Frontier League Game Recaps, Notes, News & Transactions — June 7, 2021

The Windy City Thunderbolts lost and regained first place of the Central Division, the Sussex County Miners swept the NY Boulders, the Lake Erie Crushers have now won two in a row after a long losing skid… That and so much more happened in the Frontier League this weekend!

It was a great baseball weekend and the new Power Rankings from the Frontier League Journal, later today, will reflect that activity. Three “Game Talks” segments are also going to be ready today and tomorrow, so a lot of reactions to the current standings will be available from S.C. Miners, Schaumburg and Équipe Québec players / coaches.

I’ve put some ambient jazz in my earbuds, my five tabs are opened in my browser; time to write about Frontier League baseball.

NEWS

• This past Saturday, Sussex County Miners play-by-play announcer Bret Leuthner was on the air with Frontier League Deputy Commissioner Steve Tahsler and a lot was said, but the most important item cam at the end when he mentioned that next season would see new faces, new jerseys and… new markets.

Since the merger with the Can-Am league, they has always been vocal and honest in their goal to field a 20-team entity and next season might me another step toward that goal. For a resume of the discussion, please follow this link.

• Florence Y’alls beer!

“Y’alls Beer is here!!! No better day to debut our personalized beer than on Thirsty Thursday. We will be having our inaugural keg tap during the pregame of our match against the Evansville Otters. And Yes there will be Free Samples”

TRANSACTIONS

ÉQUIPE QUÉBEC

June 6: Released INF Andres Rios.

JOLIET SLAMMERS

June 6: Signed RHP Adam Zak, but unfortunately I cannot find anything on that player. The most recent stats would be from 2013 in the Blue Jays organization, so that makes little sense.

STANDINGS

GAME RECAPS & NOTES

Windy City news release:

Taylor, Bolts slam Joliet

JOLIET, IL — Zac Taylor belted a seventh inning grand slam and the Windy City ThunderBolts defeated the Joliet Slammers, 8–4, at DuPage Medical Group Field on Sunday afternoon. The ThunderBolts (5–4) leap-frogged the Slammers (5–5) to move back into first place in the Central Division.

Before Taylor’s heroics, the Bolts were locked in a tight, well-pitched game. The Bolts scratched out a second inning run on Peyton Isaacson’s RBI single to make it 1–0.

Miguel Ausua gave Windy City five strong innings in his start, scattering his only two hits of the day in the third inning. Two singles led to Sean Green’s sacrifice fly to tie the game, 1–1. Ausua departed only giving up the one run.

With the game left to the bullpens, the Bolts exploded in the seventh. Jamey Smart singled home Rob Calabrese to break the tie. Two batters later, Zac Taylor strolled to the plate with the bases loaded. He worked a full count, fouling off three straight two-strike pitches. On the ninth pitch of the at bat, he cranked a grand slam to make it 6–1 Bolts.

Joliet tightened the game up in the seventh. Three straight doubles knocked Bolts reliever Danny Zardon from the game. Tyler Depreta-Johnson and Lane Baremore had run-scoring hits to cut Windy City’s lead to 6–4. However, Justin Miller got the final three outs of the seventh to keep the Bolts in front.

Windy City added insurance in the 9th on Jairus Richards’ two-run homer.

Miller (1) earned the save, tossing three innings of scoreless ball. He helped Zardon (1–0) earn the win. Gerald Baustista (1–1) took the loss for Joliet.

The Bolts have Monday off before returning to Ozinga Field for the start of a 9-game homestand. First up, a 7:05 first pitch against the Southern Illinois Miners on Tuesday.

Frontier League Journal Notes:

• It was Miguel Ausua’s first start of the season for the Bolts and he did not disappoint, throwing 65% of his pitches for strikes and keeping the team in the game. The southpaw has a 1.12 ERA in 8 IP.
• I was happy to see that his starting counterpart for Joliet, Kipp Rollings, had a chance to show his stuff in that role. I’d seen him perform well in relief in three games this season, so good for him.
• If you haven’t seen the Joliet ballpark setting, yet, on Frontier League TV, please take the time to do so. It seems tightly enclosed within the neighbourhood block, just a wonderful place to see baseball, can’t wait to get there!
• The Bolts stole 5 bases, with Racusin and Richards getting two apiece. Everybody got on base for the team, except Joseph Reyes.
• Bolts RF Dan Robinson is HOT (.343 avg) and has a 7-game hitting streak, including 5 hits in the last 2 games. C Rob Calabrese has his own 9-game hitting streak (.368 avg). Peyton Isaacson? 6 game-streak and a .381 avg.
• Slammers 2B Lane Baremore has 5 multi-hit games (out of 9). After a tough start to the season, 1B Braxton Davidson’s bat has woken with 2 homers in the last 3 games and now offers a .845 OPS.

