Freedom squeek out win
Published on August 8, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, KY - In the end, the Florence Freedom were able to hold off the Traverse City Beach Bums and win for the second straight night, 7-6 Saturday evening at Champion Window Field.
The Freedom improved to 5-0 against the Beach Bums at Champion Window Field this season, but not before a little excitement.
Trailing but just one run, Mike Epping singled to lead off the top of the ninth. After being sacrificed to second for the first out, Epping stole third but appeared to have over slid the bag. Base umpire Chuck Stewart called Epping safe setting up the next close play.
With the infield drawn in, Michael Campbell grounded to Justin Pickett at first. Epping broke for home on contact and Pickett's throw home appeared to be late, but home plate umpire Chuck Adya called him out.
Jonathan Miller struck out John Alonso to end the game and pick up his seventh save, and the Freedom exhaled.
Florence put up two runs in the first off Beach Bum starter Kevin Reese to take a 2-1 lead early. Billy Mottram grounded out to drive in the first run and then Ryan Basham doubled home Erold Andrus.
Reese threw a complete game shutout against the Freedom in his last start at Wuerfel Park, but failed to get to the fifth inning this time. Pickett hit his second home run in as many night and second grand slam of the season in the fourth off Reese to put the Freedom up 7-3.
Traverse City put up a run in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to cut the Freedom lead to one before the ninth inning dramatics.
Chuck Tiffany was able to last long enough to get the win for the Freedom. Tiffany improved to 1-1 by tossing 105 pitches through five innings with six strikeouts.
Andrus, Basham and Jay Johnson all had multiple hits for the Freedom's offensive attack.
Florence (33-37) concludes their season series with the Beach Bums Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans through the gates on a MomsLikeMe.com Family Sunday wearing Freedom apparel will receive a Tim Grogan bobblehead.
Frontier League Stories from August 8, 2009
- Offense, Lysander Lead Crushers To Win Over Midwest - Lake Erie Crushers
- Sliders Slip against Crushers - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- ThunderBolts win over Rascals - River City Rascals
- Grizzlies win second straight - Gateway Grizzlies
- Thriller ends in Bolts extra inning win - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Wild Things Struggle On Mound, Lose 11-3 - Washington Wild Things
- Freedom squeek out win - Florence Y'alls
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