August 20 Florence Freedom Double Header Game Notes
August 20, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
DOUBLE HEADER: FLORENCE FREEDOM (35-45) vs. WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS (30-51)
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 5:35 p.m. ET
UC Health Stadium - Florence, KY
Games #81 & 82 - Home Games #48 & 49 (35-45), (26-22)
Game One: LHP #30 Dave Middendorf (4-7, 4.63 ERA) vs. LHP #24 Jake Fisher (4-9, 4.75 ERA)
Game Two: LHP #33 Michael O'Neal (2-4, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP #15 Travis Tingle (7-5, 5.06 ERA)
Last time out...
The Florence Freedom (35-45) scored three runs in the first inning on Tuesday and hung on to beat the Windy City ThunderBolts (30-51) by a score of 5-4. Chuck Weaver (6-5) scattered 10 hits over seven plus innings while allowing three runs to get the victory. The Freedom scored three runs on one hit in the first inning and never trailed in the game. Jacob Tanis contributed a sacrifice fly in the first and Adam Taylor was hit by a pitch to force a run home. Rolando Gomez walked to drive in the third run of the inning. Windy City scored two in the second as Davidson Peguero contributed a RBI single and with one away a RBI fielder's choice made the score 3-2. Gaby Juarbe added a sacrifice fly in the fourth but a Kyle Robinson RBI single cut the lead to 4-3 in the eighth. Gomez's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference as the ThunderBolts scored one in the ninth.
For Starters Game One...
Dave Middendorf makes his 17th start of the season tonight for the Freedom. He is coming off a no-decision against the Traverse City Beach Bums on August 13 as he went four and a third innings, scattering nine hits and allowing three runs in a 5-4 win for Florence. Windy City beat Middendorf in his only start against the ThunderBolts. In that outing he went three and two thirds innings, allowing five runs on six hits in a 5-0 defeat on June 19. The Freedom acquired Middendorf in a trade from the Lake Erie Crushers on March 12, 2014. He was one of the top pitchers in the entire Frontier League in 2013, going 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA in 21 games, 19 starts for the Crushers. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd Round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Northern Kentucky University. Middendorf was originally selected by the Yankees in the 44th round one year earlier, but went back to school instead. He pitched two years in the Royals' minor league system, reaching as high as Idaho Falls (Pioneer League). He went 3-4 with a 6.28 ERA over those two seasons with three saves. He made 39 appearances, all in a relief role and struck out 52 while walking 19 over 67.1 innings of work. Middendorf was named an NCAA Division II first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after posting a 9-3 record with a 1.73 earned run average. His 127 strikeouts in 2011 set a new single-season record at NKU and were good for second among all Division II pitchers. He also set a career mark for strikeouts with 349 over his four years with the Norse. His 25 career wins rank third all-time at NKU and his 2.53 career ERA is fourth. Along with the All-Americans honors, Middendorf was named the Great Valley Conference and Midwest Region pitcher of the year.
For Starters Game Two...
Michael O'Neal makes his eighth start of the year tonight for the Freedom. He suffered the loss against Traverse City on August 14 as he went five innings, giving up three runs on three hits in a 4-1 defeat. O'Neal pitched two seasons at Auburn University after transferring from Chattahoochee Valley Community College. He threw 10 complete games for Chattahoochee Valley in 2011 as a freshman and posted a 3.65 ERA as a sophomore in 2012. O'Neal had an outstanding season for Auburn in 2013 as he went 8-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 14 starts with two complete games. He held opponents to a .223 batting average in 2013. His 89 innings pitched led the Tigers and was eighth in the SEC.
Let's play two...
The Freedom have a record of 10-12 in double headers this season.
Hit man...
Infielder Rolando Gomez is the Freedom's newest signing and he's hit safely in all eight of the games he's played in so far for Florence. Gomez is currently 9-25 with two home runs.
Tonight's Special Jersey Number...
Ryan Solberg is wearing the #61 jersey tonight for game one. Zak Blair is wearing the jersey for game two. The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky. The jerseys are sponsored by Braden & Associates Law Firm.
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