THE LEAGUE IS IN FULL SWING!
By: Andrés Tejeda
JOLIET, IL - Today marked the first day in the 2022 Frontier League season where all 16 teams faced off on the baseball diamond! A newcomer to the league checked off a lot of baseball firsts, four players across the league, Harrison DiNicola, Nick Ward, Jason Dicochea, and Scott Holzwasser, came just short of a cycle, and the fans were back in the stands!
Tri-City ValleyCats vs Florence Y'alls
The Florence Y'alls (1-1) defeated the Tri-City ValleyCats (1-1) on Friday night 7-1 after losing in Thursday night's opening day game. The win marks the first of the season for the Y'alls after having the best record in the Frontier League last season, and it represents the first win at the newly named Thomas More Stadium in Florence, KY.
The 'Cats would score first thanks to Brad Zunica's RBI single. Unfortunately, that would be all that came from Tri-City's offense.
The Y'alls tied the game at one run a piece thanks to Axel Johnson's RBI fielder's choice. Johnson would bat again in the third and hit another single for two RBIs giving the Y'alls a 3-1 lead. Johnson would finish his night with a home run in the seventh and go two for four with four RBIs and two runs. Another positive in the Y'alls offense was Harrison Nicola who missed the cycle by a home run in his 3-4 day.
Matt Mercer, who took the loss, started for the ValleyCats and went four innings allowing a total of four runs, only two earned, and struck out two batters. The 'Cats relied on Troy Crus, Eddy Taverez and Jake Dexter in relief. A combined four innings pitched, three runs scored, only two earned and a total of four strike outs is all the 'pen could muster up.
The Y'alls leaned on Edgar Martinez who earn his first win this season lasted six innings allowing one earned run, six hits and struck out four batters. Evan Brabrand and Karl Craigie pitched the last three innings with a combined five strike outs.
Each team looks for the series win tomorrow night at Thomas More Stadium with first pitch set for 6:36 PM. Oddy Nuñez gets the nod for the ValleyCats opposed by Jared Cheek for the Y'alls.
Schaumburg Boomers vs Sussex County Miners
The Sussex County Miners (2-0) defeated the Schaumburg Boomers (0-1) Friday 7-1 during their home opener at Skylands Stadium.
The Miners scored early in the first inning thanks to Martin Figueroa's RBI triple and Ariel Sandoval's sacrifice fly to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Boomers lone run would come by Clint Hardy's RBI single in the fifth inning to cut the Miners' lead in half.
Sussex County would score twice more in the sixth, and once more in the seventh and eight innings.
Schaumburg's starting pitcher Blake Stelzer took the loss and went six innings allowing four earned runs on four hits. Stelzer's bright spot on the mound would be his seven strikeouts. Aaron Singh and Alec Craig would relief Stelzer for the last two innings of the game give up two earned runs and three strikeouts.
Dwayne Marshall was on the bump for the Miners and earned his first win on the year going five innings allowing only one earned run on six hits and punching out five batters. Jimmy Boyce would pitch in relief of Marshall for three innings where he struck out four batters and gave up four hits. Sussex County would leave it up to Dariel Fernandez to close out the game in the ninth inning.
Sussex County will look to continue their win streak to three games to start off the season while the Boomers will try to snap it as they face off for game two tomorrow at 6:05 p.m.| ET.
Trois-Rivières Aigles vs Lake Erie Crushers
The Trois-Rivières Aigles (1-0) defeated the Lake Erie Crushers (0-1) Friday night at Mercy Health Stadium.
The Aigles broke the 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with three runs thanks to Juan Kelly's RBI single and Raphael Gladu's two-run home run to make it 5-2. The last two runs would come by way of an error in the seventh and a wild pitch in the ninth.
The Crushers would manage two more runs in the eighth inning by an RBI double by Jackson Valera and an RBI walk to Ermindo Escobar to cut the lead down 6-4.
Trois-Rivières' starting pitcher Sam Belisle-Springer would earn his first win and lasted six innings. He would allow only two earned runs on five hits and stike out four batters. James Bradwell, Josh Smith, Carlo Graffeo and Kyle Thomas pitched the final three innings in relief.
