FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers Take Series from Wild Things

Published on June 26, 2012 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


WASHINGTON, PA - It took ten innings to decide tonight's game, but the Lake Erie Crushers (15-20) were able to grab the victory 3-2 over the Washington Wild Things (14-20) after Wally Correa drove in the winning run by using his... head. Correa (0-4, RBI), who had struck out four times in his first four bats, walked up with the bases loaded and two out in the tenth, and watched as a 1-1 breaking ball hit him in the helmet for the game deciding run.

Unlike the previous two games in the series, the Crushers found themselves down early when leadoff batter Andrew Heck took the first pitch from Alex Loftin (ND, 1.59) and dropped it over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead.

The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh when with two out, Brian Erie (1-5, R, four baserunners thrown out) ripped a double down the left field line off of reliever Nick Cicio (ND, 3.52). Adrian Ortiz (1-4, R, RBI) then came up and scorched a double to right center field to drive in Erie, but the Crushers were not done. Robby Kuzdale (1-4, RBI) then came up and hit a deep fly ball, which dropped in front of the fenced and bounced off of the turf for a 2-1 lead.

The lead would be short-lived however as the first pitch of the seventh inning from Loftin was hit over the videoboard in right field by Rick Devereaux (1-4, HR, RBI) thus knotting the game at two.

The bullpens would trade zeroes until the top of the tenth when Chandler Barnard (L, 0-2), who had gotten the first two outs of the inning, walked Andrew Davis (0-2, R) and allowed a single to Kellen Kulbacki (3-5). With the runners at first and second, Steve Grife came in to relieve Barnard and allowed a sharply hit ball by JC Figueroa (2-5) into the hole at short where Michael Mooney (0-2) gloved it, but did not have a play available, loading the bases. That brought up Correa who used the least likely part of his body to force in the winning run.

Jonathan Kountis, who had come in to get the final out of the eighth inning, was still pitching in tenth and was able to seal the victory for the Crushers, but not without some hardship. Michael Bando (0-2) worked a walk with one out and Doug Thennis came in to pitch run. With Michael Mooney at the plate and a 1-1 count, Thennis took off for second and the throw by Erie went into centerfield, allowing Thennis to reach third. Kountis struck out Mooney when he chased a fastball out of the zone and got the final out of the game when Robby Kuzdale made a diving catch on a low, looping liner in shallow right center field.

The Crushers got another solid start from Alex Loftin who received the No Decision while going 6+ innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one. Starting pitcher for the Wild Things Casey Barnes was even better as he went six innings without allowing a run while striking out six and walking two. Nick Cicio was the loose cog for the Wild Things as he went two thirds of an inning allowing two runs.

Jonathan Kountis (W, 1-1) picked up the win, pitching another stellar performance. In 2.1 innings pitched he struck out five while only walking one and allowing one hit. Chandler Barnard (L, 0-3, 6.62), in his first performance for the Wild Things, picked up the loss while throwing three full innings, striking out four and walking two, one of them an intentional walk.

The Crushers have a day off before hosting the River City Rascals for a three game set. The probable starters in that series for the Crushers are Paul Fagan, Trevor Longfellow and Josh Rickards.

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 2011 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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Frontier League Stories from June 26, 2012


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