Sussex County news release:

HAIR HR RUNS MINERS WIN STREAK TO SEVEN

SECOND CONSECUTIVE COME FROM BEHIND WIN FOR SUSSEX COUNTY

June 6, Augusta, NJ — The Sussex County Miners (7–1) once again found themselves trailing the New York Boulders (4–6) for the second consecutive game on Sunday afternoon. And, once again, the Miners would rally past and defeat the Boulders 4–3 in front of 1,270 fans at Skylands Stadium.

New York would once again score in the top of the first inning on a solo HR by Austin Dennis. The Boulders would add two more runs in the third inning on back-to-back singles by Tucker Nathans and Devonte Mitchell, but would strand two runners on to end the third.

The Miners would answer right back in the bottom of the third with a RBI single by Nilo Rijo, and then later score on a throwing error — the second of the inning — by Boulders starting pitcher Danny Wirchansky. The Miners would leave the bases loaded, however, to end the bottom of the third.

The score would stay 3–2 until the fifth, when Audy Ciriaco would lead the inning off with a walk. Trey Hair would then take a 2–0 fastball deep over the wall in center field to give the Miners a 4–3 lead. Hair’s blast went an estimated 435 feet into the woods beyond the batters eye wall in center.

Armed with a one run lead, Miners starter Mike Castellani would make sure the lead would hold, as he went into the seventh holding the 4–3 advantage. Michael Mediavilla would come on with runners on first and third in the seventh and strike out Milton Smith to keep the Miners in front. Mediavilla would get into a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning, but would work out of it without allowing a run. Michael punctuated the inning with a strikeout to strand three runners on. Jalen Miller, Sr. would come on in the ninth and would set the Boulders down to earn his third save of the season.

The Miners are off tomorrow before hosting Équipe Québec in a three game series beginning on Tuesday night. First pitch for all three nights is scheduled for 7:05 pm, and all three games will be broadcasted on both frontierleaguetv.com and the Miners Radio Network, mixlr.com/scminers

Frontier League Journal Notes:

• It was a very well-fought series by both teams and the Boulders, while swept, have a lot of positive to take from it.
• Boulders SS Austin Dennis has been in the middle of things for his team and has a .375 avg / 1.083 OPS to show for it. Same thing for OF Kevonte Mitchell who puts the ball in play, gets on base, steals them and as a .869 OPS on the season.
• The Miners added another 6 stolen bases to their season total, 35, and by the same token take the league lead from the Boulders.
• The Miners CF Nilo Rijo is a very exciting player to watch at the top of the lineup and, with his two hits yesterday (including a double), now has a .429 avg. Trey Hair, with his homer and two walks, now has a 1.333 OPS. OF Aaron Knapp has four 2-hit games in his last five, all singles, but he also walks a ton and steals bases.

Washington news release:

One-Run Game Goes to Équipe Québec in Finale

WASHINGTON, PA (June 6) — The Wild Things dropped a nail biter in the final game of the series against Équipe Québec at Wild Things Park Sunday, 1–0. The contest was a rubber game, which means Équipe Quebec has taken the series.

The majority of the game was scoreless until the seventh inning when Equipe Quebec’s catcher Jorge Gutierrez stepped up to the plate. With a runner on third, Gutierrez singled allowing for the only run of the game to be scored.

Wild Things starting pitcher Michael Austin went six scoreless innings and got the no decision in the loss.

Washington has the day off Monday, but will return to action Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. They will be facing the New Jersey Jackals.

Frontier League Journal Notes:

• Three catchers were on the field for Équipe Québec: C, DH and 2B. Jorge Gutierrez got on base 3 times with two singles and a hit by pitch. One
• Four runners were caught stealing, two on each side, great defensive job by the batteries.

Tri-City news release:

ValleyCats Find Win Column to Conclude Weekend Series

TROY, NY — Following a pair of tough outings to begin play at home during the 2021 season, the Tri-City ValleyCats (2–7) came together on both sides of the ball to find the win column for the second time this season, defeating the New Jersey Jackals (5–4), 4–2, to cap a three-game weekend series at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

After carrying a lead into the seventh on Saturday evening and a 2–2 tie the previous night, the ‘Cats finally saw their relief pitching come around, following an early offensive burst. Tri-City used power hitting in the first inning to once again grab hold of the lead, with designated hitter Denis Phipps launching a home run over the left field fence for the second straight contest to give his squad a 2–0 lead.

With right-hander Parker Kelly moving things along on the mound, Tri-City found a way to re-gain and grab hold of the lead after giving up a two-run, game-tying homer from former major leaguer Alfredo Marte in the top of the fourth inning. The offense gave an immediate response in the home half of the inning, with first baseman Francis Martinez recording the go-ahead hit with an RBI single to plate third baseman Juan Silverio. The game was given its final score of 4–2 with an insurance run off an RBI single in the fifth from left fielder Oscar Campos.

