Lake Erie Crushers Win Frontier League Crown! TigerTurf Surface of Choice for Crusher’s All Pro Freight Stadium

TigerTurf at All Pro Freight Stadium, Avon, Ohio

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A seven-run fifth inning and pitching-by-committee propelled the Lake Erie Crushers into the throne room in their first season in the Frontier League, as they claimed the best-of-five championship series with a 13-10 win over the River City Rascals on Wednesday night.

The Crushers took the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Ty Johnson cleared the bases with a double to give the guests a 6-3 advantage.

The big inning began when the Crushers' Todd Balduf, who took leave from his insurance sales job to join the team two weeks ago after three catchers became injured, walked. After Jodam Rivera walked, Wadsworth native Drew Saylor bunted them over to second and third. Andrew Davis, who was named the series MVP, then was intentionally walked and Gordie Gronkowski walked to drive in Balduf.

Tim Binkoski singled to tie the score and set the stage for Johnson's big blow.

The Crushers used six pitchers to bag the win. League pitching MVP Paul Fagan came in to relieve starter Cardoza Tucker in the fifth inning.

Fagan yielded a two-run home run in the sixth to reduce the Crushers' lead to 8-5.

The Crushers made it 10-5 in the seventh but the Rascals scored three runs off Josh Faiola, who had replaced Fagan to begin the inning. Jacinto Gonnel relieved Faiola and halted the rally.

J.J. Pacella pitched the ninth to earn the save.

"I'd like to thank the fans and for coming all the way here to support us," Davis said. "I was on a league champion in 2007 and 2008, but this one is the charm. This is the best."

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