Black Sox take control of GLBL standings

The Soo Black Sox have taken over top spot in the Great Lakes Baseball League thanks to a pair of Sunday afternoon wins.

Quality pitching and two big innings led the Black Sox to a pair of important victories over the Traverse City Rockets, winning by scores of 11-1 and 13-3.

Thanks to the wins, and a Rockets split on Saturday in Michigan Sault against the EUP Travellers, the Black Sox now find themselves alone in top spot of the GLBL standings. The teams entered Sunday's action with identical 6-1 records.

A five-run sixth inning sealed the victory in the first game, which was delayed by nearly two hours after thunderstorms rolled through the area on Sunday morning. In game two, Joey Lesage belted two homeruns and knocked in five runs to pace the Black Sox to their 13-3 win, a game they were trailing 3-2 going into the fifth inning.

"I thought our offence was quiet for a while there (in the second game) but in the fifth inning it woke up and showed what they were capable of doing," said Black Sox coach Mike Lebel. "It was a whole team effort, led by Joey Lesage. What else can we say there? It was a big blow at the time, a three-run homerun when we were down 3-2."

Jacob Lake had a pair of singles in the opening game, as did Lesage. Kyle Diotte and Ian Miles each also reached base a pair of times. Tyler Binkley went the distance and recorded the win on the mound.

To go along with the two-homerun performance of Lesage, Wyatt Curry also hit a homerun. Lesage added a double and a walk in the win. The Black Sox scored five runs with two outs in the fifth inning.

J.J. Bergamin continued the quality pitching performances for the Black Sox by pitching a complete game.

"Jake Yukich pitched an outstanding game for us last night and Andrew Toni in the first game," said Lebel. "(Binkley ad Bergamin) certainly stepped up and gave us their best (today)."

The victories improve the Black Sox record to 8-1 while Traverse City drops to 6-1 after dropping three of four games this weekend against the Black Sox and EUP Travellers.

In order to clinch top spot in the GLBL standings the Black Sox need a split with Traverse City in Traverse City on Wednesday afternoon. Following that, the locals will complete their regular season schedule on July 25 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI against the EUP Travellers.

GAME PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED.