Crushers Drop 2025 Finale, Begin Playoffs Wednesday against Boomers
Published on August 31, 2025 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release
Joliet, IL - The Lake Erie Crushers (52-42) dropped the 2025 finale to the Joliet Slammers (44-52) 5-1. Lake Erie finishes the season a game out of first place for the Central Division.
With the loss, the Crushers will begin the Frontier League Playoffs on Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:35pm ET at Crushers Stadium against the Schaumburg Boomers.
Fans can take advantage of a great playoff ticket offer thanks to Rock Entertainment Sports Network. Using promo code "RESN" at checkout will activate a "Buy One, Get One" $10 ticket offer for Game 1.
As for Sunday's game, Joliet put across two runs in the 2nd on soft-serve RBI singles from Chris Davis and Liam McArthur. Then in the 3rd Ernny Ordonez put across an RBI single to give Joliet a 3-0 lead.
C Alfredo Gonzalez got Lake Erie on the board with a blasted solo shot in the 4th, giving the Crushers an inkling of life offensively. LHP Darrien Ragins was relieved by RHP Ethan Smith, who was clutch in the bottom of the 4th, stranding the bases loaded to keep Lake Erie in the game.
The Crushers loaded the bases with just one out in the 7th, but like several times prior in the series, they failed to score. That would be the nail in the coffin.
The Slammers responded with two runs of insurance in the bottom of the inning to go up 5-1, and Lake Erie's bats couldn't overcome the deficit. They dropped the regular season finale 5-1 to the Slammers on Sunday night.
Joliet veteran hurler Gunnar Kines (5-8) shoved in perhaps his final start as a professional. Darrien Ragins (6-7) was handed the loss.
The Crushers will have two days to reset before welcoming the Schaumburg Boomers, the Midwest Conference 1-seed, into Crushers Stadium on Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:35pm ET for Game 1 of the Wild Card Round.
Playoff ticket packages are available at https://www.lakeeriecrushers.com/playoff-central OR you can CLICK HERE to lock in your seats for the entirety of the 2025 Playoff Home Schedule for just $25.
Be sure to also take advantage of the promo code "RESN" at checkout to score "Buy One, Get One" $10 playoff tickets!
Can't join us at the ballpark? You can stream Crushers games home and away in 2025 on the brand new Frontier League streaming partner, HomeTeam Network or watch live on local television on Rock Entertainment Sports Network (RESN) in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati markets!
Frontier League Stories from August 31, 2025
- Otters Finish 2025 with a Win over Grizzlies - Evansville Otters
- Crushers Drop 2025 Finale, Begin Playoffs Wednesday against Boomers - Lake Erie Crushers
- Grizzlies Drop Regular Season Finale, Gear up for Playoffs - Gateway Grizzlies
- Crushers Presenting Special Playoff Ticket Offer - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boulders Wrap Regular Season with Win, Head to Playoffs Red Hot - New York Boulders
- Bird Dawgs Finish Inaugural Year with 7-6 Victory - Down East Bird Dawgs
- Bolts Lose in a Heartbreaker to End 2025 Season - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boomers Conclude Regular Season with Walk-Off Defeat - Schaumburg Boomers
- Titans End 2025 Victorious - Ottawa Titans
- Mud Monsters Mount Monster Comeback - Mississippi Mud Monsters
- Hunter Walks off Schaumburg in Season Finale - Florence Y'alls
- 'Cats Snap Seven-Game Win Streak - Tri-City ValleyCats
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