Grizzlies utility Connor Owings man slides across home plate during Gateway’s victory over the Schaumburg Boomers, Sunday evening at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget. (Photo: Nathan Assata)
by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
SAUGET, IL — The Gateway Grizzlies and Schaumburg Boomers put on quite a show for the 4,841 fans that were in attendance Sunday night at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
The teams combined to score a run in every inning but one and put up 19 total runs in a thrilling 10-9 ten-inning win for the Grizzlies.
Schaumburg had leads of 6-3 and 9-5 before Gateway rallied back with a run in the sixth, two more in the seventh, another run in the ninth, and another one in the 10th to come all the way back and win the game.
Schaumburg built its lead mostly off a pair of three-run home runs by second baseman Alec Craig and centerfielder Chase Dawson. Craig’s blast came in the fourth inning to make the score 6-3 Boomers, while Dawson’s bomb came in the sixth to put the visitors up 9-5.
But that’s when the Grizzlies began their rally.
Third baseman Abdiel Diaz, who had three hits, two RBIs, and reached base all six times he batted, got things started with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-6.
In the next inning, designated hitter Ty Moore bashed a two-run homer deep over the right field wall to make it 9-8. The Grizzlies had a chance to tie it in the eighth, after loading the bases with only one out, but were unable to get anyone home, so the game went to the ninth with Schaumburg still ahead by one.
Reliever Carter Hayes came in for Gateway in the top of the ninth and made sure the Boomers didn’t add any more runs by retiring them one-two-three.
That set up a thrilling bottom of the ninth, which began with a lead off triple by Grizzlie centerfielder Dustin Woodcock. One out later, Connor Owings drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center and the game was tied 9-9.
New rules in the Frontier League this season, allow for teams to begin the 10th inning with a runner on second.
But that was no problem for Hayes, who mowed through the Boomers anyway, thanks in large part to a brilliant double play on a line drive to second, turned by Diaz and Jose Rosario.
Rosario made the key play, as he nabbed a smash off the bat of Schaumburg’s Alberto Schmidt, then fired to back to Diaz at second base to catch pinch runner Brett Milazzo before he could get back to the base.
Gateway began the bottom of the 10th with Justin Jones on second and he quickly moved to third on a sac bunt by Diaz. The Boomers tried to get Jones at third, but he beat the throw and advanced safely.
With runners on first and third and nobody out, Schaumburg intentionally walked Alonzo Jones to load bases and set up a force out at every base.
But that never came into play as Jay Prather drilled a single to center – his third hit of the game after coming in in the seventh to replace teammate Andres Regnault.
Jones scored with ease and the Grizzlie celebration began.
Hayes (2-1) got the win, following his two innings of scoreless relief, while Schaumburg’s Andrew Cartier (2-1) took the loss after giving up the winning run and not recording a single out.
Gateway, which raised its overall record to 32-39, will get a much deserved day off on Monday before returning to the field on Tuesday for the first game of a three-game set against the Windy City ThunderBolts.
Each of those games will be played at GCS Credit Union Ballpark and the first pitch for each game is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.