GALION — A rainy Friday would not prevent the Galion Graders and the Cincinnati Steam from meeting up at Heddleson Field to wrap their two-game series.
After holding on for the 9-8 on Thursday, Galion fell to Cincy on Friday night by a final tally of 12-7. With the victory, the Steam improve to 14-9 on the season while the Graders drop down to 11-11.
Galion held a commanding 4-1 lead after the first three innings but Cincinnati erupted for five runs in the top of the fourth to climb out on top 6-4. The Steam would never look back, allowing just one run in the seventh and two in the eighth while putting up a six-spot in the top of the eighth to secure the win.
Hyatt Shenefield was the starting pitcher for Galion and took the loss, going 7.1 innings and allowing 11 hits, nine runs (six earned). Shenefield struck out two and walked one during his time on the hill. Dustin Baird came on in relief, throwing 0.2 innings, allowing two hits and three unearned runs. Sam Stewart tossed a flawless ninth for the Graders, striking out one.
Parke Phillips finished the contest with a single, a home run, a run scored and two runs driven in to lead the Graders offense. Brady Hettingers and Austin Hathaway had two singles apiece with Hettinger scoring twice and swiping a base while Hathaway scored a run and drove a run in. Matt Noel belted a single and a double for the home team while scoring once. Joe Crank and Braxton Giavedoni delivered singles with Crank scoring a run and Giavedoni recording an RBI. Josh Kent scored once and Matthew Freeman notched an RBI to wrap up the Galion offense.
The Steam scored their 12 runs on 13 hits and stranded just three on the base path. Galion plated seven on 10 hits and left seven on base. Errors proved costly in the game as the Graders committed five to just one by the Steam.
Galion will host the Licking County Settlers at Heddleson Field on Saturday July 8 for a double header. Action is set to begin for the first game at 5:05 pm. On Sunday, the Graders travel to Newark for another matchup with the Settlers. A trip to Lima awaits Galion on Tuesday July 11 to take on the Locos before returning home to host Lima on Wednesday.
