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FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers leave 11 on base as Windy City takes Rubber Match, 7-4

June 3, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio - The Lake Erie Crushers left eleven men on base as they fell to the Windy City ThunderBolts, 7-4, at All Pro Freight Stadium Sunday evening.

Windy City scored in only two innings, but it was a five run second inning that started it all until a Chad Cregar towering two-run homerun in the ninth clinched a victory and a series win for the ThunderBolts.

The Crushers (5-10), did however hit the ball extremely well, as each starter hit safely at least once leading to 13 total hits.

The ThunderBolts' five run second inning began when Zach Aakhus doubled to lead off the inning. Centerfielder Jarek West then walked, and during the ensuing at bat Mike Mobbs drove in Aakhus with an RBI single. West would later score on an RBI double by Bruce Alter, as Mobbs would then score on a Brandon Pearl single. Three batters later, Cregar would drive in Alter and Pearl to make it 5-0 Windy City.

Lake Erie would then have an opportunity in the second inning to considerably cut into the ThunderBolts' lead as Kellen Kulbacki and Robby Kuzdale walked to start the inning, which was followed up by a Wally Correa single. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Brian Erie would strike out, and then Adrian Ortiz would ground out to first to drive in Kulbacki. Gered Mochizuki would strike out looking to end the inning, as the Crushers left two runners on and could only salvage one run in the frame.

The Crushers would then cut the ThunderBolts lead to only one with three runs in the third as Andrew Davis and Jason Taylor singled and later scored on Kulbacki's basehit. Kulbacki would later score on a two out single by catcher Brian Erie.

Then in the seventh, with Windy City still leading 5-4, the Crushers had the bases loaded with only one out with Wally Correa at the plate, and ThunderBolts' reliever Andy Mee on the mound who had just relieved starter Dustin Williams earlier in the inning. Correa would not be able to tie the ballgame or give the Crushers the lead however, as Windy City second baseman Michael Torres made a fantastic diving stop of Correa's hardly hit ground ball, which began the turning of an inning ended double play that allowed Windy City to magically escape without allowing a single run.

Windy City would go on to add two insurance runs in the ninth thanks to a Chad Cregar two-run homerun to make it 7-4. Cregar's ninth inning blast was his fifth long ball of the season.

Windy City's Dustin Williams (2-1) received the victory going six-and-a-third innings allowing four runs off eleven hits. He struck out four in the ballgame, which places him in a tie for first all time on Windy City's list for the most career strikeouts.

Lake Erie's Paul Fagan (1-2) received the loss after a seven inning effort where he allowed five earned runs off eight base hits.

The Crushers are off on Monday, but will begin a three game series against the Evansville Otters, at Bosse Field on Tuesday night. Right hander Eric Gonzalez-Diaz (0-3, 6.06) will start for the Crushers and the Otters will counter with right hander Dan Blewett (1-0, 0.90). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:35 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, and 2011 Frontier League Organization of the year, play ball at All Pro Freight Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, Ohio. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 12 teams operating throughout the Midwest. Season tickets for the 2012 season are on sale now! For more information on tickets, promotions and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.

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