Boomers sweep into championship series
FLORENCE, Ky. — The West Division champion Schaumburg Boomers rallied from 3 runs down in the ninth inning for a 9-8 extra-inning victory over the Florence Freedom.
Brian McConkey's two-out RBI single scored Steve McQuail to cap a frantic back-and-forth contest and move the Boomers into the Frontier League championship series with the three-game sweep.
Schaumburg opened a quick 1-0 lead three batters into the game. Jordan Dean led off with an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error before scoring on an infield single from Sean Mahley.
Florence quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Byron Wiley posted an RBI single to bring in Cole Miles.
Dean put the Boomers ahead again in the second, collecting a two-out RBI single to score Justin Vasquez, who had walked. The lead held until the bottom of the third when Wiley hit his second homer of the series.
Homers helped the Boomers grab a 5-2 lead in the fourth and chase Florence starter Michael Oros after 31⁄3 innings. Frank Pfister led off with his second homer of the series; he hit just 3 during the regular season. With one out Alexi Colon connected on a 2-run homer to right, his second in as many games.
The Freedom answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to force Seth Webster out of the game. The runs were the first of 6 straight for Florence.
The Freedom brought on closer Jorge Marban to attempt a six-out save, but the Boomers were able to touch him for 3 runs in the ninth to extend the game.
McConkey registered a 2-run homer and, following a walk, Vasquez crossed the plate on a pair of passed balls to even the game, setting the stage for McConkey's heroics in the 10th.
The Boomers (59-37, 3-0) will open the Frontier League championship series at Boomers Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m.