FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers Win Ninth Straight

Published on August 11, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio - The Lake Erie Crushers set a franchise record at All Pro Freight Stadium on Thursday night, winning their ninth game in a row, in a 6-1 victory to sweep the Florence Freedom.

For the Crushers, (39-35) the nine game win streak is one game better than their previous franchise best, set at the end of the 2010 season. The loss for Florence (30-43) dropped their record to 0-6 against the Crushers this season.

The Crushers got on the board first for the third game in a row. Brian Erie extended the bottom of the second with a two out single, and came home moments later when Chris Luick belted his first homerun of the season, giving the Crushers a 2-0 lead.

Florence plated their only run of the contest in the top of the third. Cole Miles walked to start the inning and stole second base before Chris Curley drove him home on a base hit. After Curley's base hit, Florence had just four base runners the rest of the night.

Lake Erie used the long ball to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Andrew Davis belted a solo homer, his ninth of the season to give the Crushers a 3-1 advantage.

Davis drove in another run in the bottom of the seventh. His sacrifice fly scored Zach Messer to give the Crushers a 4-1 lead, and Lake Erie added a pair of runs in the eighth inning to pull away. Luick drove in his third run of the contest on a sacrifice fly, and Zach Messer reached on shortstop Junior Arrojo's fielding error, which allowed Evan Sharpley to score.

In his Lake Erie Crushers' debut, Eric Gonzalez-Diaz (1-0) tossed five innings, allowing just a run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts to earn the victory. Chris Allen held the lead, over an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief, and Travis Risser (6) secured the save by retiring all seven batters he faced over the final two and two-thirds. The Crushers pitching staff allowed just seven runs on 19 hits during the three game series.

Davis, Sharpley and Luick paced the Crushes with two hits apiece. Davis went 6-for-11 in the series with a pair of runs and three RBIs, while hitting .590 (13-for-22) during the home stand with four runs and seven RBIs. The Crushers offense scored 41 runs on 71 hits during the six game home stand.

The Crushers are still only a half behind the Traverse City Beach Bums for the final playoff spot in the Frontier League's Eastern Division.

The Crushers will begin a three game series against the Evansville Otters at Bosse Field on Friday night. Right hander Thomas Campbell (3-0, 1.84) will start for the Crushers and the Otters will counter with right hander Kyle Barry (2-6, 5.65). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:35 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, play ball at All Pro Freight Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, OH. 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 August 11, 2011


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