Schaumburg Boomers lose to Windy City on eighth-inning home run

The Schaumburg Boomers consistently played from behind but led late before a 2-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning lifted Windy City to a 9-8 win on Thursday night in the final meeting of the year between the two teams.

Windy City scored four runs in the bottom of the first to grab the early lead, but the Boomers tied the score in the top of the second. John Fiorenza, making his first at-bat of 2024, doubled home the first run before Tyler Depreta-Johnson notched an RBI single.

Andrew Sojka drew the Boomers within 4-3 on a sacrifice fly before Christian Fedko lifted a sacrifice fly of his own to tie the game. Windy City countered with two unearned runs in the bottom to lead 6-4.

Schaumburg tied the game in the fifth with two runs. Paxton Wallace roped a sacrifice fly and Aaron Simmons singled with two strikes and two outs to even the score. Anthony Calarco logged an RBI fielder’s choice to give Schaumburg a momentary 7-6 lead in the seventh.

Windy City tied the game in the bottom of the inning and scored the go-ahead runs on a homer from JJ Figueroa. The Boomers scored one run in the ninth and placed the tying run at second but could not even the game.

The Boomers drew eight walks and finished with nine hits in the defeat. Calarco, Simmons and Brett Milazzo all tallied a pair. Simmons was on base four times. Cristian Lopez worked five innings and struck out four in a no-decision. Matt Helwig suffered the loss.

The teams split their 12 meetings this year with both squads finishing 5-1 at home.