BOLTS END JACKALS WIN STREAK
CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts were able to snap New Jersey's 12-game win streak at Ozinga Field with a 7-4 win on Father's Day.
Logan Schmitt made his debut with the ThunderBolts (12-21) and pitched six innings, letting up one run and three hits.
The Bolts jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the second as Jonathan Waite singled down the third base line with the bases loaded to bring Micah Yonamine home.
Schmitt surrendered just one run in the game. It came in the bottom of the third, when James Nelson picked up an RBI on a single, tying the game at 1-1.
The Bolts regained the lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth and a big seventh inning pushed them ahead for good. Bren Spillane and Peyton Isaacson singled, then Yonamine was hit by a pitch. Jake Boone took the plate with the bases loaded and brought Spillane home with a sacrifice fly to put the score at 4-1.
Paul Coumoulos followed Boone with a bases-clearing double and advanced to third on a throwing error. Shortly after, Waite reached on an error for an RBI, concluding the Bolts' scoring at 7-1.
New Jersey saw a little bit of light in the bottom of the eighth when Derrick Edington gave up two hits including a two-run home run from Josh Rehwaldt making it 7-3.
Daiveyon Whittle entered the game in the top of the eighth surrendering two hits and a run, but with back-to-back strikeouts he closed the door for a final score of 7-4.
The Thunderbolts hit the road to play the Ottawa Titans in a three-game series that will start on Tuesday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m.
POMONA, NY — For seven innings, the New York Boulders' bats were sleeping soundly Sunday against the Lake Erie Crushers. Then, with a towering solo home run by Joe DeLuca, they abruptly woke up just in time to help power the Boulders to a 3-2 win at Clover Stadium.
DeLuca blasted a game-tying home run on to the concourse level in deep right field to lead off the eighth inning. Matt McDermott delivered the final blow three batters later, ripping an RBI double to the warning track in left field to score Giovanni Garbella.
Crushers starter Yasel Santana had held New York to just two hits through seven innings, while also striking out nine Boulders in the process. New York (19-12) used timely hitting and a couple of lucky balks by Santana to complete a thrilling come-from-behind win.
Boulders pitcher Andy Hammond, who delivered the walk-off single in Saturday night's win, followed up his sensational performance at the plate with one on the mound. The 6-foot-4 right-hander tossed 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball and struck out six batters to earn the win in relief.
Lake Erie's Sean Cheely broke the scoreless stalemate for in the third inning with his first home run of the season, which landed in the right-center field bleachers. The Crushers (15-18) added their only other run of the game later in the inning on a wild pitch.
POMONA, NY - Lake Erie dropped the series finale to New York on a Father's Day Sunday matinee by a final score of 3-2. It was one the Crushers (15-18) should've had, one they could've had, and one they would've had if it weren't for a late surge from the Boulders (19-13) to steal Game 3.
The Crushers got off to an early lead in the top of the third inning. Sean Cheely led off the frame with a solo blast to right-center field. After John Tuccillo followed suit with a double, he later scored off a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 contest.
The Boulders got one back in the fifth inning. Gabriel Garcia led off with a single and was balked over two bags by Yasel Santana. He was hit in on a sacrifice fly by Giovanni Garbella to trim the Lake Erie lead to one.
It was a quiet day for both teams with the bats. Neither team could find the scoreboard again until late in the game but the Boulders brought drama to the field in the eighth.
It was a solo blast off the bat of Joe DeLuca to tie the game. Following up the home run with a single from Garbella, he later came to score on an RBI double from Matt McDermott. In the blink of an eye, it was 3-2 in favor of New York.
All three Crushers in the ninth inning stuck out to end the game. It was a series where they had a good chance to earn their first sweep of the season — leading going into the bottom of the eighth inning for the last two contests — Lake Erie will walk away with a 2-4 record for their six-game road series.
Yasel Santana had a terrific day on the mound. He threw for 7.0 innings allowing three runs off of four hits. He takes the hard-luck loss and moves to 2-2 on the season.
