Florence Swept by Joliet to Conclude 2023 Season
September 3, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
JOLIET, IL - The Florence Y'alls, presented by Towne Properties, lost the series finale against the Joliet Slammers, 5-4, Sunday night at Duly Health and Care Field to put an end on the 2023 regular season.
The Joliet win secures the series sweep for the Slammers (46-50), who won the final seven games of the head-to-head season series matchups. The Slammers went 6-0 at home against Florence this season. All nine games between the two teams were decided by three runs or fewer.
The decisive inning for Joliet came in the sixth against Florence starter Bobby Brabrand. After allowing just one run and three hits through the first five innings - including retiring the first nine batters he faced - Brabrand allowed four runs on four hits in the sixth to give Joliet a 5-3 lead. The big hit was a GJ Hill three-run home run.
Zade Richardson hit a home run the eighth inning to get within a run, but Florence (38-59) would get no closer despite the Slammers pitching two position players in the final two innings. Matt McGarry allowed the home run, but Tyler Depreta-Johnson earns the save thanks to a scoreless ninth inning in his first-ever professional appearance.
Florence jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Ray Zuberer RBI-single in the second inning. Later on in the fourth, Hank Zeisler launched his first professional home run, followed by a Tristin Garcia RBI-double for a 3-0 advantage. Joliet's starter, Ryan O'Reilly, settled down and did not allow a run over the next three innings to earn the win with a quality start.
Brabrand went the distance for the Y'alls for his second complete game of the campaign, but the righty takes the loss. Zuberer and Garcia each had two hits. Matthew Warketin had two hits for Joliet, including his second home run in as many nights. Hill had two hits as well.
Neither team is in the 2023 Frontier League playoff picture, and, therefore, the season has come to an end. Both teams will be back on the field for spring training in April 2024, with Frontier League regular season action beginning in May.
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Frontier League Stories from September 3, 2023
- Grizzlies Finish Regular Season with Series Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Wild Things Drop 2023 Finale - Washington Wild Things
- Florence Swept by Joliet to Conclude 2023 Season - Florence Y'alls
- Boulders Drop Season Finale, Eliminated from Playoff Contention - New York Boulders
- Titans Walked off by Capitales to End Season - Ottawa Titans
- Bolts Finish Strong, Saw Washington 10-4 - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Otters Mount Comeback Win in Regular Season Finale - Evansville Otters
- Seventh Inning Costs Boomers in Regular Season Finale - Schaumburg Boomers
- ValleyCats Win Rubber Game over Aigles, But Do Not Make the Playoffs - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Boomers Bring Home Postseason Awards - Schaumburg Boomers
- Three Grizzlies Earn Postseason Awards - Gateway Grizzlies
- McDermott, Rahaim Win Frontier League Awards - New York Boulders
- OF Anthony Brocato Named Postseason All Star, Dugan Wins Writer of the Year - Washington Wild Things
- Noah Myers Named Frontier League Rookie of the Year - Evansville Otters
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