Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Seven run fifth gives Crushers a 8-3 lead

Tyler Johnson's double scored 3 runs and Todd Balduf added a pair of RBI's as the Cruhsers scored seven runs in the fifth to take a 8-3 lead. Lake Erie send 11 men to the plate in the inning.

Tucker struggles early on

Through three innings, Crushers starter Cardoza Tucker has allowed three run on five hits as River City jumped out to an early 3-1. Two of the Rascals hits have left the ball park. Chad Maddox and Ernie Banks both have solo home runs as River City takes advantage of the friendly confines of TH Hughes Ballpark. Arden McWilliams drove in the Crushers only run with a second-inning RBI single

Checking out TH Hughes Ballpark

TH Hughes Ballpark is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the Frontier League. It is 320 feet down the left field line but just 382 to straight away center field. The 28-foot high wall in right field is just 299 feet away. The power alley's are 354to left and 325 to right. The stadium, which was built in 1999, has an old school feel to it. The right field wall is reminiscent of Cleveland's old League Park that had a 290-foot 45-foot high right field fence

Live from Game 5 in in the Frontier League Finals

Crushers fans are out in full force here in River City tonight. Not only did a bus full of Lake Erie supporters arrive at TR Hughers Ballpark about an hour before tonight's first pitch. A numbers of fans also drove or flew from Northeast Ohio to support the Crushers in their bid for their first Frontier League title

Saturday, September 12, 2009

KINGS RALLY TO FORCE 5TH GAME IN DIVISIONAL SERIES

All seemed well for the Lake Erie Crushers on Sunday in game four of their divisional series with Kalamazoo. They started the day needing a win to advance to the Frontier League Championship series and had a 5-0 lead after one inning. But the Kings refused to say die and rallied with seven unanswered runs to beat the Crushers by the final of 7-5 to force a deciding game five on Monday night at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo.

After Kalamazoo starter John Brownell allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits in the first, he clamped down the Crushers offense for the remainder of the afternoon. Brownell went the distance for a complete game victory, allowing six hits while striking out six and walking three. “An amazing performance by Brownell,” said Crusher skipper John Massarelli afterwards. “As impressive as I’ve ever seen.”

The Crushers went after Brownell quickly in the first as Andrew Davis doubled home Jodam Rivera for a 1-0 lead. Tyler Johnson added a two-run single and the Crushers picked up two more thanks to an error on Kings second baseman Joe Ramos. Down 5-0, the Kings started their comeback in the third inning on an RBI single by Brandon Anderson off of Cardoza Tucker. Anderson struck again in the fifth inning as he lined a Tucker pitch over the wall in right-center field for his first home run of the postseason. Tucker worked five plus innings for the Crushers, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with five strikeouts and four walks to earn a no-decision.

The Kings would tie the game in the sixth inning as Amos Ramon hit an RBI single followed by a Brendan Murphy run-scoring grounder. With two outs in the inning, Kyle Higgins hit a fly ball to center that was dropped by Tyler Johnson, allowing Ramon to score the game-tying run. Kalamazoo would take their first lead of the game in the eighth inning as Matt Maloney led off the inning with a single, was sacrificed to second by Ramon, and then scored on Jett Ruiz’s RBI double. In the ninth, the Kings would pick up an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Maloney that scored Ramos.

The Crushers and Kings will play one game to decide the Divisional Series on Monday evening at 7:05 in Kalamazoo. “They (Kalamazoo) know how to win, and so do my guys,” said Massarelli. “That’s why it’s a heckuva series and should be a tremendous game five.”

Crushers blow five run lead, trail 6-5 going into ninth

Jett Ruiz doubled down the left field line to score Matt Maloney to give the Kings a 6-5 lead in the eighth inning.

J.J. Pacella entering his second inning of work on the mound for Lake Erie, John Brownell all the way for Kalamazoo

Kings come back to tie the game 5-5, after six innings

Kalamazoo scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5. The Kings benefited from a pair of Lake Erie errors. Amos Ramon and Brenden Murphy each had RBI in the inning for Kalamazoo.

Brownell has gone all the way for the Kings, while Ronnie Morales is the third Lake Erie pitcher of the day.

Crushers 5, Kings 2, after 5 innings

After a five-run first inning, the Crushers bats have gone cold. Lake Erie has just one hit in the last fiur innings and Kalamazo's John Brownell has retired 11 of the last 12 batters he has faced.

The Kings got a solo home run from Brandon Anderson in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-2.

Crushers have huge first inning, take 5-0 lead

Lake Erie had its six hitters reach base as it scored five runs in the first inning. Tyler Johnson has a 2-RBI single and Andrew Davis drove ina run with a double. The Crushers were also helped by a pair of Kalamazoo errors

Game 4 underway at All Pro Freight

It's Game 4 of the Frontier League Eastern Division Playoffs today in Avon. Cardoza Tucker is on the mound for Lake Erie. John Brownell is on the mound for Kalamazoo. Stay tuned to the Crushers blog and the Morning Journal Sports' twitter feed for in game updates from All Pro Freight Stadium

Friday, September 11, 2009

Crushers win, take 2-1 series lead

It took 3:23 to do it, but the Lake Erie Crushers took a 2-1 lead in the Frontier League playoffs Friday night, defeating Kalamazoo 4-2, in front of the 2,569 fans at All Pro Freight Stadium.

