Lorain County loses pitcher’s duel

The Lorain County Ironmen came out on the short end of a 2-1 pitchers’ duel against the Xenia Scouts on June 20, which lasted 10 innings.

The match featured a pair of crafty left-handers, as Ryan LaPage worked six strong innings for the Ironmen, allowing one run on three hits and walking two, and Scouts southpaw John Raines pitched 5 1/3 innings, also allowing only one run.

The battle of arms continued with bullpen options on both sides, as another Ironmen lefty, Middleburg Heights native Jaret Peterson threw three shutout innings in relief, striking out four.

Xenia right hander Landon Williams matched him pitch for pitch heading to the 10th inning with the game deadlocked, 1-1.

Elyria native Justin Liserio worked the 10th for Lorain County and found himself in an early jam, giving up a leadoff single to Anj Bourgeois, who proceeded to steal second. Liserio walked the next hitter and a failed pickoff attempt at second base allowed Bourgeois to swipe third.

Liserio recovered after that, inducing a 6-4-3 double play, but Bourgeois scored the go-ahead run and the Ironmen trailed, 2-1.

Nick Novack started the inning off with a single, but Williams, who was stellar all night for the Scouts, made quick work of the next three batters, striking out the final two

THE SCORE SCOUTS 2, IRONMEN 1 (10)

to end the game.

Williams finished off the 4 2/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts and two hits allowed.

Although the Ironmen outhit the Scouts, 7-5, each time Lorain County had an opportunity to capitalize, the offense would sputter, as they stranded eight runners.

“We didn’t move the ball,” Ironmen head coach Kevin Whiteside said after the loss.

“We struck out a couple times with runners at third and less than two outs. We just didn’t move the ball or put it in play. We didn’t get it done, bottom line.”

Although it was a frustrating night for Lorain County’s offense as a whole, leadoff man Chase Knodle went 3-for-4 with three singles and a stolen base.

Third baseman Cody Waller went 2-for-4 with a run scored and made a few dazzling plays at the hot corner.

Both defenses played a clean game for the better part of 10 innings and the outstanding effort from Lorain County’s pitching staff was one of the positives of the night for Whiteside.

“When you can hold somebody to two runs in 10 innings, you’re supposed to win,” the coach said.

“Those guys pitched phenomenal. They just came in and pitched great, but we have to do a better job offensively.”

The Ironmen fell to 3-7.