LOCOS HOPE TO BE STINGY HOSTS OF GLCL PLAYOFFS
By TOM USHER
tusher@limanews.com
419-993-2089
SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP -- It's no secret.
The Great Lakes Collegiate League championship will come down
to pitching.
A team must have four quality starters to get through the
eight-team, double-elimination tournament.
The champion also will need a strong bullpen.
It's no surprise that the top two teams during the year, GLCL
regular-season champion Columbus and the Lima Locos, are stocked with
pitching.
Columbus led the GLCL with a 2.44 earned-run average. Lima
ranked sixth at 3.10.
The GLCL playoffs begin today with two games at Shawnee High
School and two games at Celina's Westview Park. Lima and Grand Lake are
hosting the GLCL playoffs this week for the first time.
The Locos (23-14-1), who finished second in the regular
season, open the tourney against Lake Erie (17-21) at 7 p.m. today at
Shawnee. In the first game today at Shawnee, Cincinnati (22-18) will
face play-in winner Granville (12-28) at 4 p.m.
The Locos went 3-1 against Lake Erie during the regular
season.
Columbus (28-12) opens against Grand Lake (20-19-1) at 7 p.m.
today at Westview Park.
The semifinals are scheduled for Friday at Shawnee. The
championship game is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Shawnee.
Tickets in Lima are $3 per game and $15 for a tournament
pass.
"You never know (what will happen in the playoffs)," Columbus
coach Brian Mannino said. "You get to the tournament, everybody has
one, two, three pitchers that are pretty good. You catch a guy on a
good night, it's going to be a battle. Hopefully, we play good defense
and swing the bat and give ourselves a chance to win."
The Locos will be aiming for their third GLCL championship.
They won the title in 1993 and 2004.
For the Locos, the starting staff is solid from one to five.
All five have an earned-run average under 3.50.
Right-hander Dan Barker (Ohio State) has been impressive all
year.
He's 2-0 with a 1.63 earned-run average. Right-handed submariner Caleb
Glafenhein (East Tennessee State) is 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA.
Right-hander Chris Rubio (Dayton) stands 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA.
Converted reliever right-hander Jayson Bennett (Georgia State and
College) is 2-0 with a 3.02 ERA. Right-hander John Frawley (North
Florida) is 4-2 with a 3.41 ERA.
"We have a solid core of pitchers," Locos coach Rob Livchak
said. "They all know their job and have had a solid outing the
last 10 days."
The Locos' bullpen is led by left-handed closer Damon Brewer
(Lake City CC), who is headed to Bethune-Cookman next year. Brewer set
a team record with 11 saves. He leads the league in saves (11),
appearances (20) and games finished (19).
The Locos top set-up men are right-hander Brandon Slusher
(Georgetown), who has a 1.91 ERA, and right-hander Shawn Kimberley
(Berry), who hasn't given up a run in four relief appearances since
joining the club.
Also expected to contribute in relief are left-hander Josh
Varno (3.57), right-hander Anthony Williams (4.76), left-hander Craig
Wojciechowski (4.76) and right-hander Greg Gompf (6.08).
"The bullpen is as good as we've had all year and as good as
years past," Livchak said. "We have confidence if we have a lead, we're
able to hold it."
Defense is another key. The Locos stand second in the league
in fielding percentage with a mark of .966. That ranks second in the
league behind Cincinnati's .970.
The key for the Locos is up the middle with Travis Jones
(Lake City CC) at second, the speedy Jacob Robbins (Kennesaw State) at
shortstop and Drew Hoisington (Toledo) in center.
"If we play good defense behind them and make good pitches,
it could be a good week," Livchak said.
As for hitting, Columbus leads the league with .282 team
batting average. The Locos are second at .273.
Robbins leads the team in hitting and is second in the league
with a ..371 average. Robbins has 14 stolen bases. Evan Armitage
(Miami) is hitting .345. Infielder Travis Fultz (Montevallo) is hitting
.313 with two home runs.
Celina grad catcher Sean Boley (Toledo) is hitting .284,
while Hoisington is hitting .283. Jones is batting .267 with three home
runs.
"These guys are fun to watch," Livchak said. "They're excited
(for the playoffs). To be at home is a bonus." |
