After two days off, Y’alls are back in action Tuesday night after losing two out of three in the season-opening series against the Tri-City ValleyCats, most recently falling 14-13 Saturday night thanks to a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning.
Tuesday’s matchup against the 2-1 New Jersey Jackals continues a nine-game homestand to start the season, all against East Division teams that are making their first-ever trip to Florence.
Utility player Harrison DiNicola is off to a sensational start for the Y’alls with eight hits in his first 13 at-bats; half of his hits have gone for extra bases.
Another utility guy, Ray Zuberer III, of Owensboro, hit safely in each game of the series against Tri-City despite only starting one game; he came into the game as a pinch hitter twice and picked up a base hit each time.
First baseman/outfielder Axel Johnson has been the main run-producer for the Y’alls in the early going with 6 RBI; he has one homerun and is hitting .308 overall.
New Jersey has six players hitting .300 or better to start the year.
Elsewhere around the league, divisional foe Gateway is off to a 3-0 start and swept the first edition of the Frontier League weekly awards (1B Pete Zimmerman, RHP Brendan Feltmann).
FRONTIER LEAGUE WEST STANDINGS
Team Record and Streak
Gateway Grizzlies 3-0 W3
Lake Erie Crushers 2-1 W2
Windy City ThunderBolts 2-2 W1
Evansville Otters 1-2 W1
Florence Y’alls 1-2 L1
Schaumburg Boomers 1-2 W1
Washington WildThings 1-2 L2
Joliet Slammers 1-3 W1
