Frontier 
Lake Erie Crushers
ForeFront Field
Crushers Claw Back and Beat Miners 5-4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Zane Bloom, zbloom@lecrushers.com
910-777-3871
Crushers Claw Back and Beat Miners 5-4
Avon, OH - July 9, 2026 - The Lake Erie Crushers (23-31) scratched and clawed their way to a salvaged 5-4 win against the Sussex County Miners (25-26) on Thursday night in front of a great crowd at ForeFront Field.
As they had in the previous two contests, the Miners struck first. After two hits to start the 2nd inning Dean Ferrara brought home two runs with a triple. Then Hunter D'Amato recorded the second triple of the second inning to score Ferrara. Sussex County led 3-0.
The Crushers rallied in the third inning. CF Joe Redfield, who was on second, rounded the bases like a man on a mission when C Alfredo Gonzalez poked a single through the infield to make the score 3-1.
Aggressive Miners base running in the 5th inning allowed Evan Berkey to drive in a run to extend the Sussex County lead to 4-1.
It seemed the Miners were content to play small ball the entire series, but it was the Crushers who took advantage of a bunt in the 6th inning. A series of bunts and errors proved fruitful for the Grapes, as RF Garret Pike and 2B Luis Acevedo would come in to score. The procession of Crushers continued, as SS Jarrod Watkins tied the game. He scored on an infield single by LF Sebastian Alexander, the first Lake Erie hit against the Sussex bullpen in the series.
With the game tied at four runs, Alfredo Gonzalez wore a pitch on the shoulder to start the 7th inning. The savvy MLB veteran advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Pike before swiping the bag at third. Jarrod Watkins sent the former White Sox home to give the Crushers their first lead of the series, 5-4.
The Miners threatened the Lake Erie lead in the 8th, putting a runner just 90 feet from scoring with one out. Acevedo and Watkins turned a tailor made twin killing to get out of the jam unscathed.
RHP Brandyn Sittinger came on to get the much-needed save in the 9th and locked down the win for Lake Erie ahead of their trip to Washington this weekend.
RHP Adam Brouwer nabbed the win for Lake Erie as Miners Micah Earwood recorded the loss. Brandyn Sittinger nailed down his 8th save of the season.
The Crushers hit the road for the final series before the All-Star Break. They play Washington in a three-game series starting tomorrow at 7:05pm.
For information on season ticket memberships visit lecrushers.com or call (440) 934-3636, and be sure to follow our socials @LECrushers on Instagram/Facebook/X.
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About the Lake Erie Crushers
The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team based in Avon, Ohio, just 18 miles west of Cleveland at ForeFront Field. They compete in the Frontier League, a proud MLB Partner League, and have brought a family-friendly, fan-oriented baseball experience to Northeast Ohio since 2009. As Lorain County’s only professional sports franchise, the Lake Erie Crushers are the largest economic driver in Lorain County, hosting more than 200 events per year that include over 50 baseball games, concerts, charity functions, and other events that bring the community of Avon together. Len Komoroski is the Crushers Chairman and Managing Partner, and the team is led by President Vic Gregovits. Jared Lemieux, a Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is in his fourth season as field manager.
