Mud Monsters End Homestand on Winning Note; Defeat Boomers 6-4 in Series Finale
FL Mississippi Mud Monsters

Mud Monsters End Homestand on Winning Note; Defeat Boomers 6-4 in Series Finale

Published on August 2, 2026 under Frontier League (FL)
Mississippi Mud Monsters News Release


Mississippi Mud Monsters congratulate infielder Travis Holt in the dugout
Mississippi Mud Monsters congratulate infielder Travis Holt in the dugout
(Mississippi Mud Monsters)

PEARL, Miss. - John Walsh settled into his best start of the season as the Mississippi Mud Monsters (29-43) rode a four-run fourth inning and a two-run fifth to a 6-4 victory over the Schaumburg Boomers (39-33) in Sunday's series finale.

After dropping four of the first five games of the series to lose their second straight home series, the Mud Monsters turned to Eagle, Colorado, native Walsh for the surprise start after fellow left-hander Art Joven, who had been scheduled to start, was placed on the Injured List on July 29.

Walsh started things by issuing a walk to leadoff man Alec Craig.

Cole Smith followed with a single to put two runners aboard.

Craig stole second and advanced to third before Kellum Clark knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly to open the scoring with a 1-0 Boomers lead.

Banks Tolley then singled for Schaumburg's second hit before Alex Calarco lined an RBI double down the right-field line to extend the lead to 2-0.

With Tolley at third and Calarco at second, Kyle Fitzgerald grounded out to Travis Holt, bringing home the third run to push the Schaumburg lead to 3-0 before Walsh picked up the final out on a strikeout of Will Prater.

Walsh rebounded with a scoreless top of the second despite issuing a walk to the leadoff batter, Jeff Nicol, to get the 3-0 score to the home half of the inning.

Schaumburg starter Cole Cook retired the Mississippi lineup in order through the first three innings.

Booker changed that his second time through the order by leading off the bottom of the fourth with a single.

A walk by AJ Fritz followed to put two men on before Booker swiped third.

Samil De La Rosa then grounded into a fielder's choice that Schaumburg attempted to turn into a double play, getting only the force out on Fritz.

With De La Rosa reaching, the Mud Monsters designated hitter stole second to move into scoring position for Travis Holt.

Holt singled into left field to make it a one-run game at 3-2 after De La Rosa scored.

The next batter, Victor Diaz, hammered a ball down the left-field line that dropped in front of Nicol for an RBI double.

On the same play, Diaz reached third after Nicol misplayed the ball.

Karell Paz followed by going the opposite way with a single into left field, allowing Diaz to score and give the Mud Monsters a 4-3 lead.

Walsh settled in after the first inning, retiring the Boomers in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

Joshua Shelly was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the fifth for Mississippi.

Vantrel Reed followed with a walk before Booker hit into a fielder's choice that erased Reed but moved Shelly to third while Booker reached safely.

Tevis Payne II then singled home Shelly to make it 5-3 Mud Monsters.

Booker went first to third on the hit before Fritz smashed a fly ball into center field for a sacrifice fly to put Mississippi ahead 6-3.

Walsh's perfect stretch ended with a leadoff single by Clark and a one-out single by Calarco, prompting the Mud Monsters to turn to Connor Langrell out of the bullpen.

Langrell struck out the only two batters he faced to send the game to the bottom of the sixth with Mississippi still leading 6-3.

Walsh finished his afternoon going 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out three.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Mud Monsters threatened again after Holt singled to lead things off, Paz followed with a one-out walk and Reed reached on an infield single to load the bases.

Mississippi was unable to push across another run, and Langrell returned for his first full inning of work in the seventh.

Langrell remained on the hill in the eighth and, after striking out Smith for the first out, Clark sent a ball into center field that Booker laid out for but could not catch.

The ball rolled all the way to the fence, allowing Clark to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

The eighth-inning run was Schaumburg's first since the opening inning and cut the Mud Monsters' lead to 6-4.

Langrell finished his outing going 2.2 innings while allowing the one run on one hit while tying the Mud Monsters season high for reliever strikeouts with five.

In the bottom of the eighth, Mississippi attempted a two-out rally after Shelly singled and Reed was hit by a pitch, but the Mud Monsters were held scoreless.

Chris Barraza entered for the save in the top of the ninth looking to secure Mississippi's second victory of the series and end the 12-game homestand on a high note.

Barraza struck out the side despite issuing a walk with one out and another with two outs to secure the 6-4 victory and Mississippi's second win of the season over Schaumburg.

After an off day Monday, the Mud Monsters begin a six-game road trip Tuesday, Aug. 4, against the Lake Erie Crushers at ForeFront Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. CT). At the time of writing, probable starters for either team had not been announced.

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Images from this story

Mississippi Mud Monsters congratulate infielder Travis Holt in the dugout
Mississippi Mud Monsters congratulate infielder Travis Holt in the dugout
   



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