FL Joliet Slammers

Andre Dawson Coaches Slammers to 9-1 Win

Published on June 18, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


JOLIET, IL- The Joliet Slammers presented by ATI Physical Therapy welcomed Andre "The Hawk" Dawson to Silver Cross Field on Saturday, June 18. Dawson helped coach the Slammers to a 9-1 victory over the Schaumburg Boomers.

For the second straight game of this weekend's matchup against the Boomers, the Slammers came out the same way they did Friday night: scoring early and often. The Slammers have scored 18 runs over the past two games, and put up four runs in the second and third inning Saturday.

On Friday night, Joliet scored seven runs in the first three innings, which was more than enough for starting pitcher Liam O'Sullivan to get the win on the mound.

Shane Bryant made his Slammers debut Saturday and delivered the Slammers' second-straight dominating pitching performance this home stand to get the win.

Bryant pitched six innings and gave up just one run and one hit. The key for Bryant Saturday night was his ability to throw strikes. Bryant struck out two and walked just two batters, keeping the Boomers off base all game.

A few weeks ago, the Slammers were reliant on the home-run ball. However, in the last two games, they have driven in their runs off traditional base hits.

Casey Fletcher led the Slammers' offense Saturday by driving in four runs before leaving the game in the seventh inning. Fletcher got the scoring started in the second inning off a two-RBI single up the middle to score Jake Gronsky and Denzel Richardson.

Fletcher followed up his strong second inning with another two-RBI single in the third inning.

The Slammers still had two home runs Saturday night with Phil Bates and Carter Bell both hitting a home run each. Bates launched a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Slammers a 4-0 lead. Bell crushed a solo home run in the sixth to make the score 9-1.

Bell's home run added to his league-lead in RBIs with 32. He has five more than the next player on the list; the Slammers' first baseman Marc Flores. The Slammers currently own three out of the top five spots for RBIs in the league.

One of the biggest stories to come out of the first two games of the series, besides scoring 18 runs, is the quick impact Richardson has made on the team.

The recently activated, Richardson, has gotten off to a perfect start for the Slammers going 5-5 in his first-two games with the team. He had a pinch-hit single Friday night before going 4-4 Saturday.

"I feel really great about it," Richardson said. "I've been waiting a long time to get here because I was waiting on my visa, so I stayed hungry and I came to eat. I'm pretty happy with where I am right now, and prepared to do the same thing tomorrow."

After a strong hitting performance Saturday, Richardson just wants to keep his success going moving forward, he said.

"My approach is just to dominate," Richardson said. "I know I can do it, I know I really love this game. My approach is to just see the ball and smash it right up the middle."

Richardson's performance earned him Saturday's Merchants and Manufacturers player of the game.

The Slammers got some help from the Washington Wild Things Saturday night as they defeated the Windy City Thunderbolts putting the Slammers .5 games out of first place in the East Division.

Joliet's record stands at 19-14 with a chance to earn a sweep of the Boomers Sunday on Father's Day. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

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Frontier League Stories from June 18, 2016


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