Gull Lake 5, Portage Central 1

After Gull Lake’s starting pitcher Brandon Ruge sat down the side in order, it didn’t take long for Gull Lake to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 1st inning. JT Mansager started the inning off with a walk, stole second, and would later score on a wild pitch. After Luke Scoles, and Korbin Griffin both walked, Designated Hitter Kole Warren hit a 2 out single to bring Scoles around to score. Then Jack Blesch walked to load the bases. With the bases loaded senior catcher, Dawson Clancy was hit by a pitch to bring in a run. At the end of 1, Gull Lake 3, Portage Central 0.

Gull Lake scored 2 more in the bottom of the 2nd inning. JT Mansager led off the inning with a walk, Jacob Louden singled and then was forced out at 2nd on a Luke Scoles fielder’s choice. Mansager would then score on a Dylan Stanton SAC Fly. A Korbin Griffin double would plate Scoles giving Gull Lake a 5-0 lead.

Portage Central would finally get on the board in the Top of the 3rd, when Sophomore stand out Luke Leto crushed a 2-2 pitch deep to left field for an RBI Triple, scoring Zach McDonald who walked prior to Leto’s triple. Bronson Wyman followed that up with a walk, putting runners on the corners with only 1 out. Brandon Ruge got Ben Cunningham out on strikes, then decided to Intentionally Walk Portage Central’s senior DH Max Longman to set up a force at any base. The decision paid off when Ruge got Trammel Lindstrom to hit a ground ball to Shortstop Dylan Stanton who stepped on 2nd to force out Longman. At the end of 3 Gull Lake 5, Portage Central 1.

Portage Central would threaten again in the Top of the 5th after they walked the bases loaded with no outs. Brandon Ruge got Ben Cunningham to hit into a Fielder’s Choice forcing Zach McDonald out at home. Ruge then got Max Longman to ground into an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play.

Gull Lake looked to Dean Sommer to shut the door, and that he did. He came in and earned the 6 out Save for Gull Lake. Sommer gave up no runs on 2 hits, Brandon Ruge would pick up the win on the mound giving him a 2-0 record. Trammel Lindstrom would pick up the loss for Portage Central. Ruge’s final line was 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 6.

Offensively Gull Lake was lead by Hunter Hazel who had 2 hits. Jacob Louden, Dylan Stanton, Korbin Griffin, and Kole Warren had one hit apiece.

Luke Leto finished the day 2 for 3 with a triple and a single with 1 RBI. Trammel Lindstrom and Michael Verduzco had Portage Central’s other hits.

Game 2

Game 2 was called due to darkness.

Both Portage Central and Gull Lake will travel to Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana. They will be competing in Prep Baseball Report’s Midwest Select Tournament.