Sluggers handed setback by Copperheads

FINDLAY – The Flag City Sluggers slim chances of making the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs took a hit with a 7-4 loss to the Copperheads in Thursday's late game, the second half of a doubleheader created due to an earlier rain-out between the two clubs.The Sluggers, who pounded Southern Ohio 18-7 in the opener, outhit the Copperheads 11-6 in the second game but fell behind 5-0 and never caught up. Tanner Powell lashed three base hits and Caleb Smith, Trey Gardner and Matt Gardner added two each.Flag City and Southern Ohio squared off again Friday at the Marathon Diamonds. Results were unavailable at press time.THURSDAY'S GAMEFlag City 000 130 0-4 11 2S. Ohio 041 110 x—7 6 1WP – Ruiz (2-3), LP—Williams (0-2). TOP HITTERS: (FC) Powell 3-1B, RBI; Smith 2-1B; T. Gardner 2-1B, RBI; M. Gardner 2-1B. (SO) Willadsen 1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Baker 2-1B, RBI. Ottawa Legion winsLANCASTER – Jayden Stechschulte drilled a two-run double and later scored during three-run third inning that powered Ottawa to a 4-0 win over Yeager Benson Post 199 in Friday's opening round of the American Legion state senior tournament at Beavers Field in Lancaster.Ryan McGue earned the pitching win for Ottawa (22-11), which will face Greenville in today's winners bracket semifinal. Montgomery misses cutDALLAS – Upper Sandusky's Brock Montgomery finished strong, but did not make the cut at the USGA U.S. Junior Amateur that is being held this week at the Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.Montgomery, a Murray State recruit who placed fourth at state in last fall's Division II golf tournament, opened play in the Junior Amateur with a 77. He birdied three of his final five holes in a second-round 78 that gave him a 155 total. A score of 144 or better was needed to qualify for the match-play round of 64. Mud Hens snap skid INDIANAPOLIS – Jace Jung drew a two-out, bases loaded walk in the ninth inning, forcing home Eduardo Valencia with the go-ahead run and leading Toledo two a 4-3 win over Indianapolis. The victory snapped the Mud Hens four-game losing streak. For much of Friday, it looked like the skid was going to continue. The Indians' Ji Hwan Bae led off the bottom of the first with a triple off Toledo starting pitcher Troy Watson, then Billy Cook clubbed a homer to left – his eighth of the season, to put Indianapolis up, 1-0. In the bottom of the sixth, the Indians' Brett Sullivan added an RBI single, and Toledo trailed 3-0. It stayed that way until the top of the eighth, when the Mud Hens' Andy Ibanez connected on a two-out, two run single to cut the deficit to 3-2. In the ninth, against Indians' reliever Kyle Nicolas, Toledo got back-to-back singles from Ryan Kreidler and Valencia, which put runners at the corners with no one out. After Gage Workman struck out, Hao-Yu Lee reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Kreidler with the tying run. Trevin Michael threw three innings of relief and allowed a run in picking up the win for the Mud Hens. Matt Seelinger pitched a perfect ninth – striking out a batter – for his second save. The Mud Hens improved to 52-48. They will play the Indians again today, in Indianapolis, at 7:05 p.m.