On a balmy Thursday night at Arsenal BG Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois, the Gateway Grizzlies faced off against the Schaumburg Boomers in the decisive rubber game of their three-game series. Despite an early lead, the Grizzlies couldn’t hold off the Boomers’ power surge, falling 5-2 in a game defined by a pair of costly home runs.
Early Fireworks
The Boomers came out swinging, loading the bases with no outs in the first inning against Gateway starter Gage Vailes (2-1). However, Vailes limited the damage to just one run, courtesy of a double-play grounder from Anthony Calarco, giving Schaumburg a 1-0 edge. The Grizzlies didn’t waste time responding. Gabe Holt and Victor Castillo kicked things off with back-to-back singles against Schaumburg’s Cole Cook (4-1), and Mark Shallenberger delivered a clutch two-run single to center field with two outs, flipping the score to 2-1 in Gateway’s favor.
Vailes Holds the Line—Until the Fifth
Vailes navigated trouble in the early innings, stranding runners and preserving the Grizzlies’ slim lead. But the fifth inning proved to be his undoing. Andrew Sojka leveled the game at 2-2 with a leadoff solo homer—his ninth RBI of the series. The Boomers kept the pressure on, with a walk and a single setting the stage for Michael Gould, who launched a three-run homer to left field, his third long ball of the series, to put Schaumburg ahead 5-2.
Bright Spots in Relief
Gateway’s bullpen provided a silver lining. Newcomers Bennett Stice and Jett Thielke, both signed earlier that day, made impressive professional debuts, combining for four scoreless innings to keep the Boomers at bay. Despite their efforts, the Grizzlies’ bats couldn’t crack Cole Cook, who dominated over eight innings, striking out nine to secure the 5-2 victory for Schaumburg.
Looking Ahead
With their record now at 20-15, the Grizzlies are eager to turn the page as their homestand continues. On Friday, June 20, they’ll welcome the Mississippi Mud Monsters to Arsenal BG Ballpark for the first time. Ben Harris takes the mound for his home debut, facing off against Mississippi’s Joshua Paulina. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT, and Gateway fans are ready to rally behind their team for a bounce-back win.
