Sluggers hang on to snap skid

XENIA – Cameron Spezia crushed a three-run homer, highlighting a six-run third inning, and Flag City snapped a six-game skid by hanging on to beat Xenia, 9-7. Spezia added an RBI single in the fifth as the Sluggers improved to 15-13. Atticus Huffstutler singled twice and drove in a run for Flag City, while Brandon North singled twice, scored twice, and had an RBI. Connor Hutchinson started on the mound for the Sluggers, and went five innings, allowing five runs, two earned. He struck out four and walked a pair, while yielding eight hits. Three Sluggers relievers – Calvert graduate Caden Otterbacher, Braylon Sheefel and Max Dunaway --helped secure the victory. Mayo Fernandez paced the Scouts offense with a double, a single, two runs scored and two RBIs. Zachary Pearrow had two hits, a run scored and an RBI for Xenia. Sid Phillips was the starting pitcher for Xenia and took the loss, going 2 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs – all earned – on five hits. He walked three, didn't and didn't strike out a batter. Down 7-0, the Scouts were able to rally thanks in large part to their bullpen. After Phillips and reliever Ryan Redding combined to allow nine runs by the top of the fifth, Xenia relievers Caleb Shreve and Adam Laski combine for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Xenia fell to 8-20. It will tangle with the Sluggers again at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. Despite their recent struggles, Flag City remains in second place in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League's South Division, one game better than third-place Muskegon. The Lima Locos – which split a double header with Hamilton Tuesday – leads the division with a 21-6 mark. Flag City 106 020 000 – 9 10 1 Xenia 000 140 020 – 7 13 1 WP – Hutchinson. LP – Phillips. TOP HITTERS: (FCS) Spezia HR, 1B, 4-RBI; Huffstutler 2-1B, RBI; North 2-1B, 2R, RBI, (XS) Fernandez 2B, 1B, 2R, 2-RBI; Pearrow 2-1B, R, RBI.