Following a five inning outing winning decision from Kelly (1–1) which featured three strikeouts and only one earned run given up over two hits, the ‘Cats got defensive reprieve from right-hander Jake Dexter, who did not allow a run through an one and two-thirds innings while walking two. Tri-City turned a pair of double plays on the afternoon and did not allow a run past the fourth inning, with closer Trey Cochran-Gill striking out a pair in the final two innings of play to collect his second save of the year.

New Jersey’s Chase Ingram (0–2) took the loss with four earned runs over five innings while striking out three and walking one. Two ‘Cats registered multi-hit outings, with Silverio going 3–4 to lead the team offensively and reach base for the ninth straight game in front of the Sunday Funday crowd of 1,206.

The ValleyCats will have a much-needed day off before re-taking the field at home to continue a six-game homestand over a week’s span. The ‘Cats will welcome the New York Boulders to “The Joe” for the first time this season for a mid-week three game series beginning on Tuesday, June 8 at 6:30 PM.

Frontier League Journal Notes:

• The Jackals took their walks (6), stole some bases (4), but were not able to really produce a big inning. On the other end, the ValleyCats stole 6 bags (two each by middle infielders Keaton Weisz and Carson Maxwell)
• Tri-City 3B Juan Silverio produced three singles and stole a base. He has a 5-game hitting streak and this batting line for the year: .333/.371/.424
• Tri-City catcher Oscar Campos has been a nice addition to the lineup, hitting safely in all but one of his 7 games with the team: .321/.321/.464.

Lake Erie news release:

CRUSHERS WIN SERIES VERSUS MINERS

AVON, Ohio — The Crushers defeated the Southern Illinois Miners Sunday night by a score of 8–7. It is the first series win of the season for Lake Erie.

Ean Walda received the start for the Crushers. In his first start of the season, Walda went three innings where he allowed two runs on three hits and three strikeouts.

Southern Illinois was off and running early in the contest. The Miners zipped out to a two-run lead after the first inning thanks to a Luke Mangieri double scoring Jarrod Watkins. An error by Steve Passatempo allowed Mangieri to score off the bat of Anthony Brocato.

Lake Erie retaliated quickly with three runs of its own in the top of the second inning. A wild pitch by Miners starter Tyler Brown initiated the scoring for the Crushers as Trevor Achenbach came home from third base. Bryan De La Rosa was the next man to score for the men in purple. An RBI single from Passatempo tied the game up. Starting Lake Erie right fielder, General McArthur added a run-scoring single. Javier Betancourt dashed home to give the Crushers the 3–2 lead.

The next scoring took place in the bottom of the fourth inning. Watkins hit home Ryan Stacy with a single to knot the score at 3–3.

The fifth inning was filled to the brim with scoring. Steven Kraft began the action with a single scoring Shawon Dunston Jr. Karl Ellison would be the next player to touch home for the visiting Crushers. Brody Wofford’s single allowed Ellison to score. A sacrifice fly from De La Rosa gave way to Achenbach making the trot home to give the Crushers a 6–3 lead.

That lead vanished quickly. A struggling Aaron Glickstein on the mound for Lake Erie let the door open for the Miners. Ian Walters brought home Nolan Earley with a triple. Nick Neville performed the homerun jog with a two-run shot evening the playing field at 6–6.

A bases-loaded two-run single from De La Rosa guided the Crushers to another advantage on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning.

Mangieri hit into a double play in the bottom of the eighth inning; however, Watkins did score on the play cutting the Lake Erie lead to 8–7.

Daniel Kight cleaned house in the bottom of the ninth with a 1–2–3 inning to end the ballgame. He recorded the save. Paul Perez and J.T. Perez also pitched for the Crushers during the later innings.

Through ten games, the Crushers are 3–7 and behold a two-game win streak. The Miners’ second consecutive loss drops them to an identical record of 3–7.

Up next for the Crushers is a three-game set pinned against the Gateway Grizzlies starting Tuesday night. The Grizzlies are 4–6 on the season.

The first pitch on Tuesday is set for 7:45 pm ET.

Frontier League Journal Notes:

• ANOTHER close game for the Miners where they had to fight back, but missed by just a little in the end, leaving 10 men on the bases.
• Miners reliever Jose Fuentes got another nice outing and has now pitched 6.2 innings, struck out 7 with no walk. He has a 1.35 ERA.
• Everybody in the Crushers lineup joined the hit parade, all singles, except for the double by Trevor Achenbach, who also walked twice (.419 OBP).
• Same for the Miners, everybody got at least a hit: 2B Jarrod Watkins records 6 hits in the series (.310 avg, 5-game hitting streak). OF Nolan Earley also has a nice 5-game hitting streak and he’s been dominating since the start of the season: .342/.435/.553.
• After a quiet start compared to his buddy Ian Walters, Nick Neville had a coming out party for his new team with a single and a homer.

