WASHINGTON WINS IN WALK-OFF AS REGULAR SEASON ENDS

Washington vs Windy City

The Washington Wild Things wrapped up the 2022 regular season with a 4-3 walk-off win over the Windy City Thunderbolts. Anthony Brocato's walk-off sacrifice gave Washington the win and the sweep over Windy City. The victory and the loss by Quebec against Ottawa gives Washington the top seed overall in the Frontier League postseason. Wagner Lagrange also tied the franchise record for hits in a season during the win.

The game was tied 3-3 going into the ninth. Washington's Isaac Mattson came in that inning and struck out all three Windy City batters to send it to the bottom frame. Cole Brannen singled to right to make it on base, stole second and advanced to third on a bunt single by Nick Ward. Brocato sent Brannen home on the sac fly to center to secure the win 4-3.

Washington led Windy City 3-0 after three innings on an Ian Walters RBI single in the second and two-run RBI single by Cam Balego in the third. Windy City came back to tie it with a Matt Morgan RBI single in the fourth and two-run home run by Brian Klein in the fifth.

Daren Osby pitched four innings this start, allowed three runs, six hits, walked seven and struck out four. Dan Kubiuk relieved Osby. He pitched two innings, allowed one hit and struck out three. Zack Erwin came in after Kubiuk and had the exact same statline.

With two hits in this game, one in the fifth and another in the eighth, Lagrange tied the record for most hits in a single season by a Washington Wild Things' player. His 125 hits equal Lance Koenig's total in 2005.

New York vs Trois-Rivieres

The New York Boulders closed out the regular season by winning their 12th successive game, clinching second place in the Frontier League's Eastern Division and earning the right to play host to the Ottawa Titans in Tuesday's wild card game with an 8-5 victory over the host Trois-Rivieres Aigles on Sunday at Stade Quillorama in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada.

Since July 13, when they were 27-27, the Boulders won 30 of their final 41 games to finish the season at 57-38.

The Boulders fell behind 2-0 after two innings but used a five-run third inning to seize control of the game, then fended off the Aigles to post the win and clinch second place and home field for Tuesday's Eastern Division Wild Card game with the Ottawa Titans.

Trois-Rivieres moved in front on two-out hits from Ethan Hunt, a double, and a single by Canice Ejoh.

The Boulders, however, bounced back in their next time up at the plate. Chris Kwitzer's single plated two runs to tie the game at 2-2. One of those runs came from David Vinsky and was the outfielder's 98th run scored of the season, breaking the Frontier League mark of 97 set back in 1998 by Richmond's Morgan Burkhart.

A Gabriel Garcia sacrifice fly gave New York the lead at 3-2 before a run-scoring double from Francisco Del Valle and an RBI single by Jake MacKenzie extended their lead to 5-2.

Trois-Rivieres got one run back in the fourth on a Hunt groundout, but the Boulders got that one back – plus one more – when Vinsky knocked in a pair with a sixth inning double to put New York up 7-3.

The Aigles closed their deficit to 7-4 in the seventh on a Nicco Toni single.

However, the Boulders matched that run thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Austin Dennis, the run giving New York their four-run advantage back at 8-4.

Trois-Rivieres threatened in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, consecutive singles by Ejoh and Toni was followed with an RBI double from Sam Poliquin that scored one run and cut the Boulders' lead to 8-5.

However, Zach Schneider, who came on to relieve New York starter Robby Rowland in the seventh inning, struck out Ricardo Sanchez for the second out.

Boulders' manager T.J. Stanton then called on Matt Leon, who got Connor Panas to bounce out to second base to close out the victory.

Rowland got the win for New York, going six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked one as he raised his season mark to 8-5.

Mason McAlister started and was tagged with the loss for the Aigles. The righthander lasted only 2 1/3 innings and surrendered five runs on six hits while walking two. He did not strike out a batter as he finished the year at 0-1.

New Jersey vs Sussex County

The New Jersey Jackals and Sussex County Miners game was canceled due to rain 

Tri-City vs Empire State

The Empire State Greys and Tri-City ValleyCats wrapped up the 2022 Frontier League season Sunday evening in front of a packed crowd at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. 

