The Florence Y’alls broke a 3-3 tie by scoring seven runs in the seventh inning with two outs as the Gateway Grizzlies dropped their fifth game in a row overall as well as the midweek series with an 11-3 defeat Wednesday afternoon at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
Gateway wasted no time getting runs on the scoreboard when Isaac Benard launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Grizzlies an early 2-0 lead. However, Florence answered with a run in the top of the second inning thanks to two hits and a balk to bring the run home and make it 2-1. Sam Gardner settled in from there, holding the visitors scoreless until the fifth, when the Y’alls added two runs thanks to an RBI single from Andres Sthormes and a sacrifice fly from Ray Zuberer III to give Florence their first lead at 3-2.
Gateway responded in the bottom of the fifth by manufacturing a run thanks a leadoff double from Abdiel Diaz, a sacrifice bunt by Andrew Penner, and a sacrifice fly from Benard to tie the ballgame at 3-3.
But in the top of the seventh inning, the floodgates opened for Florence, as Gateway pitching stumbled. The Grizzlies issued four walks in the frame while Florence sent 12 men to the plate, scoring seven runs (all with two outs) thanks to two home runs and a bases-clearing double to take a 10-3 lead. The Y’alls added another run in the top of the eighth on a solo home run by Zuberer III, his second of the game, for the final 11-3 score
The Grizzlies will look to avoid the sweep in the series finale against the Y’alls on Thursday night, June 16 at 6:45 p.m. at GCS Credit Union Ballpark. Carson LaRue will make his home debut for Gateway against the reigning Frontier League Pitcher of the Week Yasel Santana for Florence.
Jason Guerette is the Grizzlies' Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations and the "Voice of the Grizzlies." 2023 will be his second season with the organization, handling lead broadcasting duties on the Grizzlies Media Network as well as being in charge of all team press releases and game-day media materials.
2023 will also be Jason's ninth season in the Frontier League after spending 2014-21 in the same role with the Southern Illinois Miners. Overall, he has broadcasted close to 800 games in the league, including playoffs. During the baseball offseason, he serves as a play-by-play broadcaster for Manhattan College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with games being seen on ESPN+ among other platforms.
In addition to broadcasting, Jason works as a public address announcer for Seton Hall University women's basketball as well as Columbia University men's and women's basketball. He also spent nine years working "behind the scenes" as a freelance board operator and highlight editor at Westwood One for their coverage of the NFL, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball.
Jason graduated from Seton Hall in 2012 with B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Broadcasting & Visual Media.
