SLIPPERY ROCK — An outfielder playing his first game at second base.

Two pitchers playing for the first time in the outfield.

An outfielder strapping on catching equipment for the first time since the fall.

A third baseman throwing his first pitch since high school.

The Slippery Rock Sliders found many ways to have fun in the season finale against Lorain County, closing a disappointing Prospect Collegiate League baseball season with a 16-6 thumping of the Ironmen.

"I let some pitchers hit for a reward," said Slippery Rock manager Andy Chalot. "We wanted to have a little fun."

Erick Miranda, who joined the team at midseason after playing at Compton College in California, squatted behind the plate in his first action at catcher since catching one game this fall. Matt Baer, who hit a pair of home runs and drove in six in the finale, played second base after spending the entire season in the outfield.

Pitchers Mark Allen Bounds, Vince Molesky and Lucas Anderson hit for the first time this season and Molesky and Anderson each recorded outs while playing left field.

Needing just one out to cap the victory, Chalot moved Kyle Mossbarger from third to the mound to get the final out.

It took him a few errant pitches and a walk to do so.

After Mossbarger recorded the final out, Sliders' players mobbed him on the mound.

"Baer just wanted to play there," Chalot said. "At the end we did a couple of things because of the situation. They had a blast. It was a good last day."

Lorain County manager Eric Cormell wasn't pleased with the way the final game of the season played out for his team.

Slippery Rock left little doubt about the outcome, scoring seven runs in the first inning and two more in the second and third innings to take an 11-2 lead.

"They were able to play loose," Cormell said. "They got up enough runs that they could play without pressure.

"Last game of the summer, they were having fun with it," Cormell added. "I wish we could have had a little more fun."

Baer certainly enjoyed his final game.

The second baseman on this night hit a two-run home run in the first inning, then nearly hit his second homer in the third inning in what turned out to be a ground-rule double.

He stepped up to the plate in the fifth and hit a towering three-run shot to left to give the Sliders a 15-2 lead at the time.

Baer, who will be a junior at West Chester University, said he wasn't sure in the spring if he would be able to play for the Sliders in the Prospect League.

"Some things got shuffled around and I was able to play," Baer said. "I've been having fun since I got out here."

Baer finished the season with a team-leading seven home runs and 34 RBI.

Slippery Rock closed the second half with a 12-15 record after a league-worst 9-18 mark in the first half.

"We played a whole lot better ball in the second half," Chalot said. "We played hard and played hard at the end. That was the greatest thing. We didn't have much to play for in the last week and they played hard. That was a great thing to see."

Lorain County 020 004 000 — 6 14 1Slippery Rock 722 040 01x — 16 18 1W: Mark Allen Bounds 7 IP (5K, 0BB).

L: Aaron Hilt 1 IP (0K, 1BB).

Lorain County (21-35): Austin Ingraham 2B RBI, Brandon Cantrill 2-1B RBI, Michael Grieco 2-1B, Evan Melendez 2B 1B RBI

Slippery Rock (21-33): Matt Baer 2-HR 2B 6-RBI, Erick Miranda 3-1B RBI, Sean Mahley 2-1B, Sam Sivilotti 2-1B RBI, Jeremy Banks 2B 3B 2-RBI, A.J. Miller 2=1B, Kyle Mossbarger 2B 3-1B, Zach Hofer 2B 1B RBI