DeLeon Dazzles Again as Freedom Take Finale
July 19, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, Ky - Needing a win to avoid a sweep in the finale of a six-game home-stand, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, utilized magnificent starting pitching and a hot start offensively, en route to a, 6-0, win over the Traverse City Beach Bums on Thursday night at UC Health Stadium.
The bottom of the first was fruitful for the Freedom (28-28), who scored first for the thirty-second time this season. Lead-off hitter, Harrison White, stepped in against Beach Bums (28-28) starter John Havird (3-5), and chopped a ball to first that was mishandled by Noah McGowan. Caleb Lopes then laced his eleventh double of the season to put runners at second and third for the reigning Frontier League "Player of the Week," Skyler Ewing. Ewing rolled a grounder to short that plated a run as Florence took a, 1-0, edge. A couple batters later, Xavier Turner turned on an inside fastball and shot it into left to score Lopes from third and put Florence in front, 2-0, heading to the second.
On the heels of three straight magnificent starts, Christian DeLeon (4-2), carried nine consecutive scoreless innings to the bump on Thursday. The right-hander would up that total to sixteen, shutting out the Beach Bums over seven innings, while not surrendering a hit until the top of the sixth.
The defense let the visitors down in the bottom of the second, as a wild throw from Will Kengor brought McGowan off the bag at first, allowing Jacob Wark to reach on the Bums second error of the ballgame. After reaching third thanks to a walk and a deep fly ball to left, Wark would come in to score on a fielder's choice from White as the Florence lead reached, 3-0. The Freedom would make it three-straight innings of one run or more in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Keivan Berges followed a Jordan Brower hit by pitch and an Xavier Turner walk by launching his seventh home run of the year, a three-run shot that made the score, 6-0, home team.
Havird pitched his way through the fifth inning, and was charged with six runs, three earned on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Andrew Click and Austin Stephens combined to finish the game, holding Florence scoreless the rest of the way.
In a fourth straight phenomenal outing, DeLeon tossed seven complete shut-out innings while walking two and fanning eight. For the second straight start, the right-hander allowed just one hit.
Sam Martin replaced DeLeon for the eighth, and finished out the final two innings of action. The Beach Bums were able to break-up the shut-out in the ninth, as Alexis Rivera doubled in Isaac Benard who singled. Martin recorded the final two outs and sealed the win as Florence got back to .500.
Florence will take the show on the road this weekend as the crimson and white square off with the surging first-place Joliet Slammers of the East division at Joliet Route 66 Stadium. First pitch at Joliet Route 66 Stadium on Friday night is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Central time.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Wayin Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
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