The Schaumburg Boomers (40-24) and veteran manager Jamie Bennett showed why they are consistently in the conversation for the Frontier League championship after sweeping the Florence Y’alls (26-40).
Schaumburg put up double-digit hits and runs over the three games outscoring Florence a combined 42-25. The co-West Division leading Boomers lived up to the nickname pounding out 46 hits in the series.
“I like where we’re at as far as the core of the team and where we’re headed,” said Chad Rhoades, Florence manager. “We’ve grinded all year trying to finally get the right mix of guys. We’ve brought in some younger sticks, some very talented players that have jumped right in and fit what we wanted to do.”
Schaumburg won the Friday shootout, 15-13 in 10 innings. Both teams had 17 hits, but the Boomers scored one unearned run off the game’s lone error.
Catcher Zade Richardson went an astounding 6-for-6 with a home runs, two doubles, three runs batted and two runs scored. Designated hitter Craig Massey went 4-for-6 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored. First baseman Brennan Price added two runs going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Second baseman Tristin Garcia scored two runs.
Carter Spivey started for the Y’alls, pitching six innings, striking out four and walking three. The Y’alls led 6-5 when he left the game before Schaumburg scored six in the top of the seventh. Florence scored three in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 11.
Aaron Rund pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings to keep the Y’alls within striking range. He struck out one and walked one before Brian McKenna (0-2) pitched the 10th, striking out three and walking one.
“We just have to start pounding the zone a little better,” Rund said. “We’re a couple plays away from being in every single one of these games. We’re playing some decent baseball. We’re going to clean it up and play some good baseball coming up.”
Florence jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the Saturday game, but Schaumburg scored a combined seven runs in the latter innings to pull away for a 10-4 win. The Boomers scored five runs off the Florence bullpen including three unearned off the game’s lone error.
“All these issues happen because of young mistakes,” Rhoades said. “It’s not that I overlook. After I teach them and after they make them, it’s really seeing if they have any ability to understand it and apply it. The guys that have been here a bit longer have started to apply those then you get those holes and it spirals.”
Schaumburg outhit Florence, 14-8. Outfielder Ray Zuberer led the Y’alls going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Left fielder Hank Zeisler went 2-for-4 with a double and scored one run. Price, third baseman Brian Fuentes, Harrison DiNicola and Price added doubles.
Ryan Watson (0-2) pitched six innings for the Y’alls, striking out four and walking four. Carter Poiry, Ben Terwilliger and Alex Theis pitched in relief.
The Boomers broke open a tight one Sunday, scoring nine runs in the top of the seventh on their way to a 17-8 win. Schaumburg scored five unearned runs off five Florence errors.
Schaumburg outhit Florence, 15-10. Zeisler led the way for the Y’alls, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and scored once. That two-run double cut the Boomers lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
“Every at-bat counts the same. It doesn’t matter if you’re up 10, down 10 or tied in the 9th inning,” Zeisler said. “It’s the same game I’ve been playing my whole life and I’ve had a whole lot of at-bats so I’m just really trying to find that even keel and not let emotions affect the at-bat whether good, bad or neutral.”
Price, DiNicola and center fielder Lane Hoover collected two hits each. Price hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third and a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth. Price has a team-high 18 home runs this year.
Bobby Brabrand (2-8) took the loss pitching into the seventh inning, striking out four and walking three. Michael Kirian, Theis and Kent Klyman pitched one inning each in relief.
Florence is mathematically still alive for a playoff spot with 30 games left. They trail the Evansville Otters (36-29) by 10.5 games for the final playoff spot in the division. The Y’alls could make some major ground starting a three-game road series with them Tuesday at 7:35 p.m.