The Sussex County Miners scored early and often on their way to a 12-2 Frontier League victory over the New York Boulders on Sunday at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, NJ.
The Miners scored four times in the first inning and added eight runs in the fourth inning as they won for the third straight time over New York after dropping the opening game of this four-game weekend series.
New York starter Ben Strahm was able to record just one out in the first inning before giving way to Ken Haus. Strahm allowed two hits, walked three and hit one batter and was charged with all four Miners’ runs in the frame. A two-run triple by Juan Kelly was the big blow in the stanza for Sussex County.
New York got one run back in the second inning when Zach Penprase’s triple plated Ryan Ramiz, who had walked.
The Miners then turned the game into a rout with their eight-run fourth inning explosion against a trio of New York pitchers – Haus, A.J. Candelario and Zach Schneider. Sussex County pounded out seven hits in the frame, while Boulders’ pitchers walked two and hit a batter. In the stanza, Cito Culver and Kelly each had two-run singles, while Trevin Esquerra had an RBI double and Aaron Knapp a run-scoring single. Chuck Taylor picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk in the inning.
The fourth inning uprising gave the Miners a 12-1 lead.
Gian Martellini added a solo home run for New York in the seventh inning, his second of the season.
Meanwhile, Sussex County starter Tyler Alexander was cruising on his way to his second victory of the season against four losses, going seven innings and surrendering only two runs on six hits while striking out seven and issuing just one walk. Tyler Kovalewich and Baylor Sundahl tossed one inning each to close out the win for the Miners.
Strahm was tagged with the loss as he dropped to 1-3 on the year.
A complete New York Boulders’ 2021 schedule, as well as information regarding season tickets and packages for the 2021 season are available by calling 845-364-0009 or sliding to www.NYBoulders.com. Individual game tickets are on sale now.
Attendance at all home games at PCU Park is subject to New York State Department of Health guidelines and protocol.
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