Southpaw Ryan Williamson would toe the rubber for the final time this season, as Jeff Rotz made the start for the Greys. 

Following a 1-2-3 inning for Ryan Williamson in the top half of the first inning, Empire State's offense came alive in the second. A solo home run off the bat of Manny Garcia would give the visitors an early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, a two-run home run from centerfielder Jordan Garr would extend the Greys lead, giving them the early advantage. 

Jeff Rotz was dominant in the early stages of his outing. He retired the ValleyCats in order in both the first and second innings. However in the third, the offense would ignite. With one runner on, Mitch Piatnik would launch his first home run of the season over the center field fence, cutting their deficit in half. Rotz's outing would end at the completion of the third inning, giving up just the two-run shot as his only hit. 

Back to back doubles from Trey Woosley and Manny Garcia got the Greys back on the board in the top of the fourth inning, Garcia would finish his season finale a triple short of the cycle. He also played all nine positions in the game as well. 

Tri-City would get the run right back in the home half of the fourth inning on a Carson McCusker RBI double off Donnie Speronza, plating Denis Phipps who walked earlier in the inning, cutting the lead to just 4-3. 

Williamson would settle down during the middle stages of the game, allowing just one base runner in the fourth and fifth innings. 

Donnie Speronza would come out to start the fifth inning, walking Jace Mercer and Joey Campagna to lead off the inning, following the walk to the ValleyCats third baseman, Speronza would be removed from the game, bringing Locke Bernhardt out from the bullpen. 

On the first pitch the right hander threw to shortstop Pavin Parks, the lefty would blast a three run shot over both levels of fencing in right field, giving the 'Cats their first lead of the night. The Tri-City batsmen were not finished yet, plating three more runs in the inning, RBI hits from Mitch Piatnik and Jace Mercer each scored a run, and an RBI groundout from pinch hitter Jesus Lujano would cap off the offensive outburst. Thirteen ValleyCats hitters ultimately came to the plate during the fifth inning. 

Williamson would work a quiet sixth inning and would induce a ground out off the bat of Garr to lead off the seventh. The lefty would walk the next two batters he faced in the seventh, making way for Jake Dexter to enter from the bullpen with nobody out in the inning. The sidewinding right hander would strike out Robbie Carling and force Woosley to pop out, stranding both runners on base. 

Dexter would work the eighth inning, surrendering an RBI single to Garr to cut Tri-City's lead to 10-5. 

Brac Warren would work a scoreless ninth inning, securing the 54th win of the season for the ValleyCats.  

Ottawa vs Quebec

The Ottawa Titans (56-39) defeated the Quebec Capitales 9-4 on Sunday night, wrapping up their inaugural 2022 regular season.

The Titans got out of the gate hot, receiving a pair of hits from Liam McArthur and Clay Fisher. Right-hander David Richardson (loss, 1-1) faced Kai Moody with two out, who lined a two-run single to left to bring home a pair.

In the third, Fisher and Jake Sanford doubled the lead going back-to-back off Richardson, making it 4-0. Fisher's 8th homer of the year was backed by Sanford's 22nd, as the Titans poured it on early.

Carlos Sano forced home a run with a wild pitch in the fourth before a McArthur RBI single and Rodrigo Orozco sac fly pushed the lead to 7-0.

Chris Burica (win, 9-6) dazzled on the mound, not allowing a hit through four and a third in the series finale. The left-hander allowed a trio of hits in the fifth, with Josh McAdams plating a run on a double, putting the Capitales on the board.

Moody drove in his third of the contest with an RBI single off former Titan David Gauthier in the seventh. Later, Tyrus Greene grounded out to first with the bases loaded, bringing home one.

Marc-Antoine Lebreux's triple in the bottom half cashed in McAdams to cut into the deficit. On the next pitch, David Glaude singled to right, scoring Lebreux to make it 9-3.

Matt Valin replaced Burica's solid outing in the eighth and surrendered a solo shot off the bat of TJ White to begin the frame.

Burica earned the quality start by going seven innings of three-run ball, allowing eight hits, walking one, and striking out four.

