Blackhawks clinch tie for division title

Baseball

Oxford 8, Walton 1

OXFORD – Oxford clinched at least a tie for first place in MAC Division II play behind the strong pitching of unbeaten senior Steve Locke.

Locke threw five shutout innings improving to 6-0 on the season. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, and Ian Grundner added two hits. Jake Vincent scored two runs and threw out two Walton runners attempting to steal bases. “We’re played very well overall, and good defense is helping us,” said Oxford coach Chris Palmer.

The Blackhawks can wrap up the division title and earn a spot in the league title game with a win over Hancock today at home.

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Brian Backus (L), Chad Gardepe (5) and Casey Killian, Backus (5). Steve Locke (W), Jake Vincent (6) and Vincent, Nick Gates (6).

G-MU 16, Milford 2

COPES – After a series of tight games – not all of which went the Raiders’ way – G-MU picked up a decisive win for the first time since early in the season Friday against Milford.

Nine different G-MU players accounted for the team’s nine hits, and in fact, all 15 hits in the game came from 15 different players.

Tyler Wildfier had two RBI in the win, while Cody Hall and Chris Lanza scored three runs apiece. Tim Sloan pitched five innings to earn the victory.

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Tim Sloan (W), Tyler Wildfeir (6) and Luke Hall. Tim Harrington (L), Joe Hoppie (5) and Trevor Kosturock. Doubles: (M) Logan Griffiths, Scott Seeley, (G) Cody Hall, T. Wildfeir.

Otselic Valley 1, Madison 0

SOUTH OTSELIC – Otselic Valley moved one game over the .500 mark in a brilliant pitching duel between the Vikes’ Brian Graham and Madison’s Keegan Smith.

Graham tossed a three-hit shutout striking out nine and walking none. Smith, meanwhile, allowed just a single OV basehit, that an RBI single by Brad Wentworth in the fifth inning to score Aaron Wood.

“Brian had excellent control tonight and we made some nice defensive plays behind him,” said OV coach Dave Loomis. “It was one of the best games I’ve seen in a while.”

The Vikings host McGraw today.

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Brian Graham (W) and David Cerasani; Keegan Smith (L) and Sam Luetters.

Unatego 5, Greene 1

WELLS BRIDGE – Unatego’s Kyle Palmer contained a potent Greene offense limiting the Trojans to a season-low one run on three hits in Friday’s win.

Owen Moss highlighted a three-run third for the Spartans smacking a two-run homer against Greene hurler Don Amell. Amell overcame some shaky control in spots to pitch out of trouble and give up just six hits in a six-inning effort.

“Palmer pitched well for them and they fielded the ball well when we hit it hard,” said Greene coach Dave Gorton. “You can’t steer the ball and we had good approaches at the plate. We made solid contact and didn’t get anything for it.”

Greene (9-5) hosts Harpursville today.

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Don Amell (L) and John Carlin. Kyle Palmer (W) and Jeff Hoke. Doubles: (U) Kyle Palmer. HR: (G) Corey Breck. (U) Owen Moss.

Deposit 8, Afton 3

AFTON – Corey Andresen struck out 14 Afton batters and allowed just four hits in Deposit’s win over the Crimson Knights Friday.