Boulders Clinch Playoff Spot
September 2, 2022 – Frontier League (FL) – New York Boulders News Release
Gabriel Garcia knocked in five runs as the visiting New York Boulders came from behind to take down the Trois-Rivieres Aigles, 8-7, on Friday night at Stade Quillorama in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada.
The victory was the 10th in a row for the Boulders, who improved to 28-11 since July 13. The win, coupled with the Sussex County Miners’ 7-1 loss to the New Jersey Jackals, clinched a playoff spot for New York, which remained tied with the Ottawa Titans, 4-1 winners on Friday versus the first-place Quebec Capitales, for second place in the Frontier League’s Eastern Division.
Excluding the 2020 season cancelled because of the pandemic, the Boulders have qualified for the playoffs in either the Can-Am or Frontier League in seven of the past eight seasons.
In this topsy-turvy game, the Boulders struck for three runs in the top of the eighth to grab the lead at 8-7. A Chris Kwitzer single brought New York within one run at 7-6; then Garcia lashed a double to the gap in left-center that plated Austin Dennis and Kwitzer to give New York the lead at 8-7.
The Aigles had battled back from a 4-0 deficit after 2 ½ innings to claim a 7-5 lead through six innings.
L.P. Pelletier started the Trois-Rivieres comeback with a two-run, third inning home run off New York starter Kyle Mott. The homer was Pelletier’s 14th of the season and cut the Aigles’ deficit to 4-2.
In the fourth inning, an Ethan Hunt RBI single brought the Aigles to within 4-3; then, in the fifth, after Conor Panas walked, Juan Santana doubled to put runners on second and third. Boulders’ reliever Ryan Munoz uncorked a pair of wild pitches that enabled both runners to score and give the home team a 5-4 advantage.
The Boulders leveled matters in the top of the sixth when Ray Hernandez blasted a solo home run, tying the contest at 5-5. The home run was Hernandez’ fourth of the season and the Boulders’ 146th of the year, tying the team mark set back in 2018.
The Aigles, however, touched up Munoz for two more runs in the sixth to take a 7-5 lead. A Pelletier single plated one run, then with Dan Wirchansky on in relief of Munoz, Panas knocked in another run with a groundout.
New York had built their 4-0 lead on a Max Smith RBI single in the second, as well as a three-run home run in the third by Gabriel Garcia, his 18th of the year.
Wirchansky got the win for New York, twirling 3 2/3 scoreless innings to improve to 5-4 on the season. He walked three and struck out six. Matt Leon came on with runners on second and third and two outs in the ninth and retired Myles Miller on a pop out to shortstop Austin Dennis to close out the win and pick up his fourth save of the year,
Christian Allegretti, the fourth of five Aigles’ pitchers on the night, took the loss and fell to 3-2 on the year.
Information regarding season tickets and packages for the Boulders’ 2023 season are available by calling 845-364-0009 or sliding to www.NYBoulders.com.
Debuting in 1993, the Frontier League is the largest and longest-running of the modern independent leagues and features teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. In September of 2020, the Frontier League reached an agreement to become a “Partner League” with Major League Baseball.
As a “Partner League,” the Frontier League and its teams will meet on a regular basis with MLB representatives to discuss joint marketing and promotional opportunities, as well as collaborate on initiatives to provide organized baseball to communities throughout the United States and Canada.
More information can be found at www.frontierleague.com.
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