Parks Walks His Way to Crushers Walk-Off Winner in Thursday Night Thriller

by Zane Bloom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Zane Bloom, zbloom@lecrushers.com

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Parks Walks His Way to Crushers Walk-Off Winner in Thursday Night Thriller




Avon, OH - May 28, 2026 - The Lake Erie Crushers (10-8) walked their way to a win on Thursday night at ForeFront Field against the Florence Y’alls (9-9). Pavin Parks led the way with a big swing in the middle innings and capped it off with an unbelievable at-bat to walk off and win the series.


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The game started with a lightning quick three innings for both teams. Both RHP Bob Helt and RHP Zac Westcott were fantastic on the mound to start the contest. Florence would open the scoring in the top of the 4th with an RBI double from RF Brendan Bobo. 


Then Florence loaded the bases in the top of the 5th, but a groundout by 1B Hank Zeisler would be the only run producing play of the inning, which came off new LHP Edwin Sanchez, who was making his professional debut. 


Crushers starter Bob Helt would be pulled during the inning, but he was very solid on the bump for Lake Erie. His final line: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K, on 73 pitches. Florence ended their inning with a 2-0 lead. 


It took Lake Erie four innings to get to Florence starter Zac Westcott, but the bats came alive in the bottom of the 5th. A trio of singles by RF Garret Pike, LF James Jett, and SS Jarrod Watkins loaded the bases for 3B Pavin Parks. Parks blasted a gapper on the first pitch he saw from Westcott for a bases-clearing double to give Lake Erie the lead. He would then score on a wild pitch, flipping momentum in the Crushers’ favor with a 4-2 lead. 


Both teams breezed through the 6th, but the dam broke in the 7th. Florence loaded the bases as Brendan Bobo drove in his second run of the game. Then, Zade Richardson cleared the bases with a double of his own, giving the Y’alls a 6-4 lead. 


Down two, the Crushers looked to cut the deficit in the bottom of the 8th. C Alfredo Gonzalez found his way on base, working his way to third before being replaced by Derek Vegas due to injury. Vegas cut the lead to just a run, scoring on a sacrifice-fly from Pike. The Grapes would have to finish the job in the 9th if they wanted to escape with a victory. 


In a dramatic 9th, Watkins singled to start the rally, he was replaced by PR Angel Mendez. Parks drew a walk, applying no-out pressure. CF Joe Redfield bunted into a fielder’s choice that got Mendez forced out on his way from second to third. Parks promptly stole third base, leaving himself just 90-feet from scoring. 2B Luis Acevedo did his job and lifted a sacrifice-fly into right field to level the contest, 6-6, but the game would need extras to be decided. 


Closer RHP Brandyn Sittinger entered the ball game for the top of the 10th, retiring the side in order, on 17 pitches without allowing the automatic runner to even move from second base. 


As the final out of the 9th, Vegas started the bottom of the 10th on second as prescribed by extra inning rules. 1B Jacob Tobias drew a walk to officially start the final frame. Pike advanced each runner 90 feet with a beautiful sacrifice-bunt. To put the double play in order, the Y’alls intentionally walked James Jett. 


Then, with the bases loaded and two outs, Pavin Parks stepped into the batters box against RHP Chase Hopewell, who had no wiggle room to work with.


Parks fell behind early, but then worked the count full, fouling off a litany of pitches to extend the at bat. On the 11th pitch of the primal battle, the Florence reliever yanked a fastball at the feet of Parks, administering the walk, and forcing in the winning run for the Crushers for Lake Erie’s first walk-off win of the season, 7-6. 


The Crushers' win secured the series victory over Florence. Brandyn Sittinger (4-0) was awarded yet another winning decision for Lake Erie. Chase Hopewell (0-2) was the recipient of the Y’alls 9th loss of the season. 


Crushers Top Performers:

  • Pavin Parks 2-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2B, SB (Walk-off Walk)

  • Jarod Watkins 2-for-2, R, 2 BB

  • Brandyn Sittinger 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K on 17 pitches (W)


Lake Erie begins a new series tomorrow, welcoming the Washington Wild Things to ForeFront Field at 7:00 pm. It’s a critical series for early season division standings. A Friday Night Fireworks Show is in order at ForeFront Field, with caped crusaders aplenty for Super Hero Night as well. Tickets are available at LECrushers.com. 

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.