May 16 Florence Freedom Game Notes
May 16, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (2-0) vs. JOLIET SLAMMERS (0-2)
Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 6:05 p.m. ET
UC Health Stadium - Florence, KY
Game #3 - Home Game #3 (2-0), (2-0)
Florence: RHP #23 Chuck Weaver (7-6, 2.65 ERA, 2014)
Joliet: RHP #28 Jordan Wellander (4-1, 3.31 ERA, 2014)
Last time out ...
The Freedom took an early four run lead against the Slammers Friday night and held on to win by a final score of 6-5 to move to 2-0 in 2015. Cody Bishop, acquired in the off-season in a trade with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, opened up the scoring in the second inning. He clubbed a long home run over the left field fence off Slammer starter Jordan Guth to give the Freedom an early 1-0 lead. Bishop finished the day 3-4 with a home run and two doubles. After Joliet rallied to take a 2-1 lead, two errors and a wild pitch allowed Florence to tally two runs in the third inning to take the lead for good. Three more runs in the fourth came on RBI from Daniel Fraga, Austin Newell and Jake Luce. Casey Henn (1-0) went five innings to pick up the win despite not having his best stuff. Florence's 6-2 lead was cut slowly to 6-5 as the game went along but Daniel DeSimone closed things out.
For Starters...
A Frontier League Mid-Season All-Star, Chuck Weaver shined in 2014 as he finished the season with a 2.65 ERA, good for first on the team and fifth in the Frontier League. His notable outings included a career high eight innings of one-run ball against Southern Illinois on June 14, seven innings of one run ball on June 28 against River City, seven innings of shutout ball against Gateway on July 3 and seven innings of shutout ball against Traverse City on August 13. In 17 starts, Weaver went six or more innings 13 times. Weaver was signed by the Freedom in June 2013 after he finished up his collegiate career at IPFW. He had a solid rookie season, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.70 ERA in 14 appearances, 12 starts. The Ft. Wayne, Ind. native started 13 games as a senior for the Mastadons, posting a 2-5 with a 3.57 ERA. Weaver threw two complete games as a senior and pitched 70.2 innings. He played two years for IPFW after transferring from Vincennes University where he was named to the NJCAA All-Academic team.
Strange wins...
The Freedom have defeated Joliet in back-to-back games despite getting out-hit in both contests. Last year the Freedom were 10-36 when out-hit by their opponent.
Going for the sweep....
With a win tonight the Freedom would sweep the Slammers. Last year the Freedom only swept two series all season.
Bishop is bashing the baseball...
Cody Bishop homered yesterday. His two doubles plus his triple on Opening Night already gives him four extra base hits through two games.
Returnees...
Eight of the team's 24 players were on the team last year. They are: RHP Pete Levitt, RHP Daniel DeSimone, RHP Chuck Weaver, RHP Casey Henn, RHP Ed Kohout, Catcher Gaby Juarbe, INF Sam Eberle and OF Ryan Solberg.
New Freedom manager Dennis Pelfrey...
2015 marks Dennis Pelfrey's first year as the Freedom's manager. He takes over for Fran Riordan who was hired in the off-season to manage the Beloit Snappers, the single-A affiliate of the Oakland A's. Pelfrey, 37, played six seasons of professional baseball from 1999-2004 after his collegiate days at Northwood University in Texas. Most of those six seasons were spent in the Frontier League as Pelfrey manned multiple infield positions for the Dubois County Dragons, Kenosha Mamoths and the Springfield/Ozark Ducks. Pelfrey spent the past four seasons coaching for the Gary SouthShore RailCats under veteran manager Greg Tagert. His tenure included a 2013 American Association championship.
Today's Special Jersey Number...
Michael Pair is wearing jersey #61 tonight. The jersey is auctioned off to benefit the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky.
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- May 16 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
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