Now the Crushers have a chance to end the series at home on Saturday afternoon, when they face the Kings in Game 4 of the series.

“The goal is to win three games before the other team does,” Lake Erie manager John Massarelli said after the game. “We want to do it tomorrow, we don’t want to have to go back to Kalamazoo.”

J.J Pacella came on to strike out the side in the ninth in to seal the win for the Crushers.

Eddie Tisdale and Gordon Gronkowski each had two hits for Lake Erie.

Crushers 3, Kings 2 after six innings

Lake Erie is holding on to a 3-2 lead after six innings at All Pro Freight Stadium.

The Crushers had a chance to break the game open in the sixth inning but Kalamazoo first basemen Tim Brown reached into the stands to catch a Wayne Bond pop foul down the first base line to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Brent Lysander went 4 3/3 innings for Lake Erie before giving way to Alberto Rolon.

Tommy Mejia is now pitching for the Kings.

Crushers 1, King 1 middle of four

Early on its been a defensive struggle at All Pro Freight Stadium with Lake Erie and Kalamazoo tied 1-1.

The Kings scored a first inning run without a base hit, taking advantage of two walks, a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly.

Lake Erie answered back in the third inning when Wayne Bond scored on a Jodam Rivera sacrifice fly.

Through three and a half innings, the teams have combined for just three hits.

Game 4 tickets on sale NOW

The Crushers sold over 2,200 pre-sale tickets for tonight's Game 3 and expect to sell at least as many for Saturday's Game 4.

The Crushers have announced a number of special tickets deal to help fill All Pro Freight Stadium for Saturday's game. All General Admission (lawn) tickets are just $1.

Buckeye fans can also wear their Ohio State gear in anticipation of the big showdown at the Horseshoe and get $3 off any box seat or reserved ticket.

Saturday's Game 4 also has a special start time of 1:05 p.m. to get the Crushers fans home in time for the big game.

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Post-Season Power Surge

The name of the game in the Frontier League playoffs has been hitting.

In the two games at Homer Stryker Field, Lake Erie and Kalamazoo combined to hit 13 home runs.

Crushers outfielder Wayne Bond hit a pair of home runs in Game 1. Kalamazoo second baseman Joe Ramos hit two home in Wednesday’s Game 2. A pair of Kings, outfielders Matt Maloney and Josh Short, hit homers in both Games 1 and 2.

The Kings enter Game 3 with a .329 post-season batting average. The Crushers hit .319 in the first two games of the series.

Crushers roster update

After losing catcher Brad Griffiths to a broken ring finger on his right hand in Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to Kalamazoo, Lake Erie added catcher Todd Balduf to the roster prior to Game 3.

Baludf was a teammate of Crushers Drew Saylor, Andrew Davis, and J.J. Pacella at Kent State University. He played three seasons in the Kansas City Royals organization, advancing as high as triple-A Omaha.

Griffiths, who batter .218 with a home run and 24 RBIs in the regular season will be lost for the remainder of the post-season.

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Frontier League Playoffs Game 3

Stay tuned to "Keeping Up with the Crushers" all evening for updates on Game 3 of the Frontier League playoffs between the Lake Erie Crushers and the Kalamazoo Kings at All Pro Frieght Stadium.

The teams coem to All Pro Freight Stadium with the series tied at 1-1. The Crushers won the opening game of the series 8-7. Kalamazoo took Game 2, 10-4

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Crushers take 1-0 lead over Kalamazoo

The Lake Erie Crushers out-slugged the Kalamazoo Kings Tuesday night, and stole home-field advantage in the best-of-five Division Series of the Frontier League playoffs with a 8-7 win.

The teams combined for 27 hits, but none were bigger than Wayne Bond's home run in the top of the ninth to give the Crushers the lead and the win.

Cardoza Tucker couldn't get through two innings, but it didn't matter as the Crushers hit six home runs in the game.

Alberto Rolon was able to keep the Kings at bay for the final two innings to pick up the win on the mound for Lake Erie.

The Crushers and Kings will battle in game two of the series Wednesday night at 7:05,when Paul Fagan takes the mound for the Crushers against the Kings Joe DiPietro.

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Fagan comes up big again

After being swept by Traverse City in a doubleheader on Sunday the Crushers looked their ace Paul Fagan to stop the bleeding. And just as he's done all season long, Fagan delivered a complete performance in the Crushers 5-1 win over the Florence Freedom.
Fagan allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out seven as he improved to 14-3 on the mound.

The win was huge because it keeps the Crushers Wild Card hopes alive. At 53-37, the Crushers still hold a half game lead over River City (52-37) and Windy City (53-38).

If the Crushers don't make the playoffs they can thank Mother Nature for it. Lake Erie was rained out on Friday and Saturday before they played a doubleheader on Sunday against Traverse City.
The problem is that the Crushers do not own any tie-breakers against River City, or Windy City and have played one less game than both teams. If the season ends with the Crushers a half game ahead of both teams, they will have to make up the game with Traverse City. If the Crushers lose that game to the Beach Bums, they would fall into a three-way tie and be out of the playoffs.
It's going to be a wild weekend when the Crushers return home for the final series of the season against the Midwest Sliders.