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Reed provides Scouts’ stability

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XENIA — In his third year with the Xenia Scouts, Lincoln Reed has seen some milestones.

The Scouts finished the regular season with the most wins in team history. They made the playoffs for back-to-back seasons for the first time in team history. Teammate David Gauntt broke the regular season RBI record with 39, a number that rose in a win over the Grand Lake Mariners, Wednesday night. Gaunt and Kyle Carnahan broke the home run record with seven each. Quentin McGrath’s six wins is a team-record from the mound. Christian Binger has 34 walks on the season to break yet another record.

The difference for the Scouts this season compared to previous years was the fast-forming chemistry, according to Reed.

“It’s been a good experience this year. We’ve got a lot of great players on the team. We bonded right from the get-go. That’s a difference from other Scouts teams. Usually we bond by the end before everyone goes home. This team has been united from the start.”

Reed’s role has been the glue man this season. Scouts manager Bubba Cates said he provides leadership for the team on and off the field.

“Lincoln has been a trooper. He’s been able to do a lot of things for us. He was DH (Wednesday night) and hit a couple, got on base a few times. He’s caught for us. He’s played first base,” he said. “He’s been a solid teammate and a great guy in our dugout. He’s been solid wherever he is on the field. And he’s been like that for three years.”

Reed said many people looked to him for leadership early, because of his familiarity with the team.

“At first, it felt like I was team dad. I knew where everything was at and if anybody had a question, they came to me. Everyone fell into their role really quick and it’s been fun to watch other guys step up when needed,” he said. “It’s really just been fun to watch these guys play, and to play with them.”

The Cincinnati native said that he will take the leadership skills he learned with the Scouts back with him to Taylor University in Indiana.

“It’s really been a great experience. We have coaches who provide great leadership, and that is awesome. I can’t complain about anything. This is a special group,” he said. “I’m definitely going to take back some leadership skills. I’ve learned from watching coaches and just being one of the older guys on the team. I’ve tried to learn how to form relationships with players so I can assert myself when it’s needed.”

The Scouts still have more to play, however. After beating the Mariners, they advanced to play the Hamilton Joes in a three-game playoff series.

Come next season, Cates said the Scouts just might find a new way to get Reed involved.

“We’ll miss him next summer. We’ll have to get him to coach for us or something.”

File Photo Xenia’s Lincoln Reed covers first base in a game against the Grand Lake Mariners earlier this season. Reed has been with the Scouts for three summers.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/07/web1_ReedCovering.jpgFile Photo Xenia’s Lincoln Reed covers first base in a game against the Grand Lake Mariners earlier this season. Reed has been with the Scouts for three summers.

By Zach Gregory

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Reach Zach Gregory at (937) 372-4444, Ext. 2124.