Schaumburg Boomers edge closer to playoff berth with high-scoring victory

The Schaumburg Boomers pulled within 1½ games of the final playoff slot in the Frontier League’s West Division by matching a season-high run total in tallying a 14-8 victory over the Florence Y’Alls on the road Friday night.

The Boomers did not trail in the game and wasted no time grabbing the early lead, scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Anthony Calarco singled home Alec Craig while another run scored on an error.

The lead reached 3-0 in the second when Tyler Depreta-Johnson crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Florence did not go away all night as Stephen Hrustich hit a 3-run homer with two outs in the fourth to tie the contest.

Schaumburg responded with a seven spot in the fifth, scoring all four runs after the first two batters were retired. The Boomers used just two hits in the inning, taking advantage of three walks and two hits batters. Andrew Sojka blasted a grand slam to finish the rally, the second slam of the year by the Boomers.

Florence again came back, connecting on back-to-back homers in the bottom of the inning. Craig doubled home a run in the seventh, but the hosts scored three runs and left the tying runs on base when Dylan Stutsman recorded a strikeout to leave the bases loaded.

Calarco homered in the ninth and Sojka added a 2-run single to give the Boomers some breathing room and account for the final.

Sojka drove home six runs and added a stolen base in the victory as the Boomers finished with 10 hits, scoring 13 of their runs with two outs. Calarco, Depreta-Johnson and Brett Milazzo also added two hits. Schaumburg also drew nine walks while being hit by a pitch twice.

Antonio Frias worked six innings and earned the win, striking out seven. Stutsman picked up his fourth save, striking out three over 2⅓ scoreless.