The Crushers will take the eight-hour bus ride home to the shores of Lake Erie. With an off day tomorrow, the grapes will rest and leave this behind them with hopes of bouncing back against a red-hot Schaumberg Boomers team.
Joliet, IL - Lane Baremore's go-ahead grand slam in the sixth sunk the Ottawa Titans (14-19) in an 8-5 loss to the Joliet Slammers (14-19) on Sunday, seeing the Titans drop the rubber match.
With a new-looking lineup, Jason Dicochea and Sicnarf Loopstok stood aboard to open up the series finale against Turner Larkins (win, 4-2) in the first. Jamey Smart cashed in the game's opening run with an RBI groundout.
The Titans' offence poured it on with three more runs in the second. Jason Dicochea belted a two-run double to left-centre and was brought home by Sicnarf Loopstok's opposite-field double, making it 4-0.
Breezing through the first three innings, GJ Hill got the Slammers on the board with a two-out two-run homer off Alec Thomas (ND, 1-1), cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Thomas would exit in line for the win allowing two runs on four hits over five innings of work.
Jason Dicochea's sacrifice fly gave the Titans a three-run cushion as Evan Berkey's double was brought home to make it 5-2 in the sixth.
Matt Valin (loss, 1-1) took over in the bottom half of the sixth and walked the first two hitters he faced. Next, GJ Hill reached on an E5 after bunting the ball up the third base line to load the bases with none out. Lane Baremore stepped up and with one swing of the bat gave the Slammers the lead for good with a grand slam. Valin would not record an out and allow four runs (three earned) on one hit, walking three in relief.
Nick MacDonald and Augie Gallardo each pitched a scoreless inning before Trevor Clifton allowed a two-run double to Liam McArthur in the eighth.
The offence was unable to fight back against a trio of relievers out of the Slammers' bullpen, who hung on to take the series.
In the loss, Jason Dicochea went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Evan Berkey was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats (19-14) picked up their first three-game sweep of the season, and won both ends of a doubleheader by a score of 6-1 and 6-2 over the Florence Y'alls (17-16) on Sunday at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. It was their second twinbill sweep of the year. Tri-City improved to five games above .500 for the first time this year, and are on a season-best five-game win streak.
Tri-City opened the scoring in the second. Carson McCusker led off the frame with a single off Rodney Hutchison. Zach Biermann picked up a single to send McCusker to second. Pavin Parks walked, and Ian Walters plated a run after he was issued a free pass to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.
The ValleyCats broke the game open in the sixth. Aaron Altherr greeted Michaek Kirian with a solo homer. It was Altherr's sixth long ball of the season. Biermann and Parks then singled. Jakob Goldfarb reached on a fielder's choice, and Biermann went to third. Ian Walters knocked in a pair with a two-run triple. It was just the second three-bagger for Tri-City this season, and the first since Altherr's triple on May 13. Jaxon Hallmark walked, and stole second before Trey Hair had a two-run single to pull Tri-City ahead, 6-0.
Harrison DiNicola put Florence on the board with a solo shot off Elijah Gill in the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-1. The homer ended Gill's team-high 19.2 scoreless innings streak. Gill was taken out of the game two batters later, and Elliot Carney sealed the victory with a strikeout of Sam Plash.
Gill (3-2) earned the win in game one. He hurled his fourth consecutive quality start, and lasted 6.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking one, and striking out three.
Hutchison (1-2) received the loss in game one. He tossed three frames, yielding one run on two hits, walking three, and striking out three.
Hallmark led off the nightcap with a double off Bobby Brabrand. Cito Culver laid down a bunt single, and Altherr ripped a two-run double down the left field line to pull the 'Cats on top, 2-0.
Florence cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second. Brian Fuentes doubled off Garrison Bryant, and went to third on a groundout from Zade Richardson. Jeremiah Burks walked, and moved to second on a throwing error from Goldfarb, which also enabled Fuentes to score. The error ended a 2023-best 31.2 consecutive innings without an error for the ValleyCats. Burks tried to steal home later in the frame, but was caught stealing on a 1-2 putout at the plate.
Bryant was handed a no-decision. He threw four frames, giving up two runs on four hits, walking three, and striking out three.
