After losing to the Windy City Thunderbolts twice with a combined score of 20-2, the Lake Erie Crushers were determined not to have their series result in a sweep.
On May 14, the Crushers pulled away early with Pavin Parks leadoff solo home run.
Although the Thunderbolts fought back to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning, the Crushers loaded the bases and were walked home for the go-ahead run.
Crushers player-coach and Keystone grad Brandyn Sittinger shut the door in the final inning to seal the 5-4 victory.
PHOTOS: Crushers vs. Windy City, May 14, 2026
“We have a lot of new faces, and these boys need a lot of time to jell,” Crushers Manager Jared Lemieux said. “I thought the leaders on this team were doing a great job of bringing people together. We kept the group together, came out with great energy today. There is a lot of talent out here. Once we start to jell, you better watch out for us.”
Sittinger pitched the final two innings. The Thunderbolts’ eighth inning resulted in two runs being scored on Michael Sandle’s two-run single.
Despite the runs being unearned, it cost Sittinger the save.
The Crushers’ offense responded with a leadoff single from Derek Vagas and three walks right after. Vegas was brought home with a walk on Parks at-bat for this third run driven in.
In the ninth inning, Sittinger threw a perfect inning. He retired all three batters with a groundout to shortstop Jarrod Watkins and a pair of strikeouts.
“I decided to make it a little harder,” Sittinger joked. “I got a little too comfortable and gave up a couple of walks and gave up a hit that scored two. After that, I kind of knew that it was done.”
In the beginning, the Crushers saw a familiar face on the mound in former Crushers pitcher Ethan Smith.
According to Lemieux, Smith was traded late in the season after starting in 17 games.
“You kind of have an advanced scouting report on (Smith),” Lemieux said. “You never know in those games when you are facing players that used to play for you.”
Against the former Crusher, the Crushers recorded 10 hits with three earned runs.
Parks kickstarted it with a home run on the game’s third pitch, then Watkins drove in Vegas in the fourth inning, along with Luis Acevedo’s run in the fifth.
Against relief pitcher Avery Cook, Garret Pike reached first base on an error and was brought home by Parks’ flyout to left field.
The Crushers improved to 2-4, and they will look to carry the momentum into their next home series against the Mississippi Mud Monsters.
The first game will take place on May 15.
The score
Crushers 5, Thunderbolts 4