Grizzlies Top Crushers On Opening Night

Big third inning, solid pitching leads Gateway to victory in Ohio

by Jason Guerette May 10, 2024

written by Jason Guerette May 10, 2024

The Gateway Grizzlies scored all three of their runs in the third inning, and held the Lake Erie Crushers to only two runs on three hits in a 3-2 victory at Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio on Friday night, winning their season opener on the road for the second straight season.

It was Lake Erie who broke through first against Ohio native and Gateway starter Deylen Miley (1-0) in the second inning, when Ron Washington, Jr. reached on a walk, went to second base on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a single, and scored on a sacrifice fly by former Grizzlie Jack Harris to give the Crushers a 1-0 lead.

That lead did not last long, as Gateway pounced on Crushers starter and Kirkwood, Missouri native Jack Eisenbarger (0-1) in the top of the third. Jose Alvarez and Michael Sandle reached on walks to set up Gabe Holt, whose RBI single tied the score at 1-1. After Holt and Sandle executed a double-steal, Andrew Moritz was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Peter Zimmermann, who drew another walk from Eisenbarger to put Gateway ahead 2-1.

A wild pitch would bring in the final run for Gateway, and Miley held that 3-1 lead for the remainder of his five strong innings in his Grizzlies debut, striking out seven and walking two to earn the win. The Grizzlies’ bullpen was also outstanding behind him, combining to allow just a single unearned run on one hit and two walks over the final four innings of the game.

Osvaldo Berrios was charged with the run on a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning by Vincent Byrd, Jr., but he struck out Alfredo Gonzalez representing a potential lead run to end that frame. Lukas Veinbergs was not challenged in the ninth inning, retiring the Crushers in order to pick up the save.

Gateway will go for the season-opening series win in the second game of the weekend set in Avon on Saturday, May 11, at Crushers Stadium. Ryne Moore will make his Grizzlies debut on the mound against Lake Erie’s Leonardo Rodriguez, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.

Jason Guerette

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.

Jason Guerette

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.

Grizzlies Top Crushers On Opening Night

Big third inning, solid pitching leads Gateway to victory in Ohio

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