Defense hasn’t been an issue for the Lake Erie Crushers this season, and when the bats get going, they’re a tough out.
With a strong outing from pitcher JD Hammer and some great defensive plays behind him, the Crushers’ offense helped out with four runs and seven hits in a 4-0 win over Schaumburg on June 21 at Mercy Health Stadium.
One day after the visiting Boomers had a perfect game going into the seventh inning, the Crushers (16-19) responded with a hitting performance they’ve been waiting for. Manager Jared Lemieux felt that his team was ready to go heading into the game, and the players delivered at the plate.
"They came in ready to work today, I could feel it when everyone walked into the clubhouse," Lemieux said. "They were locked in and ready to work. We got to work in the cage and each of them were receptive to ironing out some things. It paid off right away which was good to see."
Neither team got a runner on base in the first two innings, but the Boomers threatened in the top of the third after Alec Craig drew a walk and Blake Grant-Parks hit a single. Craig got to third base before trying to tag up for the game's first run on a flyout from Gaige Howard. With a strong throw from left fielder Jiandido Tromp, he got Craig out at the plate to keep Schaumburg off of the board.
Lake Erie instantly carried over the momentum into the bottom of the third as Tyree Bradley led off the inning with a triple. John Tuccillo flew out to center field on the next at-bat to score Bradley with the sacrifice RBI.
After the third inning, the Boomers only had three more base runners for the rest of the game with no serious scoring threats. Hammer threw five innings in the win for the Crushers, and relievers Joan Gregorio, Brayden Bonner and Trevor Kuncl were able to shut it down from there.
"That's the goal every time is just to put up zeros and let the defense work. Our offense came together and it was a great all-around team win," Hammer said. "The bullpen came out and shoved, that's what we're supposed to do as a team is come together. It was a great game."
While they didn't end up needing them, the Crushers provided some insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. With two outs and runners on second and third, Jack Harris delivered with a two-RBI single up the middle. In the seventh, Tromp led the inning off with a single, and later scored on an RBI single from Sean Cheely. After putting up only two hits yesterday, Lake Erie picked up a confidence boosting victory.
"These guys are getting better at understanding that in professional baseball, the page gets turned quickly and you have to go out the next day ready to work," Lemieux said. "Win, lose or draw, you can't be phased. You have to stay confident and that's what we were able to do today is stay optimistic, stay confident and then execute."
The Crushers and Boomers will take the field again at 7:05 p.m. on June 22 in the series finale.
