Re-print with permission from Press Publications

As far as Drew Kuns is concerned, the NABF College World Series won't get here soon enough.

“I can't wait,” said Kuns, a designated hitter/first baseman for the Ohio Monarchs Gold team. “It's going to be great. Our team's good; we're on a streak right now.” 

“We're hoping to go in there and dominate like they did two years ago - go in there and win,” Kuns said. “We have great chemistry because we're all from around Toledo. We all played with each other in high school and now we can join together to make a good team. It's up there with the teams I've played on. It's the second-best team I've played on in the summer. There's some great talent on this team.”

Kuns, a Clay graduate, was the City League Player of the Year in 2009. A sophomore-to-be at Bowling Green State University, Kuns said he's looking forward to helping the Monarchs regain the NABF World Series title they won in 2008.

In a battle of intra-organizational rivals, Monarchs Blue and Gold faced off against one another Monday night at 5/3 Field in Toledo. The highly anticipated game featured Gold and Blue team who sit first and second atop the league standings respectively. With high octane scoring and some late inning drama, the contest didn’t disappoint with Monarchs Gold outlasting a late rally from Monarchs Blue to win 8-5.

Gold played visitor in this one and got the scoring started right away. Corey Lehman hit a leadoff single followed by a bunt from Adam Yunker. Starting pitcher Dan Parsons for Monarchs Blue sailed the throw over the first baseman’s glove allowing Lehman to advance to third and Yunker to second. Drew Kuns immediately brought home Lehman with an RBI double. One batter later, Casey Winckowski brought home Yunker with an RBI ground out to put Gold on the board with two runs in the first.

Blue answered in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own. Nick Broyles singled to lead off, and after consecutive walks to Ben Hammer and Tad Margolies, Blue had the bases loaded with one out. Matt Vannet brought home Broyles with an RBI fielder’s choice, but pitcher Kirk Stambough for Gold ended the inning with a strikeout to limit the damage done to one run and preserving a one run lead.

Re-print with permission from Press Publications

Bowling Green State University baseball player Patrick Martin (Clay) was a last minute addition to the Ohio Monarchs Gold summer collegiate team, but he is coming up big.

“He’s helped us in getting key base hits in RBI situations,” said general manager Steve Timofeev.

Through nine games played, Martin has a .320 average, a .560 slugging percentage, and a .433 OBP. In 30 plate appearances, he has eight hits, six runs, four RBIs, and five walks. Of those eight hits, he has three singles, four doubles, and one triple – good for 14 total bases.

In addition, he has two stolen bases in two attempts. Manager Ed Mouch said Martin has played in right or center field, and not on the mound, per request of his coach at BGSU.

On the mound for BGSU this past season, Martin went 2-1 in 14 appearances (2 starts) with a 3.60 ERA. He struck out 14 in 25 innings pitched. He did not have any hitting stats.

Despite Martin being a late addition, Timofeev basically said it was a no brainer decision to bring Martin in.

“I’ve been with Pat since Pee Wee,” he said. “He’s a great kid from a great baseball family. He plays the game hard.”

Mouch echoed those words in praising Martin.

Monarchs Gold beat the Trojans on Tuesday night in a nail biter that was just one strike away from extra innings. It took a walk-off single from Corey Lehman to finally seal the deal. Frustrated with his 0-3 performance so far in the game, Lehman stepped up to the plate with the winning run on third and two outs. Two pitches later Ricky Lizcano was coming home and Lehman had belted a walk-off single into left for a 4-3 win.

The Monarchs struck first in this game, in the bottom of the fourth. Adam Yunker started the inning with a single, and promptly stole second. Brett Howard followed with an RBI double that directly hit third base and took a favorable bounce into left field. After Phil Brua walked, and Brian Bilius was hit by a pitch, Lizcano came up with the bases loaded and brought home Howard with an RBI single of his own. With the bases still loaded, the Monarchs were unable however to tack on a few extras leaving the damage done at 2-0.