SLAMMERS COME BACK TO WALK OFF CRUSHERS - FRONTIER DAILY ROUNDUP
WRITTEN BY: MIKE GUISTOLISE
SLAMMERS WALK OFF CRUSHERS
JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Slammers made a valiant comeback to defeat the Lake Erie Crushers 8-7 on Friday night.
The Slammers (8-11) were able to weather some early offense from the Crushers (11-8) and flipped the script with a few big hits. Lake Erie came out swinging against RHP Zac Westcott, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Joliet was able to put together some offense to keep themselves in the game early, answering with two runs in the bottom half. In the second, the Slammers tied the game when CF Chris Davis hit a line-drive single into center field, bringing a run in. The Crushers would retake the lead, scoring three more runs on Westcott across the third and fourth innings to put themselves up 6-3. The momentum shift came in the sixth inning for Joliet; down three runs, the Slammers were able to load the bases with one out for 3B Antonio Valdez, who then pulled the ball down the right-field line. It rolled all the way into the corner, clearing the bases as he pulled into second with a stand-up double. Lake Erie was able to get back in the lead, scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth. In the ninth, the Slammers put together two back-to-back base hits with two outs, with C Drew Stengren collecting the game-winning RBI. RHP Cole Wesneski earned the win in relief for the Slammers, while RHP Trevor Kuncl took the loss.
The Slammers and Crushers will play the middle game of their series at Duly Health & Care Field on Saturday. First pitch is at 7:05 PM EDT.
TRI-CITY SCORES SEVEN STRAIGHT, WALK OFF KNOCKOUTS
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats made a huge comeback to walk off the New England Knockouts on Friday at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
The ValleyCats (9-10) scored seven runs in the last four innings to send New England (5-14) to their third straight loss. Tri-City was put on the defensive early, as the Knockouts posted four runs in the opening frame. RF Dylan Broderick was able to cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer in the second, but New England made it seem all for nothing as they then scored four more runs to take an 8-2 lead heading into the sixth. The ValleyCats continued to fight, with 3B Ian Walters homering in the sixth to make it 8-4. After another score, Tri-City was down 8-5 headed into the ninth inning. The 'Cats were able to load the bases and then score a run on a hit-by-pitch to trim their deficit to two. 1B Kyle Novak followed with a two-run single to tie the game and put the winning run at second base. After a wild pitch that moved both runners up, the Knockouts intentionally walked the bases loaded and chose to face Broderick. The right-fielder singled to bring home the winning run and give the ValleyCats the victory. RHP Austin Dill got the win out of the Tri-City bullpen. RHP Brad VanAsdlen took the loss for New England.
The Knockouts and ValleyCats face off again on Saturday, with the first pitch coming at 6:30 PM EDT.
WILD THINGS TAKE FIRST PLACE AFTER BEATING Y'ALLS
FLORENCE, KY - The Washington Wild Things defeated the Florence Y'alls 11-5 at Thomas More Stadium on Friday night.
After their win and the Boomers' loss, the Wild Things (13-5) now sit in first place by half a game in the Frontier League West division. Washington put Florence (6-11) on the defensive in the second inning with SS Carson Clowers' two-run single to open the scoring. The Y'alls would tally four runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead, only to be outdone by the Wild Things' six runs in the fifth. Washington continued its offensive outburst with three more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Clowers and RF Robert Chayka both had two hits with two RBIs for Washington while 1B Andrew Czech hit the 50-game mark for his on-base streak, dating back to last season. RHP Malik Barrington earned his second win after going five innings and allowing four runs on just four hits. RHP Gunnar Groen took the loss for Florence in relief.
The Wild Things and Y'alls will play the second game of their series on Saturday. First pitch is set at 6:36 PM EDT.
JACKALS BURY MINERS
AUGUSTA, NJ - The New Jersey Jackals blanked the Sussex County Miners at Skylands Stadium on Friday night by a score of 8-0.
Both the Jackals (9-9) and the Miners (8-11) were held scoreless until New Jersey broke through in the seventh inning. CF Bryson Parks brought in the game's first run with an RBI single, giving the Jackals a 1-0 lead. 1B Hemmanuel Rosario then stretched the lead to 4-0 on a three-run bomb later in the inning. Parks was able to bring in another run in the eighth, thanks to a Sussex County error to make it 5-0. 2B Luis Acevedo hit an RBI base hit to follow, later stealing home to make it 7-0. New Jersey closed the game out in the ninth with an extra insurance run after a perfect inning from RHP Ryan Velazquez. LHP Joe Testa earned the win behind six shutout innings in the start. RHP Kellen Brothers took the loss in relief for the Miners.
