Boomers close in on another title

The Schaumburg Boomers are one win from becoming back-to-back champions.

The host Boomers took down the River City Rascals 11-2 for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Frontier League championship series Tuesday night, and manager Jaime Bennett wants to clinch this one at home.

"There's some (pressure on them), but just as much on us," he said. "Obviously we'd like to do this thing at home, but we have to treat it just like we did today. Just come out, our pitchers have to get ahead, throw strikes, eliminate the big innings and play good defense."

Boomers rookie pitcher Eddie Cody threw a complete game with 10 strikeouts. Tommy Mendoza picked up the loss for River City.

After allowing 2 runs over the first two innings, Cody found himself in trouble in the fifth with one out and runners in scoring position, but he remained calm.

"You've just got to stay composed," he said. "I've been in that spot a millions times and just keep your composure and know you're going to get out of it."

Cody got some big run support, all starting with Jordan Dean, Michael Valadez and the rest of the bottom of the lineup. They started a 5-run second inning, put up a run in the third and a 4-run fifth.

"Our lineup is strong 1 to 9." said Dean, who had 3 hits and scored 3 runs. "Bottom of the order had the opportunity, and we capitalized. Hopefully tomorrow if we have to do it again we will, but we never lose confidence in the whole lineup."

Valadez finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Joe De Pinto and Bobby Martin each drove in 3 runs.

River City manager Steve Brook said his guys just need regroup. "Just turn to tomorrow and try and go about it like a normal day and hope that (pitcher Kyle) Brady can come in and shut the door on this offense," he said.