Grizzlies Take Down Boomers To Win Weekend Series

Gateway goes ahead with six-run sixth inning to take crucial rubber game

by Jason Guerette July 22, 2024

written by Jason Guerette July 22, 2024 Donate To Author

The Gateway Grizzlies trailed early against the Schaumburg Boomers on Sunday afternoon, but Collin Sullivan (6-4) settled down for a “quality start,” and the offense woke up in a big way with a six-run sixth inning to take the lead for good in a 7-3 victory at Wintrust Field, clinching the weekend series win on the road.

Schaumburg struck first with a pair of hits and runs in the first inning against Sullivan, with Anthony Calarco’s two-out RBI single plating one run, and a second run scoring on the same play when Edwin Mateo’s throw to third base got away for an error, giving the home team a 2-0 lead.

But Sullivan would allow just three Boomers to reach base for the remainder of his outing, as the right-hander pitched into the seventh while allowing only three hits and four walks, striking out five to keep Gateway in the game. After the Grizzlies were stifled offensively again by reigning Frontier League Pitcher of the Year Cole Cook (3-3) for the first four innings, they got on the board with an RBI groundout by Jose Alvarez in the top of the fifth inning, making the score 2-1.

In the sixth inning, the Grizzlies would have one of their biggest offensive innings of the season. Mateo walked with one out, and Peter Zimmermann followed with an opposite-field, go-ahead, two-run home run, his team-leading 13th of the season, to put Gateway ahead 3-2. But the Grizzlies were not done there- after a groundout for the second out of the inning, D.J. Stewart walked, Cole Brannen singled, and Kyle Gaedele was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Alvarez again. The Gateway catcher capped off an incredible, eight-RBI weekend by clearing the bases with an opposite field double down the right field line, giving the Grizzlies a 6-2 lead.

Abdiel Diaz would double home Alvarez after a pitching change to make the score 7-2, and Sullivan and the Grizzlies’ bullpen would hold the line from there. The Boomers would score again on a two-out double, stolen base, and wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth, making the score 7-3, but would get no closer as the Grizzlies emerged victorious in the rubber game of the weekend series.

Gateway will next spend the off day in Chicagoland before taking on the Joliet Slammers on Tuesday, July 23, beginning a three-game midweek series at Slammers Stadium at 6:35 p.m. CT

Jason Guerette

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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.

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Jason Guerette

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Grizzlies Take Down Boomers To Win Weekend Series

Gateway goes ahead with six-run sixth inning to take crucial rubber game

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