Grizzlies sluggers Clint Freeman (7) and D.J. Stewart (8) high-five after Freeman scored a run during game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Evansville Otters. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| Final – Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville Otters | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| Gateway Grizzlies | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| Final – Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville Otters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Gateway Grizzlies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
SAUGET, IL — In a doubleheader that overflowed with late drama on both sides, the Gateway Grizzlies clinched the Frontier League West Division title, late Wednesday night, thanks to a pair of walk-off victories over the Evansville Otters.
Gateway also needed a loss by the second-place Schaumburg Boomers — which they got — and that combination of team wins and opponent losses allowed the Grizzlies to claim their fourth division championship in franchise history and first since 2012.
In game one, Gateway trailed 6-5 heading into the final inning, but got a dramatic game-winning two-run home run from Clint Freeman to pull out the win 7-6. Then in game two, the contest went into sudden death extra innings, when Andrew Penner delivered a two-out walk-off single to win the game 4-3.
It was only minutes before that the Grizzlies learned that Schaumburg had lost its game, so the team knew when Penner came to bat, that if it won, they would cinch the division title.
That’s why when Penner’s liner into centerfield landed safely, the entire Gateway team stormed the field for a wild celebration that included lots of high-fives, hugs, Gatorade baths, and even a couple of ‘I love you, man’ body slams.
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK: With its playoff spot now set, the Grizzlies know they will be the No. 1 seed in the Frontier League West Division playoffs, the club will now wait to see which team wins the Wild Card game.
The West Division wild card teams will be Schaumburg and Evansville, and they will play the wild card game on Tuesday, September 5 (most likely at Schaumburg’s Wintrust Field. The winner of that game will then move on to play Gateway in the West Division Championship Series — a best-of-three set of games, which will begin on Thursday, September 7.
The wild card game winner will host game one, then the series will move to Grizzlies Ballpark for game two on September 9. If a game three is needed, it will also be played at Grizzlies Ballpark on September 10.
The winner of the divisional series will move on to the Frontier League Championship Series, where it will play the East Division champion in a best-of-five series. Those games will begin on September 12, with the 2023 league champ possibly being decided as soon as September 15.
| 2023 Gateway Grizzlies Remaining Schedule |
| Thu., August 31 — vs. Evansville Otters — 6:45 pm |
| Fri., September 1 — vs. Lake Erie Crushers — 6:45 pm |
| Sat., September 2 — vs. Lake Erie Crushers — 6:45 pm |
| Sun., September 3 — vs. Lake Erie Crushers — 6:05 pm |
| Thu., September 7 — Game 1 — West Division Series at TBA — TBA |
| Sat., September 9 — Game 2 — West Division Series vs. TBA — TBA |
| Sun., September 10 — (if necessary) Game 3 — West Division Series vs. TBA — TBA |
| All Gateway Grizzlies home games will be played at Grizzlies Ballpark in Sauget, IL. |