 18-13 on the year and in second place in the Central Division behind the Lima Locos. Galion drops to 14-17 overall and remains in third in their division.
Jake Hoover had Galion’s only hit in the shortened contest, a single. The Graders did record one error and also stranded two runners on base. Grand Lake plated two runs on five hits and left two on base.
Osvaldo Duran took the loss, tossing four innings and giving up the five hits, two runs (one earned) while fanning two. Dustin Baird came in to start the bottom of the fifth, threw one pitch and recorded an out before the inclement weather set in.
Galion will be back in action on Thursday July 20 with a trip to Newark to clash with the Licking County Settlers. The Settlers will then travel to Galion on Friday before the Graders head to Lima for a two-game weekend stint.
Grand Lake Mariners 9, Galion Graders 7
GALION — On Saturday July 15, the Galion Graders welcomed the Grand Lake Mariners to Heddleson Field in Heise Park for the opener of their two-game weekend series.
The offense throughout the contest was abundant but it would be the visitors earning the win by a final tally of 9-7. Grand Lake improved to 17-13 with the victory as Galion dropped to 14-16 on the season.
Galion scored their seven runs on nine hits but stranded eight runners on the base path. Brady Hettinger led the way for the Graders with three singles, two runs scored and his sixth stolen base on the season. Zach Mottice also delivered a multi-hit game with two singles while driving in a run and scoring a run. Austin Hathaway finished with a single, three runs scored, an RBI and also swiped his seventh base of the year. Jake Hoover notched a single as did Matt Noel. Noel also drove in two runs for the home squad. Parke Phillips had Galion’s final single on the night, Braxton Giavedoni and Josh Kent each drove in a run and Brandt Nowaskie scored once. All nine of the Graders’ hits were singles and as a squad they walked four times and struck out six.
The Mariners scored their nine runs on 13 hits and stranded nine runners. Grand Lake also committed three errors in the playing field.
Brock Balderson started the game for Galion and went five innings allowing seven hits, five earned runs, walked two and struck out five. Sam Stewart came on in relief to work an inning, giving up three hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out one. Stewart took the loss on the night. Clay Davies pitched the remaining three innings and allowed just one earned run on three hits but struck out five Mariners hitters.
