FL Florence Y'alls

Freedom Fall in High-Scoring Opener

August 17, 2019 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


FLORENCE, Ky - In game one of a pivotal West Division collision, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, could not keep up with the high-octane River City Rascals offense in an, 11-7, loss on Friday night at UC Health Stadium.

River City (48-35) set an early tone in the first, scoring five runs on six consecutive hits off Hayden Wheeler (1-2) after the southpaw recorded a strikeout to start the ballgame. Trevor Achenbach, who would leave the game in the fourth with an apparent injury, plated the first run of the game, shooting a double down the line in left field as the Freedom (49-35) fell behind, 1-0. L.J. Kalawaia immediatley followed with a two-run double of his own, before James Morisano unloaded a two-run blast to straight-away center field, the deficit extending to, 5-0 after one frame.

Storming back to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the second, Florence went to work on Rascals left-hander, Alex Winkelman. Connor Crane started the rally, leading-off the frame with a single before Isaac Benard and Trevor Craport worked a pair of walks to load the bases. Jackson Pritchard came through next, lacing a bases clearing double to right-center that ignited a near sell-out crowd at UC Health Stadium, the Freedom pulling within a pair at, 5-3.

Winkelman would get pulled after the double, appearing to suffer an injury on the pitch. The southpaw totaled one inning of work, surrendering four earned runs on three hits with two walks and a whiff in a no-decision.

With right-hander, Anthony Herrera on the hill in search of all three outs in the second, Austin Wobrock lined a single to right, scoring Pritchard to make it a one-run game, 5-4, after two complete innings.

Scheduled starter for the finale in game three on Sunday, Travis McQueen (4-2) took over on the mound for River City in the third. The righty would allow just one hit and no walks over his first four innings of long-relief in the affair, ultimately landing the win for his efforts.

The Rascals added to their advantage on Zach Lavy's 12th homer of the year in the fourth, a solo-shot, moving the game to, 6-4. Two more runs would cross home-plate for River City in their side of the fifth, Morisano stroking a two-out double to right-center to bring his RBI total up to four in the, 8-4, contest.

Wheeler would exit after five, taking the loss having allowed eight earned runs on ten hits with two walks and three punch-outs. Making his club debut, right-hander, Jamal Wilson spanned two shut-out innings over the sixth and seventh, racking up four strikeouts.

The Freedom would begin a late push in the bottom of the seventh, Pritchard singling and stealing second base for Taylor Bryant. Bryant responded, blistering a single to left to plate Pritchard as Florence got back within three at, 8-5.

The Rascals would have an answer, however touching Florence reliever, Sean Hughes for a run on a Nolan Meadows fielder's choice, Lavy crossing the plate to again propel the visitors ahead by four, 9-5.

Florence continued their late surge, adding a pair of runs in their side of the eighth facing right-hander, Andrew Vernon. Two consecutive one-out singles from Caleb Lopes and Crane put runners at first and second for Isaac Benard. Benard then powered a broken-bat single to right, scoring Lopes and allowing Crane to scoot to third. Trevor Craport plated Crane, bouncing out on a slow chopper to third, the Freedom again pulling within a pair at, 9-7.

Ryan Mordecai would take his turn on the hill for the Freedom in the top of the ninth, surrendering a two-run homer to Lavy, his second of the game sailed over the wall in left and restored a four-run cushion for River City.

Trailing, 11-7, the Freedom went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth, Jason Zgardowski facing the minimum on the way to shutting the door on the sixth loss in seven games for Florence.

These two West Division rivals will meet in the series middle-game on Saturday night at UC Health Stadium. The Freedom will send lefty, Scott Sebald (6-1, 3.76) to the mound, opposite righty, Taylor Ahearn (2-3, 2.96) with first pitch slated for 6:05 p.m. Florence will enter game two a half game up on the Rascals for first-place in the West Division standings.

The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.

Check out the Florence Y'alls Statistics



Frontier League Stories from August 17, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central