2025 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #2

GAME #1 – Hunter Greene  9-11  (2.32) vs. Tarik Skubal  17-6  (1.75)

The series kicks off with a battle of aces, Greene vs Skubal. Fremont strikes in the opening inning as a pair of singles brings up Teoscar Hernandez who drills it over the fence for the early 3-0 lead. The Cannons tack on another with a pair of double sin the second to go up 4-0. A two-out triple from Yainer Diaz gives the Crushers hope in the fifth but he ends up stranded.

Fremont gets another in the sixth off a single from Jose Iglesias. Skubal leaves after 6 with only 2 hits and 1 walk allowed, and the Cannons begin to cycle in pitchers and reserves. Josh H. Smith homers in the ninth to avoid the shutout, but Fremont takes the opener 5-1.

HR: CCC- Josh H. Smith (1); FRE- Teoscar Hernandez (1)

Fremont 5 – Coconut Creek 1

Win: Tarik Skubal  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Hunter Greene  0-1  (7.50)

GAME #2 – Blake Snell  9-6  (2.97) vs. Osvaldo Bido  4-4  (2.64)

Fremont gets the first runs again as a walk is followed by another Teoscar Hernandez homer to make it 2-0. Jonah Bride then homers to go back-to-back and the Cannons go up 3-0 early. In the fourth, Elly de la Cruz gets a hold of one to add to the lead, 4-0. It looks like Game 1 all over again, then Yainer Diaz turns on one with two on in the fifth and it’s now 4-3.

Fremont looks to answer back with two on in the bottom of the inning, but Blake Treinen comes on and induces the double play. An Anthony Santandar double in the sixth puts the tying run in scoring position, but Matt Olson lines into a double play. Teoscar Hernandez doubles to lead off the bottom of the inning, but is stranded. A walk and a steal is followed by a HBP in the top of the seventh, but Yainer Diaz pops out to end the inning,

A walk and advancement on a groundout puts Byron Buxton on second in the bottom of the seventh. Coconut Creek elects to walk Shohei Ohtani, then Vladimir Guerrero Jr. touches off a 3-run homer to put the Cannons up 7-3. The Crushers fail to get a hit the rest of the way and Fremont wins Game 2. Teoscar Hernandez continues his hot hitting, going 3-4.

W: Osvaldo Bido (1-0)
L: Blake Snell (0-1)

HR: CCC- Yainer Diaz (1); FRE- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1), Teoscar Hernandez (2), Jonah Bride (1), Elly de la Cruz (1)

Fremont 7 – Coconut Creek 3

Win: Osvaldo Bido  1-0  (5.40)
Loss: Blake Snell  0-1  (8.31)

GAME #3 – Tarik Skubal  17-6  (1.75) vs. Erick Fedde 12-9 (3.41)

The series shifts to Coconut Creek after Fremont held serve at home. Skubal returns to action for Fremont while CCC brings their #3 in Fedde.

The home crowd is excited, but a leadoff homer from Carlos Corres brings some unease. Fremont gets two more on and a Jose Iglesias single gives the Cannons another 3-run inning to take the early lead. The Crushers find more success against Skubal in this one, as Anthony Santander gets one back with a homer in the bottom of the inning to cut it to 3-1. Fremont pads the lead in the fourth as an Elias Diaz double is followed by a Carlos Correa HR (his second of the game) to make it 5-1.

The Cannons strike again in the fifth. With runners at first and third, a Jonah Bride blooper brings one in, then Elly de la Cruz singles in another to make it 7-1. In the bottom of the inning, the Crushers get back on the board courtesy of an Ivan Herrera single with runners on first and third. Josh H. Smith sends one deep, but just short to end the inning at 7-2. Fremont leads off the sixth with two on and no outs, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singles home another.

A Jose Iglesias HR in the seventh adds to the home fans’ misery. The Crushers get a consolation 2 runs in the eighth, then Teoscar Hernadez gets it back in the ninth with a two-run homer and the Cannons win this one 11-4. Hernandez continues to mash, going 2-4 with a homer and a double. The Cannons have out-homered the Crushers 9-3 through three games.

HR: FRE- Carlos Correa 2 (2), Teoscar Hernandez (3), Jose Iglesias (10; CCC- Anthony Santander (1)

Fremont 11 – Coconut Creek 4

Win: Tarik Skubal  2-0  (0.82)
Loss: Erick Fedde  0-2  (14.54)

GAME #4 – Bailey Ober  12-9  (3.02) vs. Spencer Schwellenbach  11-6  (3.38)

Coconut Creek finds their backs against the wall, down 3-0. Fremont, having dominated the first three games, gives a few starters a breather.

The Cannons threaten in the third inning after an error and a single put two on with no outs. Schwellenbach bears down to get Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Teoscar Hernandez out to keep it scoreless. Elly de la Cruz leads off the fourth with a double but fails to score. A Shohei Ohtani single and steal puts a runner on second in the fifth, but Cade Smith comes on to strike out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. A Nico Hoerner 1-out double in the bottom of the fifth gives Coconut Creek a runner in scoring position, but he’s left stranded at it remains 0-0.

