August 8 Florence Freedom Double Header Game Notes
Published on August 8, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
DOUBLE HEADER: FLORENCE FREEDOM (27-41) @ RIVER CITY RASCALS (43-27)
Friday, August 8, 2014 - 5:00 p.m. ET
T. R. Hughes Ballpark - O'Fallon, MO
Games #69 & 70 - Road Games #28 & 29 (27-41), (6-21)
Game One: LHP #30 Dave Middendorf (4-6, 4.73 ERA) vs. RHP #8 Bryce Shafer (2-0, 4.50 ERA)
Game Two: LHP #33 Michael O'Neal (1-3, 4.79 ERA) vs. RHP #27 Tommy Mendoza (5-2, 2.74 ERA)
Last time out...
Thursday's game between the Rascals and Freedom was postponed due to rain. On Wednesday the Freedom fell by a score of 8-3. The game was tied at two until a terrible eighth inning for Florence. Reliever Pete Levitt (0-3) walked the first batter he faced in the eighth. Then he hit the next batter with a pitch. Saxon Butler lay down a bunt which Levitt threw down the left field line in an ill-advised attempt to get the runner at third base. A run scored and the Rascals put runners at the corners with nobody out. Jon Myers followed with a single down the third base line which deflected off Sam Eberle and stayed on the infield to load the bases. Jorge Marban entered the game and Joe Staley doubled to deep left-center over the head of Adam Taylor to score two more runs. Marban walked Hector Crespo and Steve Carrillo provided the knock-out punch with a bases clearing double.
For Starters Game One...
Dave Middendorf makes his 15th start of the season for the Freedom. He is coming off a rough outing on August 3 against the Traverse City Beach Bums as he went six and a third innings, giving up 10 runs, nine earned, on 14 hits in a 13-8 defeat for Florence. 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 sixth start of the season tonight for the Freedom. He is coming off a loss to the Gateway Grizzlies on August 1 as he went four innings, giving up one run on three hits while walking five batters and striking out two in a 7-4 defeat for the Freedom. 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.
Double Trouble...
The Freedom did sweep their most recent double header against the Schaumburg Boomers but overall Florence's record in twin bills this year is 6-10.
Road Woes...
The Freedom have yet to win a road series this season and have the worst road record in the Frontier League at 6-21. Florence has dropped six straight games on the road, their longest road losing streak of the season
Transaction Wire...
The Freedom released INF Preston Overbey on Wednesday. They signed INF Bryan Soloman and INF Tyler Heck.
Frontier League Stories from August 8, 2014
- Walks Doom Aviators; Fall 12-1 - Rockford Aviators
- Freedom Split Double Header with Rascals - Florence Y'alls
- ThunderBolts Drop Pitchers' Duel, 3-0 in Ten Innings - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Nowak Homers Twice in Otters' 6-4 Win over Joliet - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Fall 6-4 on Friday - Joliet Slammers
- Boomers Hold off Wild Things - Schaumburg Boomers
- Wild Things Drop a Thriller 5-4 - Washington Wild Things
- Beach Bums Blow Past Greys 7-0 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Tammy Williams Hits Go-Ahead Homerun in Chicago's 4-1 Win - Washington Wild Things
- August 8 Florence Freedom Double Header Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Split Doubleheader in Two-Day Marathon - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Split a Doubleheader with Evansville Late Thursday - Joliet Slammers
- Table setters Hertler, Stevens pace Crushers in win over Rockford - Lake Erie Crushers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
