ZACH SMITH FANS 14 IN COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT! - FRONTIER DAILY ROUNDUP
WRITTEN BY: MIKE GUISTOLISE
SMITH, OTTERS SHUT OUT THUNDERBOLTS
EVANSVILLE, IN - The Evansville Otters blanked the Windy City ThunderBolts 9-0 at Bosse Field on Sunday behind a masterful start by RHP Zach Smith.
Smith was dominant on the bump for Evansville (16-23), fanning 14 batters in his complete-game shutout of the ThunderBolts (16-24). The Otters wasted no time in putting runs on the board, beginning in the first inning with a two-run double from LF Randy Bednar, who came around to score later on a groundout. Things continued to build for Evansville in the third, thanks to back-to-back bases-loaded walks, followed by a wild pitch that pushed the lead to 6-0. RF Mason White cemented the victory for the Otters by posting three RBIs across the fifth and seventh innings. Smith ended the game with his 14th punchout on his 121st pitch, claiming his third victory of the year. RHP Jacob Newman took the loss for Windy City.
The Otters will host another Chicagoland-area team in the Joliet Slammers for their next series at home, beginning on Tuesday at 7:35 PM EDT. The Bolts, meanwhile, will return to Crestwood for a home series against the Lake Erie Crushers on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 7:35 PM EDT.
CAPITALES SCORE 12 RUNS ON FIVE HITS, DEFEAT JACKALS
PATERSON, NJ - The Québec Capitales took the series finale at Hinchcliffe Stadium on Sunday, defeating the New Jersey Jackals 12-5.
Although the run production was there, the Capitales (25-14) only registered five hits on the night. Instead, they relied on their plate discipline to take down the Jackals (13-27), drawing 11 walks, including two with the bases loaded. A walk, a single, and a hit batsman loaded the bases in the fourth inning for DH Marc-Antoine Lebreux, who then launched his third big fly of the year deep to right-center field. In the fifth, Québec did more damage with men on base, posting six runs while only registering two hits in the frame. The Jackals were able to build some offensive momentum in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Capitales would not relinquish their lead. Lebreux ended his night with six RBIs and three walks while only accounting for one hit. RHP Abdiel Saldana got the win for Québec while LHP Edgar Rodriguez took the loss for New Jersey.
The Capitales return to action on Tuesday at Stade Canac to face the Sussex County Miners at 7:05 PM EDT. The Jackals will not play again until Thursday at 6:30 EDT when they visit the Boulders in New York.
CRUSHERS TAKE FINALE AGAINST GRIZZLIES
SAUGET, IL - The Lake Erie Crushers took down the Gateway Grizzlies 7-2 on Sunday night at Grizzlies Ballpark.
The Crushers (24-15) were able to salvage the final game of their series against the Grizzlies (22-16), keeping their spot in the Frontier League West divisional standings steady for now. Lake Erie was in control from the get-go, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first behind a grand slam from 1B Vincent Byrd Jr. The Crushers would add two more in the third and another in the fifth, all meanwhile keeping Gateway off the board. The Grizzlies could not manage any runs until the ninth inning, but could not make up the seven-run deficit. RHP Anthony Escobar was solid for the Crushers, spinning 6.2 scoreless innings in his winning effort. RHP Collin Sullivan took the loss for the Grizzlies.
The Crushers will visit the Windy City ThunderBolts for their next series, starting on Tuesday at 7:35 PM EDT. The Grizzlies will continue their homestand with another important divisional series against the Washington Wild Things on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 7:30 PM EDT.
VALLEYCATS BLAST FIVE HOMERS IN ROUT OF MINERS
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats put on a power display in their 9-3 victory over the Sussex County Miners on Sunday.
