2022 OPENING DAY MATCHUP RECAP
By: Andrés Tejeda
CRESTWOOD, IL - It's opening day in the Frontier League and six of the league 16 teams faced off today on the baseball diamond.
ValleyCats vs Y'alls
The Tri-City ValleyCats (1-0) defeated the Florence Y'alls (0-1) 7-4 thanks to a triad of homeruns in the first ever meeting between these two teams.
The 'Cats started the game with a 4-run first inning courtesy of Denis Phipps and Brad Zunica's back-to-back home runs before C. McCusker would top it off with an RBI double. Phipps set a ValleyCats single season homerun record last year with 21 bombs.
Juan Silverio hit an RBI single in the top of the 3rd inning. The 'Cats would score once more in the 6th thanks to a 2-run homerun by Silverio. Silverio would finish the game 2-4 with 3 RBIs. The 'Cats would score once more in the 6th thanks to a 2-run homerun by Silverio. Silverio would finish the game 2-4 with 3 RBIs.
The Y'alls would get themselves on the scoreboard courtesy of Alex Johnson's sack fly RBI making it 5-1 'Cats. The Y'alls efforts were squandered despite 11 hits in the ball game and scoring a run in the 6th, 8th and 9th innings. Harrison DiNicola hit 3-5 and Andres Rios hit 2-4. They both finished with a run and RBI.
Jonaiker Villalobos struggled in his opening day debut and took the loss. He pitched three and one third innings allowing five earned runs on six hits and striking out four. Florence's pitching staff would combine for 12 strikeouts total.
Joey Gonzalez started on the mound for the 'Cats and earned the win. Gonzalez would go 4 innings allowing one run on three hits while punching out seven batters. Tri-City would rely on their bullpen and use five relivers to get the job done.
The ValleyCats and Y'alls face off again for game two, tomorrow at 7:03 p.m. | ET.
Miners vs Boulders
The Sussex County Miners (1-0) defeated the New York Boulders (0-1) 8-4 in front of a 4,000+ crowd. This is the second largest opening night crowd at Clover Stadum.
Both teams were evenly matched for the first three innings until Sussex County's Martin Figueroa 2 RBI double ended a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning. Figueroa would finish the night 3-4 with four RBIs.
New York's David Vinsky got his team started with a 2 RBI single. Gerson Molina and Chris Kwitzer would contribute with RBIs of their own via a sac fly and a single.
Zach Snider took the loss for New York coming in relief for Dan Wirchansky. Snider would pitch one inning allowing three earned runs on four hits and striking out two. Wirchansky finished his outing going four innings allowing only one earned run on one hit and sitting down eight batters.
Michael Mediavilla earned the win for Sussex. Mediavilla would go 6 innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits striking out seven batters.
The Miners travel back home to take on the Schaumburg Boomers at 7:05 p.m. | ET.
The Boulders will travel to Washington, PA to take on the Washington Wild Things at 7:05 p.m. | ET.
Slammers vs ThunderBolts
The Windy City ThunderBolts (1-0) defeated the Joliet Slammers (0-1) 5-3 on opening night.
The Slammers took an early 2 run lead in the first inning after a shaky start for Windy City's Tyler Thornton. Luke Mangieri and Carson Maxwel would both hit RBI singles to give them the 2-0 lead. Mangieri would have one more RBI single to end the scoring at three for Joliet.
Windy City's Daryl Myers bat was hot as he went 3-4 with 2 RBIs in the game. Jake Boone and Nikola Vasic would also earn RBIs in the game to help put the ThunderBolts on top.
Unfortunately, the game was plagued with fielding and throwing errors with a total of six errors in the game. Both teams committing three errors a piece.
Joliet's started Kenny Ogg took the opening night loss lasting five innings allowing four earned runs on six hits and striking out six. Chris Roycroft, Brad VanAsdlen and Tanner Kiest would come in relief pitching one inning each.
Thornton earned the win, lasting five innings allowing two earned runs on two hits, striking out four. Miguel Ausua came in relief for Thornton pitching two and two thirds' innings allowing one earned run on four hits and punching out four. Windy City would leave the game in the hands of Daniel Kight as he would close out the game and earn the save pitching the last one and one third inning allowing no runs or hits and striking out one.
The Windy City Thunderbolts are back at home tomorrow as they host the Quebec Capitales at 7:05 p.m. | CT.
The Joliet Slammers return home tomorrow for their home opener against the Ottawa Titans at 6:35 p.m. | CT.
Around the League
Trois-Rivieres Aigles at Lake Erie Crushers – 7:05 p.m. | ET
New Jersey Jackals at Evansville Otters – 6:35 p.m. | ET
Empire State Greys at Gateway Grizzlies – 6:45 p.m. | CT
