Hamilton Joes take early advantage in title series

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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 1:45 AM Saturday, August 7, 2010

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Joes are just one win away from completing a championship baseball season.

Hamilton will have to win on the road to earn its first Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League tournament title, but the locals believe they’re ready to do just that after opening the best-of-three championship series with a resounding triumph Friday night, Aug. 6.

Ryan Rua drove in three runs for the Joes, who pounded out 18 hits and forged an early 9-0 lead before defeating the regular-season champion Licking County Settlers 11-6 at Foundation Field.

“When we’re playing confident, we feel like we can beat anyone,” said Hamilton left fielder Patrick Curtin, who totaled three singles, two RBIs and two runs. “Any pitcher they put out there, we just expect to put some runs together. There’s no down spot in our lineup right now.”

Granville will be the last stop for the Joes (28-15) as the remainder of the series will be played at Denison University. Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. today, and Max Friedman will be Hamilton’s starting pitcher.

“If I wrote the script out, it couldn’t be better than this,” Joes coach Darrel Grissom said. “I wanted to get a first-round bye and get the second seed. I didn’t want to be the top dog going into the tournament. I wanted to beat the top dog.

“All we’ve got to do is go up there and take care of business,” he continued. “I like our chances, but I’m going to coach hard until the last out.”

Hamilton knocked Licking County starter Ryan Mace off the mound after two innings, scoring three times in each frame.

“It’s no secret they can swing the bats,” Settlers coach Brian Meyer said. “They hit good pitches. That’s a credit to them.”

Phil Bauer collected three hits and two RBIs for the Joes, who got at least one hit from every starter. Jimmy Brenneman, Kyle Weldon, Wes Wilson, Rua and Kevin Park all had two hits.

Licking County (31-12) can swing the lumber as well and clubbed two home runs. Adam Walker’s three-run blast with no outs in the top of the seventh cut the deficit to 9-6.

Hamilton starter Michael Franklin was then relieved by Tripp Davis, who delivered three innings of hitless ball to save the win for Franklin.

“He does that kind of stuff,” Grissom said of Walker’s ninth homer of the summer. “I was a little nervous, but Tripp came in and did a great job. He threw a couple zeros up there.”

On the other side, Meyer liked his squad’s comeback.

“You hope you take some momentum from it,” he said. “I’m proud of our guys. They don’t quit.”

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