Chase DeLauter and Cooper Ingle Lead Lake County to 4-0 Victory over Lansing – Captains Now Two Games Out of First Place

Photo by Al Kornspan

Eastlake- For five innings on Thursday night at Classic Park, both the Captains and Lugnuts did not plate a run. 

However, in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings the Captains scored four runs to defeat the Lugnuts, 4-0.  

In the sixth inning, Captains designated hitter Cooper Ingle, doubled to drive in a run and give Lake County a 1-0 lead.

BIG COOP🤩

Cooper Ingle doubles in the bottom of the 6th, Valdes scores! Captains up 1-0! pic.twitter.com/yhP3K73qZZ

— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) September 8, 2023

In the bottom of the seventh, the Captains added three additional runs to make the final score 4-0.

The Captains scored their second run of the night when Jake Fox drove in a run with a double in the seventh inning.

catch him if you can 🦊#Guardians no. 12 prospect Jake Fox doubles, Furman scores. Captains up 2-0! pic.twitter.com/u75yh4UA2K

— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) September 8, 2023

Still in the seventh inning, The Captains scored their final two runs when Guardians 4th ranked top prospect Chase DeLauter hit a two run home run.

WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO SEE 🤩#Guardians no. 4 prospect Chase DeLauter hits a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 7th. Captains up 4-0. pic.twitter.com/8Tq6Qm1piX

— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) September 8, 2023

For the game, DeLauter led the team offensively going 2-4 with 2 RBI.

DeLauter has been clutch all season for the Captains. 

In fact, when DeLauter has come to the plate with two outs and runners in scoring position, he is hitting .414 (12-29, 2 doubles, home run, and 11 RBI).

That Chase DeLauter is having such a great year does not seem surprising when you look at his college baseball statistics. 

As a freshman at James Madison University, DeLauter hit .382, and then followed that up with a sophomore season in which he hit .386.

In his junior year of college baseball, DeLauter hit an amazing .437, with eight home runs and 35 RBI.

DeLauter’s incredible college career led him to being chosen as the Cleveland Guardians first round draft pick (16th overall) in the 2022 MLB draft.

After being drafted number one by the Guardians, DeLauter received a signing bonus of 3.75 million dollars.

With the victory, the Captains  now trail the division leading Fort Wayne TinCaps by two games, with three games left to play.

In order for the Captains to make the playoffs they would need to finish first in the second half division standings.

The Captains next face the Lugnuts on Friday night.  

The first pitch is scheduled for 7pm.