Settlers get win in final home game

NEWARK, Ohio — The Licking County Settlers may have missed out on the playoffs but they sent their fans home happy with a victory in their final home game of the season on Friday night.

The Settlers (16-21) hosted the Lorain County Ironmen (13-27) at Don Edwards Park and set the tone early. Infielder Nick Vaage knocked a two-out RBI single in the 1st, scoring outfielder Carl Turner to put the Settlers up 1-0 right off the bat.

But the game opened up in the home half of the fourth. After the Ironmen plated two in the top half of the inning to take the lead, the Settlers hit a pair of two-run home runs– one coming off the bat of Zac Repinski, and the other from Mitchell Johnson, to give the Settlers a 5-2 advantage.

Their lead was not safe though as the Ironmen scored three in the 5th, and two in the 6th to take a 7-5 advantage. However their lead would not last for long either. The Settlers would cash in seven runs in bottom of the 6th, highlighted with an RBI double by Vaage, and two-base error by Lorain County shortstop Antonio Bennett, off the bat of Repinski, that scored two. The Settlers would take a 12-7 lead, and eventually win by a final of 13-8.

Repinski lead the Settlers, going 2-5 with with four RBI and three runs scored. Vaage also had a pair of hits, with two RBI and two runs scored.

Both starting pitchers struggled as Noah Skladan went only four innings, giving up five runs, on five hits, with three walks and allowing a pair of home runs for the Ironmen. Settlers’ starter Cade Killingsworth went just five innings, giving up five runs (four earned), on seven hits with three walks.

The Settlers close out their season this weekend against the Grand Lake Mariners. The two sides play a double-header on Saturday before wrapping up the regular season on Sunday.