By: Nick Picciano

The Ohio Monarchs Gold Team showed that they are no slouch in good win over the All American Coach team at Joe E. Brown Field, Friday night.

The first two hitters were a bit shaky for starting pitcher Kevin Dunn but after giving up the lead off single to left and another single up the middle, that made it first and third with no one out, Dunn pitched out nearly unscathed, giving up only one run. The third batter for All American Coach flew out to the third basemen, while the forth and fifth hitters both grounded out on fielders choices to the sure handed second basemen of the Monarchs, Anthony Munoz.

The first inning brought very little success for the Monarchs at the plate but this would soon change.

The second inning began with Dunn settling down and retiring the three he faced in order. This may have sparked something within the Monarch batting order as Cory Hornyak started out the inning with a single up the middle. Casey WInckowski then came to the plate and hit a triple over the centerfielders head and got an RBI. The next batter was retired for the first out and then Steve Sumner drew a 4 pitch walk, Kyle Ottaway was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases. Brett Howard was next at the plate and took a wild pitch to the backstop that scored Winckowski from third and moved up both the other runners. Brett would later strike out for the second out before Val Helldobler hit a hard ground ball to third that the third basemen could not handle. This allowed Sumner to score from third and put the Monarchs up by 2.

Dunn continued to dominate the AAC batting order striking out the first hitter and getting the next two to fly out to center field and second base respectively.

In the Monarchs half of the third Kirk Salinski led off the inning with an infield single to the short stop that was followed by Cory Hornyak hitting a sharp single to right. Winckowski was then hit by  a pitch. The AAC pitcher was then pitching from the wind up with the bases loaded and on the second pitch Salinski took off from third and stole home. Each of the other two Monarchs on base moved up on the play. Nothing more would happen in this half though as the next three Monarch hitters were silenced.

In the Top of the forth inning Dunn shut down the AAC team in order striking out the first batter and getting the next two to ground out to short and fly out to second.

Not much would happen for the Monarchs in the bottom of this inning. After a lead off walk to Brett Howard, Helldobler hitting into a fielder’s choice and another walk to Brian Bilius the AAC team would change pitchers and use another left hander that shut the first two batters that he faced that inning down on strikes.

Dunn would have the shakiest inning that he would have for the rest of the game in the top of the fifth giving up a single with an error to the lead off man that would move him to second. The second hitter of the inning would ground too first but another error would make the runner safe. The next batter would single to left field which would score one run and move a runner to third. A bunt attempt would score a run for the AAC team but also give the Monarchs a much needed first out. Dunn would then settle back in and strike out the next hitter, walk the 2 hitter, and then get the three hitter to ground out 1-3.

Winckowski would then lead off the bottom of the fifth with a bang hitting his second triple of the game to right center field. Munoz would then walk, Sumner struck out and Ottaway would ground into a fielder’s choice 6-3. Howard drew a walk that would load the bases but the inning would come to an abrupt halt as on a wild pitch Munoz was called first safe and then out at the plate to end the inning.

The top of the sixth inning was rather uneventful for the AAC team as Dunn struck out the first two hitters and then walked the third only for him to get thrown out in an attempted steal of second.

In the bottom of the sixth the Monarch’s Helldobler would strike out followed by a single up the middle for BIlius who would be pinch ran for by Ben Kauder. Salinski would then double and move to third on a throwing error by the center fielder that would score a run. Hornyak then singled and got the last RBI that the Monarchs would need. Winckowski then struck out before Munoz and Sumner would walk back to back. Ottaway then struck out though to end the inning.

Dunn shut down the AAC team striking them out in order and ending his complete game victory.

The Monarchs Gold team will play again at home on Monday at 6:30 at Bowman Park.