The ValleyCats (18-21) took the series at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, thanks to their bats coming alive in the last two games. The Miners (14-24) gave up their first home run of the day to 2B Elvis Peralta Jr., giving the ValleyCats an early 1-0 lead. After giving up a homer in the following half inning, Tri-City responded with another solo shot in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of 1B Oscar Campos. Campos homered again in the sixth to make it 3-1. In the seventh, the 'Cats blew the doors off the Miners with a double that drove in two runs and a three-run blast from LF Javeyon Williams that made it 8-1. C Chris Burgess homered once again for Tri-City in the eighth, putting the cherry on top of a masterful offensive performance. RHP Dan Beebe earned the win after allowing only one run in his six-inning start. RHP Jimmy Boyce took the loss for Sussex County.
The ValleyCats and the Miners will both travel to Canada for their next series, with the ValleyCats taking on the Trois-Rivières Aigles and the Miners facing the Québec Capitales. Both games begin on Tuesday at 7:05 PM EDT.
KNOCKOUTS STEAL VICTORY FROM BOULDERS
PONOMA, NY - The New England Knockouts took down the New York Boulders 6-3 at Clover Stadium on Sunday night.
The Knockouts (12-26) were able to hold off a comeback effort against the top team in the Frontier League East division. In the second, a throwing error by the Boulders (26-12) allowed New England to take a 1-0 lead. In the third, C John Cristino made it 4-0 on a three-run blast that sailed over the right-center field wall. The Boulders got back in the game with a three-run third inning, bringing them within one. Christino brought in another run in the fourth on a base hit to right, pushing the lead out of reach of New York. LHP Luke Williamson earned the win out of the Knockouts bullpen while RHP Brendan Bell earned the save. RHP Blaine Traxel took the loss.
The Knockouts will face off with the Ottawa Titans in Canada on Tuesday at 6:30 PM EDT for their next game. The Boulders will not play again until Thursday at 6:30 PM EDT, when they host the New Jersey Jackals.
Y'ALLS TAKE SERIES IN JOLIET
JOLIET, IL - The Florence Y'alls defeated the Joliet Slammers in an 8-3 contest at Duly Health & Care field on Sunday night.
The Y'alls (16-21) overcame an early deficit to take the series against Joliet (17-22). The Slammers took an initial 2-0 lead in the first, adding on another run in the second. RF TJ Reeves got Florence on the board in the fourth with an RBI infield single. Later in the inning, LF Stephen Hrustich continued his power streak, crushing a three-run home run that put the Y'alls on top. Florence posted another run on a wild pitch before Reeves added two more with a two-run double into the right-center field gap. The Slammers were unable to get any productive offense past the second inning, being held scoreless for the final seven frames. RHP Reed Smith earned his third win of the season after striking out five across six innings. RHP Dwayne Marshall took the loss for Joliet.
The Y'alls will play the only game of the day on Monday in Schaumburg against the Boomers at 12:00 PM EDT. The Slammers will begin their next series on Tuesday at 7:35 PM EDT against the Evansville Otters.
WASHINGTON GOES WILD ON BOOMERS
SCHAUMBURG, IL - The Washington Wild Things blasted the Schaumburg Boomers in the series finale on Sunday by a final score of 14-2.
The Boomers (23-15) could not keep up with Washington (25-13) at Wintrust Field, falling in a series between two of the West's top contenders. The Wild Things got on the board immediately in the first innings on an RBI single from CF Caleb McNeely. After adding another in the first, the Washington dominance continued in the third inning where three different Wild Things players registered base hits that brought in a total of four runs. McNeely added another RBI in the fourth on a sacrifice fly while another two runs crossed the plate in the fifth. McNeely capped his day in the seventh inning with a grand slam over the left-center field wall, giving him six RBIs for the day while capping a 14-0 start for Washington. The Boomers posted two runs in the eighth to polish the box score, but it was too little too late. RHP Zach Kirby was solid in his start, allowing only two runs across 7.1 innings. RHP Brendan Knoll took the loss for Schaumburg.
The Wild Things will head back down to southern Illinois for a series with the Gateway Grizzlies beginning on Tuesday at 7:30 PM EDT. The Boomers will play a Monday matinee at 12:00 PM EDT against the Florence Y'alls.
