July 19 Florence Freedom Game Notes
Published on July 19, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (22-28) @ LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS (27-25)
Saturday, July 19, - 7:05 p.m. ET
All Pro Freight Stadium - Avon, OH
Game #51 - Road Game #22 (22-28), (6-15)
LHP #30 Dave Middendorf (3-4, 4.23 ERA) vs. LHP #7 Matt Rein (0-4, 6.63 ERA)
Last time out...
Casey Henn (4-4) shut down the Lake Erie Crushers (27-25) for seven and a third innings and the bullpen did the rest as the Florence Freedom (22-28) prevailed by a score of 2-0 Friday night. Henn, a Cincinnati native, was dominant for the second time this season against Lake Erie. He scattered six hits and struck out six while only walking one through his seven and a third innings of shutout ball. The Freedom scored two runs in the third inning as Cole Miles and Ben Kline reached on singles. With runners at second and third, Rob Kelly delivered a sacrifice fly to put Florence up 1-0. Then Sam Eberle smacked a RBI single to make it 2-0 Florence. Henn got into some trouble in the eighth, giving up back-to-back singles to start the inning. But on the second single right fielder Ryan Solberg gunned down the runner trying to go to third. Pete Levitt finished the eighth and Jorge Marban got the save.
For Starters...
Dave Middendorf is making his 11th start of the year for the Freedom tonight. He is coming off a victory over the Frontier Greys on July 9 where he went seven innings, scattering seven hits, allowing three runs, two earned, walking four and striking out six in a 9-3 victory for Florence. The Freedom acquired Middendorf in a trade from the Lake Erie Crushers on March 12, 2014. He was one of the top pitchers in the entire Frontier League in 2013, going 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA in 21 games, 19 starts for the Crushers. He pitched two years in the Royals' minor league system, reaching as high as Idaho Falls (Pioneer League). He went 3-4 with a 6.28 ERA over those two seasons with three saves. He made 39 appearances, all in a relief role and struck out 52 while walking 19 over 67.1 innings of work. Middendorf was named an NCAA Division II first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after posting a 9-3 record with a 1.73 earned run average. His 127 strikeouts in 2011 set a new single-season record at NKU and were good for second among all Division II pitchers. He also set a career mark for strikeouts with 349 over his four years with the Norse. His 25 career wins rank third all-time at NKU and his 2.53 career ERA is fourth. Along with the All-Americans honors, Middendorf was named the Great Valley Conference and Midwest Region pitcher of the year.
Going for the series win...
If the Freedom win tonight it will be their first road series victory of the season and their seventh series win overall. Right now Florence is 0-7 in road series with an overall road mark of 6-15. If the Freedom win today it will be the first time all year they have won back-to-back road games.
A rare type of win...
Last night's 2-0 victory was only the Freedom's second win this season when scoring fewer than three runs. They are now 2-16 when scoring fewer than three in a game. It was also the third shutout of the season tossed by the Freedom's pitching staff.
We're going streaking...
Rob Kelly is currently working on a seven-game hitting streak. He is nine for his last 27 at the plate.
Where's the offense?!
The Freedom's team batting average of .231 is last in the Frontier League. Their 196 runs scored are the fewest in the league.
Platoon splits...
Switch hitter Joe Staley leads the team in batting average against right-handed pitchers at .327 but his average falls to .193 against lefties. Meanwhile Sam Eberle leads the way with a .380 AVG vs. lefties.
Excellent Eberle...
All-Star Sam Eberle leads the Freedom in On-Base Percentage at .428. He also leads the team in multiple hit games with 15.
Walk this way...
All-Star Joe Staley leads the team and is fourth in the Frontier League in walks with 35.
Frontier League Stories from July 19, 2014
- Olson Strikes out Season-High 12 in Otters' 11 Inning Loss - Evansville Otters
- Crushers Defeat Freedom 16-4 - Lake Erie Crushers
- Walk-Off Win Helps Aviators Avoid Sweep - Rockford Aviators
- Rockford Edges Boomers - Schaumburg Boomers
- Grizzlies Enjoy Record-Breaking Night in Win at Traverse City - Gateway Grizzlies
- CornBelters Drop 2nd Straight to Greys - Normal CornBelters
- Grizzlies Knock off Beach Bums 18-4 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Crushers Power Their Way Past Freedom - Florence Y'alls
- Kalamar Delivers Game-Winning Hit in 3-2 Win - Washington Wild Things
- Slammers Lose Game Two of the Series to Windy City 4-1 - Joliet Slammers
- July 19 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Look To Even Up Series At Home Against Miners - Evansville Otters
- July 19 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Rascals Lose to East's Number 1 - River City Rascals
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