LOCOS EXECUTE SMALL VICTORY
By TOM USHER
tusher@limanews.com
419-993-2089

SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP -- The Lima Locos added a page to the small-ball handbook Friday night.

There was the usual collection of small-ball bunts and four stolen bases.  But there was also a bunt single put down by catcher Sean Boley, who came around to score.

It added up to a 3-2 Locos� opening day victory over Great Lakes Collegiate League defending champion Grand Lake at Shawnee High School.

We've got some speed and we�re going to use it,� Locos coach Rob Livchak said. "There was the wind blowing in and we had to go back to the old small ball and we executed really well."

Bunting and getting runners over produced all three Locos' runs, including the game winner in the home seventh.

With the game tied at 2 in the seventh, Bryan Bonner reached on a walk. Pinch-runner Eric Moore took second on a wild pitch. Moore stole third and came home on a fielder's choice grounder to second by James Teas.

The Locos tied the game at 2 in the fifth.  Boley put down a perfectly placed bunt to third for a hit. He was bunted to second by Teas, took third on a groundout and came home on an RBI single to center by Antonio Calloway.

"Coach has us drag a bunch, all the quick people, and obviously I'm not one of the quick people," Boley said. "But I jump in because most of the guys play all the way back on the grass for me."

Locos starter right-hander Matt Bischoff (Purdue) worked four innings and gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits. He struck out four and walked none. He threw 51 pitches, 40 for strikes.

Adam Quinn (Ball State) picked up the victory with four shutout innings of relief. He gave up one hit, struck out five and walked one. J.R. Peck (Morehead State) earned the save with a shutout seventh.

"The coaching staff suggested I drop down to three-quarter (delivery)," Quinn said. "I started doing that (three-quarter) and everything clicked."

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