The Miners and Jackals will continue their series on Saturday. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 6:35 PM EDT.
OTTAWA HOLDS OFF WINDY CITY FOR SERIES-OPENING WIN
OTTAWA, CAN. - The Ottawa Titans defeated the Windy City ThunderBolts 4-3 on Friday night at Ottawa Stadium.
The Titans (8-10) were able to get all of their runs with one swing of the bat and hold off a Windy City (8-12) comeback effort. Both sides exchanged scoreless innings through the fifth inning before the ThunderBolts took the lead with a series of unearned runs in the sixth. Finding themselves down 2-0, the Titans were able to load the bases in the seventh inning with two outs for Jackie Urbaez. The Ottawa left fielder gave his squad the lead by crushing a grand slam to right field, his first of the season. Windy City would draw closer with a run in the eighth to cut it to 4-3, but the Titans' bullpen closed out the last 1.2 innings by not allowing a hit. Both starting pitchers went deep into the game, with LHP Tyler Jandron earning the victory behind his 7.1 innings pitched. RHP Will Armbruester walked away with the loss after 6.2 innings of work. RHP Erasmo Pinales picked up his fifth save of the year in the win.
The ThunderBolts and Titans will play the second game of their weekend series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM EDT.
BOULDERS CRUSH CAPITALES FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN
PONOMA, NY - The New York Boulders once again used their explosive offense to lead them to victory, this time beating the Québec Capitales 8-2.
The Boulders (14-4) still hold the best record in the Frontier League and have now won their last three games. Things started with a "bang" for the home side when 3B Chris Kwitzer sent Clover Stadium into a frenzy with his first-inning grand slam. The Capitales (8-11) were unable to break through against RHP Garrett Cooper until the seventh inning, only able to score one run on a double play. Québec would add one more in the eight, but the Boulders put up another four-run inning as a response, highlighted by Kwitzer's two-run double to make the score 8-2. Cooper earned his third victory of the season while LHP Ryo Kohigashi took the loss.
The Boulders will host the Capitales for the second game of the series on Saturday. First pitch is at 6:30 PM EDT.
GRIZZLIES HIT FOUR HOMERS IN WIN OVER OTTERS
SAUGET, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies took care of the Evansville Otters 11-2 at Grizzlies Ballpark on Saturday.
The Grizzlies (13-6) are now in sole possession of second place in the Frontier League West division, just a half-game behind the Washington Wild Things for the division lead. The Otters (5-14) launched a home run to take the game's first lead in the top of the third. Gateway responded to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of an inning and took the lead in the fourth on a two-run bomb from 1B Jack-Thomas Wold. Wold added two more RBIs to his huge day in the fifth, making the score 4-1 on his two-run single. After another home run from the Grizzlies in the sixth made the score 7-1, Wold would go back-to-back with DH DJ Stewart to crush two more homers and add three more runs. Wold ended his career day with six RBIs on a 4-for-5 line, including two home runs. On the defensive side, the rookie right-hander Teague Conrad cruised his way to a victory with eight complete innings pitched, only allowing one run on four hits while recording nine punchouts. RHP Parker Brahams took the loss for Evansville.
The Grizzlies will host the Otters on Saturday for the second game of their weekend series. First pitch is set for 7:30 PM EDT.
AIGLES KNOCK BOOMERS OUT OF FIRST PLACE
TROIS-RIVIERES, CAN. - The Trois-Rivières Aigles defeated the Schaumburg Boomers by a final score of 9-5 on Saturday night at Stade Quillorama.
The Aigles (11-7) have now won seven of their last 10 games, knocking the Boomers (12-6) out of first place in their division in the process. The Aigles came out firing on all cylinders, batting around while scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Boomers would trim their deficit to four in the fourth, but the Aigles' offense continued to impress with three more runs across the fifth and sixth innings. The Boomers would distantly threaten the Trois-Rivières lead by cutting the score to 9-5, but the Aigles were able to close things out without their opponents getting too close. SS James Smibert and C Willie Estrada both tallied two RBIs and two hits for the Aigles behind RHP Jesen Therrian's six strong innings in the victory. RHP Brendan Knoll took the loss for the Boomers.
The Aigles and Boomers will continue their series in Canada on Saturday. The second game of their series is set to start at 6:05 PM EDT.