Gunnar Kines started the game for Lake Erie but would receive a no-decision. He pitched four innings allowing two earned runs, three hits and strike out five batters. Zack Jones, Ean Walda and Jacob Gilliand threw the last five innings in relief. Jones would earn the loss after two innings and three earned runs.
Lake Erie looks to split the series at one game a piece while Trois-Rivières looks to take a two-game lead tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. | ET.
New York Boulders vs Washington Wild Things
The Washington Wild Things (1-0) shutout the New York Boulders (0-2) on Friday night 11-0.
Washington got a wild start thanks to Nick Ward who sent the first pitch of the game over the wall to give the Wild Things and early 1-0 lead. Ian Walters continued the scoring affair in the second with a two-run home run followed up by Cole Brannen's RBI triple and a pair of RBI doubles by Ward and Scotty Dubrule to put the Wild Things up 6-0 in the second inning. Ward would not end his night there he would hit another RBI single in the seventh inning to make it 10-0 before Ramon Osuna hit an RBI single to make it 11-0. Ward went 4-5 and was a triple shy of the cycle.
Boulders starting pitcher Robby Rowland suffered heavily on the trudging through five innings allowing nine runs, eight earned, on 12 hits, striking out six and taking the loss. Ben Strahm would come in to pitch the next three innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and punching out five batters.
Washington put their faith in Rob Whalen who pitched a great game. He would last five innings allowing no runs, four hits and striking out eight batters to record his first win of the season. Hayden Pearce came in for Whalen in the sixth and pitched three innings allowing no runs or hits while striking out five batters. Brailin Gonzalez would close out the game in the ninth striking out two of the five batters he'd face.
The Boulders look to end their two-game losing streak tomorrow, while the Wild Things look for a second consecutive win. They will face off tomorrow for game two at 7:05 p.m. | ET.
New Jersey Jackals vs Evansville Otters
The New Jersey Jackals (1-0) defeated the Evansville Otters (0-1) for their 25th anniversary season 9-5 at historic Bosse Field on Friday. A crowd of nearly 5,900 showed in the opening day festivities .
The Jackals scored first in the second inning thanks to Dalton Combs home run which was later followed by a fielder's choice RBI by Josh Rehwaldt. The majority of New Jersey's runs would come in the sixth inning. Justin Wylie and Jason Agresti hit RBI singles. Wylie would later come around and score on an error followed by another run scoring on a second error in the inning. Todd Isaccs would hit a two RBI single, and Wylie would homer in the seventh to tally the final run for the Jackals and finish 2-4 with three RBIs.
The Otters were pacing with the Jackals eventually tying the game at two runs a side in the fifth inning. Evansville nearly had a comeback run in the eight thanks to a two-run homer by Justin Felix and a homerun by Miles Gordon.
Both starters for the Jackals and Otters would receive no-decisions in their opening day appearances.
Leonardo Rodriguez of New Jersey lasted four and a third innings allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits and struck out six batters. Juan Perez who came in relief and earned the win pitched one and two thirds' innings allowing no runs on one hit and fanning two batters. Austin Smith, Christian Tessitore and Hansel Rodriguez would pitch an inning each to help the Jackals reach victory.
Evansville's Tim Holdgrafer lasted five innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and punched out two batters. Samson Abernathy would take the loss after pitching just one third of an inning and giving up five runs, one earned, on five hits and struck out one batter. Tyler Spring was left to pitch the remaining two thirds plus one inning before Jake Polancic would pitch the last two innings.
Evansville looks to improve on their pitching mishaps in game two while the Jackals look to continue swinging hot bats, tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. | CT.
Ottawa Titans vs Joliet Slammers
The Ottawa Titans (1-0) made history at Duly Field winning their first franchise game against the Joliet Slammers (0-2) by a score of 10-6 on Friday night.
Joliet got an early 2-0 lead in the first thanks to RBI singles by Carson Maxwell and Luke Mangieri. Mangieri would then hit a towering home run that nearly crossed the street in left field to tie the game at three runs apiece. Scott Holzwasser, who was a triple shy of the cycle, would hit a two-run home run later in the fifth. Maxwell would hit an RBI ground out for the sixth and final run for the Slammers.