Cole Brennan singled in the fifth to knock Bryant out of the game. Brennan stole second, and went to third after Brendan Bell induced a groundout from Craig Massey. Ray Zuberer knotted the game at 2-2 thanks to an RBI groundout.
Hallmark was a big reason why Tri-City broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth. He worked a one-out walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hair also walked, and Sean Hughes entered. Hughes walked McCusker and Altherr, who brought in the go-ahead run. Hair scored on a wild pitch before Biermann laced a two-run single to make it a 6-2 contest.
The ValleyCats flashed the leather in the sixth to help out Brac Warren. Goldfarb erased a leadoff walk to Fuentes by throwing him out at second. In the next at-bat, Walters made a terrific over-the-shoulder basket catch. Afterward, it was smooth sailing for Warren, as he retired the next four batters in order to provide the ValleyCats with the win.
Bell (1-0) picked up the game two victory. He pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit, and striking out one.
Brabrand (2-3) received the loss in game two. He pitched 4.2 innings, yielding four runs on five hits, walking two, and striking out seven.
Tri-City has the day off tomorrow before taking on the Québec Capitales in a three-game road trip at Stade Canac starting on Tuesday, June 20. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
Evansville, Ind. – The Evansville Otters quieted the Gateway Grizzlies to just four hits and one run in a 4-1 rubber match victory Sunday evening at Bosse Field.
Parker Brahms earned his first win of the season, holding Gateway to just one run on three hits over six innings.
Kevin Davis and Jon Beymer continued the pitching dominance, closing out the series win.
Davis worked an inning and a third scoreless. Beymer found the last out of the eighth before earning his first professional save in the ninth.
Offensively, the Otters used the long ball. George Callil hit his second home run of the season in the third inning to give Evansville a 1-0 lead.
After a fourth inning Gateway homer, the Otters' Ethan Skender responded with a solo blast off the second row of billboards in left field to retake the lead.
Evansville found insurance in the sixth on a Jomar Reyes RBI double down the left field line. The Otters added one more in the eighth as Kona Quiggle knocked a triple that bounced off the Grizzlies right fielders' glove. Quiggle scored the Otters final run on a passed ball.
Evansville held Gateway, the top scoring offense in the Frontier League, to a season low six total runs over the three game series.
Reyes' double extended his hit streak to 11 games, tied for the second longest streak of any Otter this season. Jeffrey Baez had his team leading 11th multi-hit game of the season.
After a scheduled Monday off day, Evansville continues the homestand opening up a three-game series against the Frontier League East first place Sussex County Miners on Tuesday as part of Fifth Third Bank Family Night
WASHINGTON, Pa. (June 17) – The Washington Wild Things (15-18) won the final game of their weekend homestand against the Empire State Greys (8-24) and by doing so, took the series. It was another good night for the offense, as Washington won 9-4.
Stephen Knapp kept things close as he pitched 5.2 innings striking out six and only giving up four runs on six hits.
In the bottom of the third, Scotty Dubrule reached first on an error by the Greys shortstop and Melvin Novoa drove him in on an RBI triple to center field. Then Wagner Lagrange brought in Novoa on a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 2-1, giving the Wild Things a slim lead.
The Greys scored three across the fourth and fifth innings and held a two-run lead going into the bottom of the fifth. The Wild Things continued their theme of the series with another big inning being the difference in this one by scoring five in that frame. After loading the bases early, Novoa continued his big night with a two-run triple. Then Wagner Lagrange would have a repeat at-bat and hit another sac fly to bring Novoa across the dish again. The Wild Things' big inning at the plate continued with back-to-back home runs by Anthony Brocato and Tristan Peterson.
The offense would start to tack on insurance runs with one of them coming in the form of a sacrifice fly in the sixth and another in the form of an RBI single in the eighth both off the bat off Scotty Dubrule to seal the Wild Things win.
The Greys would not have an answer to the Wild Things high-flying offense and lights out bullpen as they would be held scoreless through the late innings.
Will Solomon, Christian James and Lukas Young combined to allow only one hit and no runs through 3.1 innings.
