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Freedom drubbed by Boomers in Frontier League Championship Series opener, look to rebound today


The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, saw an early lead disappear in the opening game of the Frontier League Championship Series en route to a crushing 16-2 loss to the Schaumburg Boomers Tuesday night at Boomers Stadium.

Jordan Brower put the Freedom (3-2) in the lead with a two-run double in the first inning off Lars Liguori (2-0), scoring Andre Mercurio and Andrew Godbold who had bunted for a single and walked, respectively.

In the bottom of the third, however, Frontier League MVP David Harris tied the score at 2-2 for the Boomers (4-1) with a two-run single to left-center off Braulio Torres-Perez (0-2), and Zach Weigel followed with an infield single that scored John Holland from third as the go-ahead run. The next batter, Josh Gardiner, plated Harris with a double to left field, but Weigel was thrown out at the plate on the play with a strong relay throw from Austin Wobrock, ending the inning.

Harris would lead the Boomers by going 3-for-6 with four RBI, including a solo home run to right field leading off the fifth inning. Kyle Ruchim also drove in four runs, while Sean Godfrey contributed three hits.

Schaumburg knocked Torres-Perez from the game after four and one-third innings, after the left-hander had surrendered eight runs on seven hits and five walks, with the Boomers also capitalizing on three Florence errors during his time on the mound.

Jack Fowler, Enrique Zamora and Sam Brunner all appeared in relief for the Freedom, and the three hurlers allowed a combined nine walks, five of which came around to score. The Boomers’ final five runs all came with two out in the eighth against Brunner.

Liguori, meanwhile, would go the distance on the mound, striking out seven while holding the Freedom scoreless from the third inning onward. The complete-game performance was the second straight for Schaumburg, as Joe Hauser pitched nine innings in Game Four of the Boomers’ Division Series win over Evansville.

First pitch of Game Two of the series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at Boomers Stadium. Jordan Kraus will start on the mound for the Freedom against Kagen Hopkins for Schaumburg.

The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.

Florence Freedom


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