Ottawa checked a lot of firsts off their list including Jason Dicochea hitting the first pitch he saw in the second inning for the first home run in Titans franchise history into left center field nearly hitting the video board. Dicochea would also record the first run and RBI in the club's history on the home run. Dicochea was also a triple shy of the cycle.
"I was just excited to be playing ball," Dicochea said. "… we got a lot of good hitters in this lineup and it's a fight at the bat rack if we hit like that every night."
The Titans seemed to have an answer for every scoring opportunity the Slammers had eventually taking the lead in the fifth on a wild pitch and keeping the lead to win their first game in franchise history.
Joliet's starter Alec Thomas took the loss and lasted four and two thirds' innings. He allowed six earned runs on five hits and struck out two. Gage Feeny, Ryder Yakel, Cole Stanton, Kaleb Honea and Trevor Charpie pitched the remaining eight and one thirds innings.
Ottawa assigned Zac Westcott to start in their historic game and he earned the first win in franchise history as well as recording the first strike out. He pitched five innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits, and struck out four batters. Gavin Sonnier and Grant Larson came in relief.
"Playing in front of a full crowd is going to energize them (the Ottawa Titans) and the country to get back to normal. Baseball should have people in the game!" Ottawa Titans head coach Bobby Brown said "To (get a) win on opening night was great."
Ottawa will look to continue to improve on their 1.000 franchise win percentage as the Slammers look to end their two-game losing streak in game two tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. CST.
Empire State Greys vs Gateway Grizzlies
The Gateway Grizzlies (1-0) shutout the Empire State Greys (0-1) in a dominant 13-0 one hit game Friday night.
The Grizzlies scored early in the first taking a 3-0 lead with back-to-back home runs by Issac Benard (two run home run) and Peter Zimmerman. Two more runs would score in the bottom of the third by Jay Prather's RBI double and a Jose Rosario RBI ground out. Rosario would hit an opposite-field three run home run to make it 8-0. The Grizzlies would add another trio of runs in the sixth inning on a sac fly RBI by Abdiel Diaz and a two RBI single by Zimmerman. Zimmerman would hit another two-run home run to make it 13-0 and finished 3-3 with five RBI and scoring four runs.
The Empire State Greys could only muster one hit by Hanley Acevedo. He would record the first hit in franchise history for the Empire State Greys.
Grey's starter Luis Pacheco would take the loss and pitch five innings. He allowed eight earned runs on seven hits and struck out seven batters. Walner Espinal would come in relief but also struggled on the mound. he only pitched one third of an inning allowing three earned runs on one hit. Gerald De La Cruz pitched the remainder of the game for two and two thirds innings allowing two earned runs on hive hits.
The Grizzlies starter, Brendan Feldmann, had a great outing lasting six innings, allowing only one hit and striking out five batters. Caston Cup and Taylor Sugg pitched the last three innings with a combined five strike outs and keeping the Greys hitless.
Gateway look to capitalize on a great game while the Greys look to improve overall on the diamond in game two tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. | CT.
Québec Capitales vs Windy City ThunderBolts
The Québec Capitales (1-0) defeat the Windy City ThunderBolts (1-1) 7-4 in the southern suburbs of Chicago in Friday night.
The Capitales scored early in the first and third inning taking a 3-0 lead over the 'Bolts. Windy City managed to come back late in the sixth inning courtesy of a inside-the-park home run by Jake Boone and tie the game at four.
The Capitales score two more in the seventh by a Josh McAdams two RBI double. Québec would get an insurance run thanks to a wild pitch in the ninth inning to solidify the lead and win 7-4.
Both starting pitchers would receive no-decisions.
Kenny Mathews started for Windy City and went five innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits and struck out one batter. Sebastian Selway would come in relief and take the loss. Selway lasted two innings allowing two earned runs, on two hits and struck out one batter. Brayden Bonner and Justin Miller would pitch the eighth and ninth innings.
Capitales starter Miguel Cienfuegos lasted five innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out three batters. John Witkowski would come in the sixth inning and pitch one inning allowing two earned runs on three hits and he would earn the win. Marshal Shill and Nick Horvath would pitch the seventh and eighth innings before the Capitales would ask Samuel Adames to close the door on the game and earn the save.
The Capitales and 'Bolts face off again tomorrow in game two of the series at 6:05 p.m. | CT.
