Boomers clinch division title with win over Washington

The Schaumburg Boomers scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to come from behind and topple the Washington Wild Things in Pennsylvania 9-6 on the final day of the regular season and secure the fifth division title in franchise history.

Washington struck early, putting two on the board in the first, one in the second and two in the third to open a 5-0 edge. Chase Dawson broke up the shutout with a solo homer in the fifth. Jeff Nicol launched a solo homer to center leading off the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-2. The Boomers brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth but the hosts escaped and added an insurance run in the bottom half to go up 6-2.

Consecutive walks opened the big ninth before a groundout and a wild pitch plated a run making the score 6-3. Kyle Fitzgerald evened the game with a three-run homer. The Boomers took the lead on a wild pitch and added to the advantage with a sacrifice fly from Banks Tolley and an RBI single from Nicol. The Wild Things put the tying runs on base in the bottom of the ninth but could not score.

Cole Cook made the start on the season’s final day and worked three innings. Kyle Moore came on in relief and tossed three scoreless frames. Holland Townes logged a scoreless seventh and Jack Snyder pitched the eighth. Tom Vincent nailed down the win with his first career save, striking out two in the inning.

The Boomers (57-45) open the playoffs on the road against the Evansville Otters with the first game Wednesday night. Game two and three, if necessary, will be played Friday and Saturday at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg.