Boomers inch closer to playoff berth by beating Florence

The Schaumburg Boomers kicked off a huge series to open the final week of the regular season, drawing 11 walks in a 9-8 victory over the Florence Y’Alls to inch closer to earning a spot in the playoffs.

The win lowers the magic number to clinch to four as the Boomers are two games clear of Florence and Windy City with five games remaining.

The Boomers jumped ahead early, scoring two-out runs in the first two innings. Alec Craig scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first as the Boomers took advantage of three walks. Chase Dawson singled home a run in the second.

Florence drew within a run in the third but Anthony Calarco blasted his 15th homer of the year to hand the Boomers a 3-1 lead. Florence plated six runs in the fourth, taking the lead on a grand slam from Zade Richardson with two outs.

Schaumburg battled to within a run by scoring twice in the fourth and once in the fifth. Cole Smith swatted a two-run homer in the fourth and Banks Tolley added a solo shot in the fifth as the Boomers pulled within 7-6.

Tolley evened the game with a homer to lead off the seventh. Florence grabbed the lead on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth but the lead was short lived. Banks Tolley singled home Kyle Fitzgerald to tie the game and pinch-hitter Cole Turney drew a bases-loaded walk to provide the deciding run.

Cole Cook struck out five in five innings. Darrell Thompson earned the save. The offense finished with 12 hits. Tolley finished with three hits and five RBIs. All nine members of the lineup reached base.