Gateway news release:

Grizzlies Edged Out 1–0 In Pitcher’s Duel

Posted: Jun 06, 2021

SAUGET, Ill. — A long pitcher’s duel tipped in Florence’s favor come the 9th inning, where one run was all the Y’alls needed to secure the series-clinching 1–0 victory over the Grizzlies.

Gateway was not bereft of chances. Throughout the contest, the Grizzlies stranded eight runners on base, of which five were left in scoring position. Despite stringing eight hits throughout the night, only three baserunners reached third and none made it home.

Grizzlies LHP Aaron Ford pitched a strong six innings to start, surrendering just three hits without giving up any runs. RHP Carter Hayes followed up with two scoreless frames of his own. But in the 9th, Gateway RHP Tanner Cable gave up a single to Trevor Craport and allowed him to advanced to second base on a wild pickoff attempt. Then, the very next batter Harrison DiNicola plated him with a single of his own.

Y’alls RHP Jared Cheek (2–0) earned the win after tossing a scoreless 2.2 innings of relief while Johnathan Tripp (4) earned his second save in as many nights. Cable (0–1) took the loss after coughing up the deciding run in the 9th.

The Grizzlies have tomorrow to rest up before opening a three-game series with the Lake Erie Crushers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark Tuesday night. It’ll be a trip down memory lane for Gateway manager Cam Roth.

Frontier League Journal Notes:

• The only extra-base hit came from the bat of Gateway 2B Jay Prather (double)
• As always, the Game Report for the Y’alls pitcher by their coach, Chad Rhoades:

Game 1 of the doubleheader

Game 2 of the doubleheader

Evansville news release:

Otters earn split Sunday in Schaumburg

6/6/2021

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Evansville Otters earned a doubleheader split Sunday against the Schaumburg Boomers, giving Evansville a series split during the weekend trip to northern Illinois.

The Otters lost game one Sunday by a score of 2–1 but were 9–6 winners in game two.

The doubleheader also concluded a stretch of seven games in five days for the Otters. They move to 8–3 on the young season.

The first game was a bona fide pitchers’ duel, as Otters lefty Marty Anderson and Boomers starter Ryan Middendorf threw six and 5.2 scoreless innings, respectively.

Anderson allowed only three hits on the night. He also struck out two batters.

Dakota Phillips stepped to the plate in a scoreless game in the top of the seventh inning, facing Boomers reliever Darrell Thompson, when he took the first pitch he saw out to left-center for a tie-breaking solo home run.

The Boomers brought the go-ahead run to plate in the bottom half, however, and Nick Oddo launched a walk-off, two-run homer to right field off of Otters closer Logan Sawyer, who took the loss.

Thompson earned the win.

Game two started off on rocky footing for the Otters, as Quincy Nieporte singled home Alec Craig to take a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first inning for Schaumburg.

Otters starter Anthony Arias — — pitching on three days rest — — wound up limiting the damage by stranding the bases loaded.

Then, in the top of the second, Otters second baseman J.R. Davis homered off Boomers starter Stephen Chamblee to tie the game at one.

Schaumburg added two more in the second, before the Otters unleashed a five-run third to take a 6–3 lead that would hold for the remainder of the ballgame.

Andy DeJesus and Elijah MacNamee kicked off the rally with a pair of one-out singles, before Riley Krane doubled home a run. Bryce Denton tied the game with a base hit over the third baseman Luke Becker’s head. Phillips notched his second go-ahead RBI of the day by following Denton’s at-bat with a double, putting the Otters up 3–2. Davis capped the scoring with an RBI single.

Tyler Spring would come on to relieve Arias for the final out of the third inning. Spring proceeded to retire all ten batters he faced out of the bullpen, pitching 3.1 perfect innings. He also struck out two.

The Otters added two more runs in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run double from Riley Krane.

Evansville also scored a run in the top of the seventh on a two-out, RBI-double from Miles Gordon.

Abraham Almonte finished the game out of the bullpen, allowing two runs on three hits.

Spring earned the win, his second of the season in relief.

Every Otter in the starting lineup recorded a base hit in the seven-inning game.

Josh Henderson also hit the Otters’ second triple of the season.

Davis went 4–4, with two runs driven in. DeJesus, Krane, and MacNamee also had multi-hit performances. MacNamee went 2–4 in game one, while collecting a total of eight hits in 15 at-bats.

After an off-day, the Otters will continue their seven-game road trip Tuesday at Florence. First pitch will be at 5:30 p.m. CT.