RiverHawks fall in Frontier finale
September 6, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford RiverHawks fell into an early eight-run hole on Sunday and dropped a 10-4 decision to the Windy City ThunderBolts in their final Frontier League game.
The RiverHawks are going to the independent Northern League, and the ThunderBolts are going to the Frontier League playoffs. Windy City, the two-time defending champ, guaranteed a wild-card berth with the win.
Windy City's Guillermo Martinez and Rockford's Jono Brooks each homered in the finale.
The ThunderBolts built an early 8-0 lead. Rockford starter Jose Mateo hit Martinez with a pitch in the first inning. Martinez later scored on an error at shortstop by Brooks. In the second inning, the ThunderBolts scored five runs, three on Martinez' home run to left field. Pete Paris singled in two in the fourth inning.
Brooks hit his seventh home run, a two-run shot to left, in the fifth inning to put the RiverHawks on the board.
Dustin Pease (12-7) struck out six without a walk over eight innings for the win. Mateo (1-1) did not make it out of the second inning and took the loss.
The RiverHawks finished 44-50, the first losing season in the team's eight-year history, and in fourth place in the Frontier League West.
Jason James was 0-for-2 and finished the year with a team-record .374 average and the league batting title after second-place finishes each of the last two years. Olmo Rosario hit .373 in 2005.
The RiverHawks are moving to the Northern League, an eight-team independent professional baseball league that will play its 18th season in 2010. Advertising and season-ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks online at www.rockfordriverhawks.com. Most games are broadcast live on ESPN 1380, and on the team website.
Frontier League Stories from September 6, 2009
- Miners Win, 11-6, Fall Short Of Post-Season - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Lose Regular Season Finale 11-6 To Miners - River City Rascals
- RiverHawks fall in Frontier finale - Rockford RiverHawks
- Sliders End Season on Sour Note - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Bolts Playoff Bound - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Beach Bums End Season with Loss - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Crushers Finish Season with Win - Lake Erie Crushers
- Wild Things Win Battle Of The Long Ball - Florence Y'alls
- Wild Things Win Final Game of Season 8-5 - Washington Wild Things
- Otters Season Finale Washed Out - Evansville Otters
- Grizzlies, Otters cancelled Sunday - Gateway Grizzlies
- Crushers playoff bound after extra innings - Lake Erie Crushers
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