Kyle Serrano put together a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth by striking out the side, giving the Titans a series win.

Florence vs Evansville

The Florence Y'alls conclude the 2022 season by taking one of two games against the Evansville Otters in a doubleheader, winning the first game by a score of 7-1 and dropping the second 11-1. 

In Game One, the Y'alls fell behind in the first inning but immediately responded with three runs of their own to claim a 3-1 lead. Taylor Bryant and Ray Zuberer hit back-to-back home runs to highlight the scoring. The Y'alls added a pair of runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings for the 7-1 final score. 

The Y'alls got a great start from Jeremy Ovalle, who picked up his first win of the season. After the first inning run, the righty pitched four more scoreless innings, including striking out the side in the second. He finished with five strikeouts total. Ryan O'Reilly went three 1/3 innings for Evansville and takes the loss after allowing five runs. 

In Game Two, Evansville (52-43) smacked around the Y'alls to the tune of 14 hits including seven doubles and three home runs. Justin Felix hit two home runs of his own. Five different Otters had at least two hits, including a second three-hit game of the series for George Calil. The only runs the Y'alls could produce came via a Ray Zuberer sacrifice fly RBI in the first inning. Luke Harper ends the season on a six-game hitting streak. 

The Y'alls end the season with a 39-56 record. Evansville advances to the Frontier League playoffs and will play at Schaumburg in a one-game wild card playoff Tuesday night.

Lake Erie vs Gateway

The Gateway Grizzlies ended their season strong on the "Greatest Night in Baseball" by completing a sweep of the Lake Erie Crushers behind a great pitching performance from Carson LaRue (5-5), winning by a final score of 8-2 on Sunday night at GCS Credit Union Ballpark. 

In the top of the first inning, Jackson Valera hit a solo home run to left field to quickly give the Crushers a 1-0 lead. But the Grizzlies responded in the bottom of the frame when Kevin Krause launched his tenth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, to put the Grizzlies on top 2-1.   

The score remained 2-1 into the bottom of the fifth inning when the Grizzlies resumed their offense. Abdiel Diaz led off the frame by hitting a solo home run over the right field wall. Three batters later with two outs, Isaac Benard hit a single, Krause drew a walk, and Zach Racusin drove in a run on an RBI single to make it a 4-1 Grizzlies lead. In the next inning, the Grizzlies led off with a single by Peter Zimmermann and a double by Trevor Achenbach. Diaz then drove in Zimmermann on a groundout to third base and Achenbach two batters later scored on a passed ball. Benard capped the inning with a long, two-run home run to right field to give the Grizzlies an 8-1 lead.

LaRue would then finish his final start of the season strong, pitching six innings and allowing just one run while striking out six batters to earn his fifth win of the season. Lake Erie would use a solo homer by Kenen Irizarry to make it 8-2 in the eighth inning, but would get no closer as the Grizzlies completed the sweep with their fourth consecutive win.  

As a result, Gateway finished the season with a 47-49 overall record (the most victories on the field since winning 50 games in 2014), with GCS Credit Union Ballpark welcoming 75,766 fans this season over 50 home games in 2022, including 6,751 patrons Sunday in the season finale. 

Schaumburg vs Joliet

Having already secured home field for the Frontier League Wild Card game on Tuesday due to results earlier in the day, Mike Hart played all nine positions and the 2021 Frontier League Champion Schaumburg Boomers ended the regular season with a 6-3 loss to the Joliet Slammers. 

Hart started his tour behind the plate and capped his evening by working the final .1 of the night on the hill. Joliet opened a 2-0 lead in the first inning but the Boomers were able to tie the game in the fourth. Chase Dawson added to his league record for triples with his 24th of the season to score two runs. Joliet plated a single run in the sixth while the Boomers countered with Alec Craig scoring in the seventh. Joliet scored the final three runs of the game in the eighth to nab the decision. 

Schaumburg used seven pitchers in the game, two of which were position players. The pitching staff finished a record year with 10 strikeouts as five different pitchers recorded strikeouts. Brett Milazzo reached base three times in the contest.