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Joes rally to beat Copperheads, advance to championship series

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Joes shortstop Ryan Rua (29) turns a double play during the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoff game against the Southern Ohio Copperheads, Thursday, August 5, 2010, at Foundation Field, in Hamilton.

Photo by Robert Leifheit/Contributing photographer Joes shortstop Ryan Rua (29) turns a double play during the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoff game against the Southern Ohio Copperheads, Thursday, August 5, 2010, at Foundation Field, in Hamilton.

Hamilton to face Licking County in best-of-three showdown.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 8:15 AM Friday, August 6, 2010

HAMILTON — Kyle Weldon was ready for one good swing, and so were the Hamilton Joes.

Weldon, struggling mightily in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League baseball playoffs, emerged from an 0-for-9 postseason funk in heart-pumping fashion Thursday night, Aug. 5, at Foundation Field.

He lined a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving Hamilton a wild 9-8 victory over the Southern Ohio Copperheads and capping the Joes’ two-game sweep of the GLSCL semifinal series.

“I was about to go on suicide watch if I didn’t get a hit,” said Weldon, cracking a smile. “I’ve been in that situation before. When you’re struggling and you get a chance to do something like that, it’s the only at-bat that matters.”

Jimmy Brenneman doubled down the left-field line to start the bottom of the 10th, and Weldon followed by lashing a 1-0 pitch into right field.

“I saw it come in the zone and put my bat on it,” Weldon said of the delivery from lefty Trey Popp. “It’s just a huge relief and something I want to carry over into the finals. I want to win it all real bad.”

No. 2 seed Hamilton is headed for a best-of-three championship showdown against top-seeded Licking County, which swept its semifinal series Thursday.

Michael Franklin will be the starting pitcher for the Joes today when they host the Settlers at 7:05 p.m.

“I didn’t give up, and we didn’t give up,” Hamilton coach Darrel Grissom said. “Our guys have their eyes on the prize. They want to take it all the way. You don’t get this opportunity every day.”

The Joes stunned Southern Ohio with three runs in the bottom of the ninth against hard-throwing reliever Zach Sterling, then left the bases loaded after a pop-up and a strikeout.

Brad Krohman, Hamilton’s fourth pitcher, threw a perfect 10th and picked up the win.

“Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you,” Copperheads coach Mike Florak said. “Give Hamilton credit for getting the big hits when they needed them.”

Wally Gerbus smacked a two-run homer for Hamilton, and Wes Wilson had two hits and two RBIs. Patrick Curtin, Phil Bauer and Wilson plated the ninth-inning runs.

Hamilton Joes 9, S. Ohio Copperheads 8

Copperheads 010 043 000 0 — 8 13 5

Joes 021 020 003 1 — 9 11 2

WP — Brad Krohman (2-3); LP — Trey Popp (1-3); HR — HJ: Wally Gerbus (1). Records: Copperheads 24-16, Joes 27-15

Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Playoffs

Best-Of-Three Semifinal Series

Hamilton vs. Southern Ohio

Thursday’s Result

Hamilton 9, Southern Ohio 8, 10 innings, Hamilton wins series 2-0

Licking County vs. Delaware

Thursday’s Results

Licking County 7, Delaware 3