The 2015 Brookside graduate is now right down the road from his high school after signing with the Lake Erie Crushers.

“It’s definitely really exciting to be able to play close to home,” Pierson said. “I grew up watching some Crushers games and now I’m a Crusher myself. It’ll be cool to play in front of friends and family.”

After graduating from Brookside, Pierson played four years at Notre Dame College and has now played five years professionally. He pitched in the Pecos League and American Association before winding up in the Frontier League in 2021 with the Southern Illinois Miners.

He has played with the Washington Wild Things and Quebec Capitales since, helping Quebec repeat as Frontier League champions this past season. He went 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 2023.

The Crushers showed interest in the lefty following the season, and his manager in Quebec gave him the option to stay with the team or make the move to Lake Erie. He decided to come home.

“He was very nice about it, he left it up to me whether I wanted to return to Quebec or if I wanted to go with Lake Erie,” Pierson said. “I made the decision to take the opportunity to play close to home.”

Pierson has played all over the place since his college days ended in 2019. However, he didn’t expect that he would get this chance to play in Lorain County once again. He couldn’t happier that Lake Erie showed interest.

Playing in front of his friends and family is important for Pierson, but playing in this area has always been special to him. He gives pitching lessons to kids in the area and knows how much they look up to the players. Once upon a time, he was one of them.

“I think what’s special about it for me is I grew up playing here,” Pierson said. “I played high school ball here and now I get to play in front of those kids that are once where I used to be. It’ll be cool to be a role model for the little kids and all of the kids that I give lessons to as well. They can come up and watch me pitch during the summer now, so it’ll be a lot of fun.”

On the baseball side of it, this will be Pierson’s fourth season in the Frontier League and he has gotten better every year. His ERA has gone down each season while his playing time has gone up. He has experience winning at this level and pitching against these players in these stadiums.

Pierson is also looking to do his part to help the Crushers get over the hump. The team has had its ups and downs over the past few seasons, and he wants to help change that.

“I want to come in and make an impact,” Pierson said. “I just came off a championship run with Quebec and that was a lot of fun. I’ve been there, I’ve tasted it, I know what it’s like. I’m hoping I can bring a little bit of experience and presence to the clubhouse.”

“Not that I’m going to make all the difference, but hopefully my experience and some of my leadership qualities can help translate and get a run going this year for the Lake Erie Crushers.”

The loss dropped Lake Erie to 37-59, the worst record in franchise history. The Crushers were founded in 2009.

The Crushers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Jiandido Tromp and a run-scoring groundout by Josh Rego.

The Grizzlies hit a three-run home run in the third inning and a solo blast in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Sean Cheely hit a two-run double for the Crushers to tie the game at 4-4. Gateway retook the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run on an error and hitting another three-run homer.

The Crushers finished last in the Frontier League West, 22 games behind the first-place Grizzlies. Their previous low win total was 38 in 2015.

After making the playoffs in four of their first six seasons of existence, the Crushers have only advanced to the postseason once in the last eight seasons.

Lake Erie (36-58) lost its fourth straight game. The Crushers are in a position where they need to win their final two games of the season to get to 38 wins, which would be tied for the fewest in a single season in franchise history. 

Matt Mulhearn (5-7) had a difficult night for the Crushers, as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits and struck out four through six innings and took the loss. 

Todd Isaacs led the Lake Erie offense with three hits, going 3-for-4, with Watkins and Pritchard both hit safely twice. 

The Crushers and Grizzlies continue their series Sept. 2 at 7:45 p.m.

Lake Erie had tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the eighth when Kenen Irizarry drew a bases-loaded walk. But the Thunderbolts responded with a two-out, two-run double, and the Crushers went 1-2-3 in the ninth to end it.

Scout Knotts had two of the Crushers’ four hits, including a double. Stephen Chamblee struck out six and gave up one run in six innings.

The Crushers fell to 36-56. They need two wins in their last four games to avoid having the lowest win total in franchise history.

Unfortunately, their bats and pitching effectiveness may have been largely lost somewhere on Interstate 90 along the way, at least for a night.

Lake Erie mustered just four hits in a 12-2 loss to the Thunderbolts.

The Crushers were down, 2-0, entering the sixth, but the proverbial roof caved in amid that frame as Windy City plated six runs to blow the game open.

Sean Cheely pinch-hit in the ninth and doubled to drive in Collin Mathews.

The other run came in the seventh. Jack Harris struck out, but Strike 3 was a wild pitch, allowing Sam Frontino to score.

Jonaiker Villalobos had a rough night, allowing seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. He did strike out six.

Now 36-55, the Crushers continue their series against the Thunderbolts at 7:35 p.m. Aug. 30.

Lake Erie trailed, 3-1, entering the bottom of the seventh. Josh Rego hit an RBI single to pull the Crushers within one run. During the next at-bat, Todd Isaacs scored on a wild pitch to tie at 3-3. After another wild pitch, Jarrod Watkins brought Rego home with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.

Crushers relievers Conner Richardson and Brayden Bonner held Washington off the scoreboard the rest of the way to seal the victory.

Jack Harris hit an RBI single in the first inning to account for Lake Erie’s other run.

The Crushers improved to 36-54. They need two more victories to avoid having the fewest wins in franchise history. The current mark is 38 in 2015. Lake Erie plays its final six games on the road, beginning Aug. 29 at Windy City.

The Crushers led, 5-1, after three innings before the Wild Things rallied. They scored twice in the fourth inning to make it 5-3. In the sixth inning, they took advantage of two Crushers errors to score two runs and tie it at 5-5.

The Crushers had 12 hits, all singles. Josh Rego and Josh Rego each had three hits and an RBI. Sean Cheely hit a two-run single and John Tuccillo had an RBI single.

Lake Erie starter Matt Mulhearn pitched six innings and gave up five runs, three earned. He struck out three and walked two.

The Crushers fell to 35-54 overall and 22-28 at Mercy Health Stadium.

The Crushers and Wild Things wrap up their series in Lake Erie’s final home game of the season at 2:05 p.m., Aug. 27.

Lake Erie (35-53) attempted a comeback with runs in the seventh and ninth innings but it wasn’t enough.

Jiandido Tromp (2 for 4, run scored) and Jarrod Watkins each had RBI hits for the Crushers.

Darrien Ragins started for Lake Erie and took the loss. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowed one hit, two earned runs, walked three and struck out six. His ERA is 1.86 this season.

The teams continue their weekend series in Avon on Aug. 26. First pitch is 6:05 p.m.

Harris hit a two-run blast in the third inning and added another two-run shot in the ninth. He has nine home runs and 42 RBI this season.

Kenen Irizarry hit the Crushers’ other home run, also a two-run homer, as part of a seven-run sixth inning. He has four home runs this season.

Harris, Irizarry, Josh Rego, Sean Cheely and Jarrod Watkins each had two hits for Lake Erie.

The Crushers (35-52) return to Avon for their final homestand of the season beginning Aug. 25.

The Y’alls scored at least one run in six innings. They got to Lake Erie starter Jonaiker Villalobos for six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Josh Rego hit a two-run home run for the Crushers in the first inning, his fourth of the season. In the fifth inning, Jarrod Watkins hit a sacrifice fly, and Kenen Irizarry drew a bases-loaded walk to account for Lake Erie’s other runs.

The teams have split the first two games of the series, which concludes Aug. 24 at Florence.