Jul. 17—LIMA — Sandusky could easily meet the Lima Locos in the playoffs.
If the season ended today, Sandusky and the Locos would meet in the Great Lakes Collegiate League semifinal playoffs.
In what could be a playoff preview, the Locos led Sandusky 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth when the game was suspended because of rain Friday night at Simmons Field.
The game will be picked up in the fourth inning at Sandusky on Monday before the regular-season game.
The Locos (21-14) entered Friday in second place, two and a half games ahead of third-place Royal Oak for the final playoff spot in the North Division of the Great Lakes Collegiate League.
First-place Sandusky is 26-11.
Locos starter Parker Wakelyn (Clarendon) threw four shutout innings. He gave up two hits, struck out three and walked four.
The Locos took a 1-0 lead in the second.
Miller Ladusau doubled and J.T. Reeves reached on an infield single to short to put runners on the corners. Joe Salvo walked to load the bases. Nate White’s walk brought in a run to make it 1-0.
The Locos added five in the third to kick the lead to 6-0.
Darryl Buggs led off with a walk and Colton Ledbetter (Samford) launched a monster home run to right-center field to give the Locos a 3-0 lead.
It was Ledbetter’s eighth home run of the year.
Derrick Jackson walked and Reeves singled. White hit a three-run home run to left and the Locos’ lead mushroomed to 6-0 in the third.
The Locos are 2-5 against Sandusky this summer.
Sandusky starter Mitchell Spencer (South Carolina-Upstate/Defiance HS) went only two innings and gave up four runs, all earned, on three hits. He struck out three and walked five.
Locos notes: Right-hander Grant Evans (Ohio U.) has a sore right arm and left the team for the summer.
Infielder Garrett Howe (Samford) went home to have his wisdom teeth taken out. He hopes to re-join the team if the Locos make the playoffs.
The Locos are home at 7 p.m. today against Galion. On Sunday, the Locos will pick up the suspended game against Michigan in the fourth inning, leading 4-0, at 12 noon on Sunday at Simmons Field. Then, the Locos will have Muskegon at home for the regularly scheduled game at 4 p.m. at Simmons Field.
The Locos lead the league in hitting with a .293 average. They have improved to fifth in team ERA at 4.77.
Ledbetter is fourth in hitting at .405. He is second in home runs with eight.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.