FLY LIKE AN AIGLE: TROIS RIVIÈRES BEATS JOLIET IN FINALE - FRONTIER DAILY ROUNDUP

WRITTEN BY: MIKE GUISTOLISE

AIGLES DISMANTLE SLAMMERS IN FINALE

JOLIET, IL - On Thursday, the Trois-Rivières Aigles put together 16 hits to defeat the Joliet Slammers 8-2 at Duly Health & Care Field.

The Aigles (12-11) were aggressive at the plate and sharp defensively, making it extremely difficult for the Slammers (10-14) to get anything started. The Aigles' LF LP Pelletier jumped on the first pitch of the game from RHP Zac Westcott to send a ball into the gap for a leadoff double. After advancing on a groundout, Pelletier was brought home on a sacrifice fly to give Trois-Rivières a 1-0 lead. Joliet brought the score back to even in the third inning, but the Aigles started to pile hits in the fourth to score three runs to take the lead back. Pelletier scored again on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to make it 5-1. The Aigles' leadoff man then drove in a run with an RBI double in the sixth. The Slammers remained silent for the most part, only able to post one more run before the Aigles closed the game out. RHP Osman Gutierrez picked up the win for Trois-Rivières while Westcott took the loss.

The Trois-Rivières Aigles will begin their next series on Friday against the Lake Erie Crushers at 7:05 PM EDT. The Slammers will travel to Washington to take on the Wild Things. First pitch for the series opener on Friday is scheduled for 7:05 PM EDT.

BOLTS TAKE DOWN WILD THINGS IN CLOSE GAME

WASHINGTON, PA - The Windy City ThunderBolts picked up a big win against the Washington Wild Things on Thursday night. 

The ThunderBolts (10-15), despite being outhit, won a tight game against the Wild Things (16-10) to end their road trip on a high note. Windy City was the first to score, as DH Christian Kuzemka sent a long home run to left center, giving the T-Bolts a 1-0 lead. Washington responded with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the inning to tie the game, but could not capitalize with the bases loaded. The ThunderBolts responded in the third with back-to-back RBI singles to take a 3-1 lead. RHP Will Armbruester was able to protect that lead throughout his seven innings of work, working his way out of multiple jams in the process. Armbruester picked up his second win of the campaign while RHP Malik Barrington took the loss.

The ThunderBolts will begin a homestand against the Schaumburg Boomers on Friday, beginning at 7:35 PM EDT. The Wild Things will host the Joliet Slammers next at Wild Things Park. The series opener will kick off Friday at 7:05 PM EDT.

VALLEYCATS SWEEP JACKALS

PATERSON, NJ - The Tri-City ValleyCats completed their sweep of the New Jersey Jackals at Hinchcliffe Stadium on Thursday night. 

The ValleyCats (13-11) continue to inch closer to first place in the Frontier League East division and are now just four games out after their win against the Jackals (9-14). Tri-City was able to create a sizeable lead in the second inning, beginning with a bases-loaded walk to make it 1-0. CF Demias Jimerson then cleared the bases with a double to increase the lead to 4-0. The ValleyCats would not stop there, scoring another two runs in the third while DH Oscar Campos notched an RBI single in the fourth to increase the lead to 7-0. The Jackals showed some life in the fifth with a two-run homer to get within five, but Campos answered back with a three-run blast to make it 10-2 before the game was ultimately rained out after 5.5 innings. RHP Easton Klein took the win in the weather-shortened contest while LHP Joe Testa took the loss. 

The ValleyCats will look to continue their winning streak as they host the first-place New York Boulders for a series, beginning on Friday at 6:30 PM EDT. The Jackals will host the Ottawa Titans for the second part of their homestand, beginning on Friday at 6:35 PM EDT.

CAPITALES TAKE SERIES FROM KNOCKOUTS

BROCKTON, MA - The Québec Capitales took down the New England Knockouts 5-2 on Thursday night at Campanelli Stadium.

The Capitales (12-12) scored four unanswered runs to come back against the Knockouts (7-16) and take the series. Québec was able to strike first, thanks to an RBI single from CF Jonathan Lacroix to make it 1-0 in the first inning. New England then tied the game in the second on a passed ball, ultimately taking the lead with an RBI groundout. The Capitales would tie the game in the third on a solo home run from RF Marc-Antione Lebreux; they would then take the lead in the fifth on an RBI double from DH Justin Gideon. 1B Fransisco Hernandez then extended the lead to 5-2 with his two-run home run in the sixth to put the game out of reach. RHP Frank Moscatiello got his second save of the season the effort, striking out two in the ninth while not allowing a hit. RHP Abdiel Saldana picked up the win while RHP Liam O'Sullivan took the loss for New England.

The Capitales will travel back to Québec to host the Gateway Grizzlies on Friday. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 7:05 PM EDT. The Knockouts will host the Sussex County Miners next, with the series opener on Friday scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM EDT.

CRUSHERS DEFEAT OTTERS IN HIT PARADE

EVANSVILLE, IN - The Lake Erie Crushers defeated the Evansville Otters 8-2 for a series win at Bosse Field on Thursday.

The Crushers (15-9) and Otters (7-17) combined for 20 hits, but Lake Erie was ultimately more successful in run production. The Crushers displayed the power in their lineup in the second inning, with 2B Ethan Skender beginning the scoring by crushing his fourth homer of the year. SS Jarrod Watkins made it 2-0 with an RBI double later in the frame. Lake Erie took control of the game in the fourth inning, plating six runs while all nine players got a chance to hit. The Otters were able to score two runs late, but could not produce enough offense to make a legitimate comeback effort. RHP Anthony Escobar got the win for Lake Erie while LHP Johan Castillo took the loss for Evansville after only going for three innings.

The Crushers will return home on Friday to host the Trois-Rivières Aigles, with the first pitch set for 7:05 PM EDT. The Otters will continue their homestand against the Florence Y'alls on Friday. The first pitch for the second part of their homestand is set for 7:35 PM EDT.

BOOMERS FINISH SWEEP OF Y'ALLS

SCHAUMBURG, IL - The Schaumburg Boomers took down the Florence Y'alls 7-2 at Wintrust Field on Thursday night.

The Boomers (17-6) retook sole possession of first place in the Frontier League West division after completing their sweep of the Y'alls (7-14). Schaumburg used a big third inning to take a 5-0 lead, including a three-run bomb from DH Kyle Fitzgerald that put Florence on the defensive. The Y'alls could only respond for one run in the fourth before the Boomers tacked on two more to make it 7-1. The visitors were able to produce one more in the fifth run to cut the deficit to 7-2 but could only manage three more hits after that. RHP Brendan Knoll went for seven innings in the win, complimented by nine strikeouts. LHP Ayura Kobayashi was responsible for the loss after only managing to pitch three innings.

The Boomers will travel to Crestwood to begin a series with the Windy City ThunderBolts on Friday. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled at 7:35 PM EDT. The Y'alls will travel to Evansville next to begin a series with the Otters. First pitch of the Friday night series opener is set for 7:35 PM EDT.