By Josh Stallings
jstallings@wbcowqel.com
Seeking their first home win of the season, the Galion Graders welcomed the Cincinnati Steam to Heise Park on Tuesday night for the first inter-division matchup of the season. The first-place Steam lived up to their reputation as the best hitting team in the GLSCL as they defeated the Graders 12-6.
Trent Downs got the start on the mound for the Graders but struggled early as he allowed five runs on eight hits in just an inning and two-thirds of work. The Graders fought to get back in it with a four-run fourth and only trailed 7-5 going into the fifth. But the big bats of the Steam prevailed as they plated three more in the fifth with a three-run bomb off the bat of Jake Richmond to put the game out of reach.
Richmond had four hits and five RBI’s for the Steam, who advance to 8-0. The Grader offense was led by Riley Hawkins who had three RBIs and a run scored. The loss was dealt to Downs, with the win going to Shane Smith.
These two teams will battle it out again on Wednesday at Heise Park in Galion with the first pitch slated for 7:05.