The Southern Ohio Copperheads headed into the third week of Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League play with ever-improving team chemistry, which was evident during the team's flashes of brilliance.
Despite some late-inning issues, the Copperheads continued their steady progress up the league standings, winning four of their six games. However, failure to close out games kept the Copperheads from an undefeated week.
On Monday night, the Copperheads blew away the Xenia Athletes in Action, 14-1. Infielder Arden McWilliams led the charge with three hits and five RBIs, including a three-run double in the first inning.
I got a good pitch to hit and I got the barrel on it
McWilliams said of the double. I just like hitting with guys on base.
All season, McWilliams has capitalized with runners on the base paths. His 24 RBIs are tops in the Great Lakes League, nine ahead of his closest competition.
Overshadowed by the offensive onslaught was Tony Bertucci's dazzling pitching performance. The Copperheads starter lasted six innings, allowing one run on four hits.
I had all three of my pitches going today for strikes Bertucci said. I just found the zone and let the defense work.
Earlier in the week, the Copperheads showed some versatility during a doubleheader sweep of the Lake Erie Monarchs on Saturday night.
In game one, Southern Ohio stormed out to a 9-0 lead after two innings. Matt Stiffler highlighted the hitting exhibition with a two-run homer in the second.
Just as quickly, however, Copperheads starting pitcher Dominique Rodgers let the Monarchs back into the game by surrendering eight runs in the third and fourth innings. Failing to capitalize on their momentum, the Monarchs' offense floundered thereafter and the Copperheads hung on for a 12-8 victory.
While game one was a slugfest, game two featured a classic pitchers' duel. Copperheads starter Adam Gingras shined in the 3-0 victory, allowing just two hits in his six shutout innings of work.
The curveball was working pretty good. I kept them off balance with it and the defense played great
Gingras said. There were three or four great plays behind me
and if you have good defense
you're going to have a good day.
Monarchs starter Kevin Leady was equally impressive but left the game after three innings because of a restricted pitch count. His exit, coupled with shoddy Monarchs defense, provided the Copperheads with an opportunity to snatch the game.
Southern Ohio's good fortune expired on Sunday afternoon. The Copperheads dropped two winnable games to the Lima Locos in heartbreaking fashion.
Outfielder Matt Stiffler nailed his second two-run homer in as many days during the first game, and the Copperheads clung to a 4-3 lead after the top of the eighth, but the bullpen could not hold the lead. The Locos notched a 5-4 comeback victory, scoring on a wild pitch in the ninth inning.
In game two, the Copperheads again seized an early 3-0 lead only to later blow the game, losing 3-4. Southern Ohio starter Mike Babin failed to complete his solid outing, allowing all four runs in the final two innings.
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Andrew Bohardt
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