Elly de la Cruz walks in the sixth, but is cut down trying to steal second. In the bottom of the inning, a blooper from Anthony Santander is followed by an Alec Bohm run-scoring double and Coconut Creek takes the 1-0 lead. A single and steal from Nico Hoerner in the seventh gives the Crushers a chance for an insurance run, but they can’t bring him in.

Shohei Ohtani leads off the eighth with a single then steals second. After a groundout moves Ohtani to third, Teoscar Hernandez is walked intentionally. David Robertson comes on and gets the next two outs to preserve the 1-0 lead. A single and steal in the bottom of the inning amounts to naught for Coconut Creek. Nolan Gorman leads off the top of the ninth with a single. Derek Law comes in and gets the first out, but an infield single gives the Cannons runners on 1st and 2nd. Joey Bart strikes out, then the Crushers turn to Mason Miller to face Shohei Ohtani. He gets Ohtani swinging, and Coconut Creek stays alive with the 1-0 victory. Fremont leaves 11 on base in the shutout but only musters one extra-base hit.

HR: none

Coconut Creek 1 – Fremont 0

Win: Cade Smith  1-0  (5.40)
Loss: Scott Alexander  0-1  (13.50)
Save: Mason Miller #1

GAME #5 – Carlos Rodon  16-8  (2.91) vs. Hunter Greene  9-11  (2.32)

Having picked up their first win of the series, the Crushers feel confident with their ace going up against Fremont’s #4.

The Cannons get a run in the first in bizarre fashion, as Greene balks home Carlos Correa. Coconut Creek gets something going in the fourth as a pair of singles puts two on. After a groundout advances the runners to second and third, Alec Bohm grounds one to Jose Iglesias at 2B. Josh H. Smith charges home, but Iglesias nails him to preserve the 1-0 lead. The next batter sends one to the outfield, where Teoscar Hernandez and Byron Buxton collide, but Buxton holds on to the catch.

After a Yainer Diaz single in the fifth, Rodon is lifted in favor of Edwin Uceta. Nico Hoerner attempts to sacrifice Diaz over, but winds up with a bunt hit. Geraldo Perdomo then lays one down and moves the runners over. After a grounder to 2B, the Crushers decide to test Iglesias again, but this time Diaz sneaks into home to tie it 1-1. A walk then loads the bases for Anthony Santander, who triples in three to make it 4-1. A fly ball to Ohtani clanks off his glove, so the Crushers go up 5-1. Uceta gives up another walk, then a much-needed double play ends the inning.

The Cannons get one back in the sixth with back-to-back doubles from Elias Diaz and Carlos Correa. A single and sacrifice in the bottom of the inning puts a runner in scoring position for Coconut Creek, but they don’t pick up the insurance run. A single and walk puts two on for Fremont in the eighth, then Shohei Ohtani doubles in a run to cut the lead to 5-3. A sac fly brings in another. With runners on 1B and 3B, Teoscar Hernandez grounds out to end the threat.

A HBP in the ninth puts the tying run on for Fremont, the Crushers call on Mason Miller.
Pinch-runner Nolan Gorman steals 2B to put the runner in scoring position, but Miller gets the side out to win it 5-4 for Coconut Creek. Santander goes 2-3 with 3 RBI, while Yainer Diaz goes 3-4. It’s the second straight game without a homer by either team, which seems to help Coconut Creek’s chances.

HR: none

Coconut Creek 5 – Fremont 4

Win: Hunter Greene  1-1  (4.72)
Loss: Edwin Uceta  0-1  (9.82)
Save: Mason Miller #2

GAME #6 – Blake Snell  9-6  (2.97) vs. Tarik Skubal  17-6  (1.75)

The Crushers have crept back into the series, while the Cannons come home hoping their ace can help them avoid a Game 7. Coconut Creek wastes no time quieting the crowd, as a fly ball goes off of Byron Buxton’s glove and Josh H. Smith circles the bases for the early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Carlos Correa doubles and then Shohei Ohtani hits his first homer of the series to put Fremont up 2-1. Willi Castro ties it up quickly with a solo HR in the second.

Another outfield error in the fourth puts Matt Olson on, then some uncharacteristic wildness from Skubal results in his second HBP this game and Coconut Creek has runners on the corners. A fly out is not quite deep enough to score Olson, but a steal by Yainer Diaz turns the pressure up even more. A diving play by Correa ends the threat.

Skubal’s plan comes into focus in the following inning, as Snell is baited into hitting Buxton and gets tossed. Buxton’s surprisingly avoids injury, as he avoided it during the collision the previous game. The HBP does not result in a run, however, as Cade Smith cleans it up.

The Crushers break the deadlock in the sixth as a solo shot from Matt Olson puts them up 4-3. A single and steal from Willi Castro gives them a chance at an insurance run, but Castro is stranded. Alec Bohm drops a popup in the bottom of the inning, but nothing comes of it.

Back-to-back doubles from Jose Iglesias and Carlos Correa in the eighth tie it up at 3-3, but Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can’t bring in the go-ahead run. Nothing happens in the ninth, so we go to the tenth.

Ivan Herrera draws a one-out walk, then steals second and third base in a gutsy move. All the running must have rattled Fremont’s Sean Guenther, as he gives up a two-run HR to Brandon Nimmo, and Coconut Creek takes the 5-3 lead. Guenther then walks Anthony Santander, and Matt Olson follows that with a double into the right field corner. Santander tries to score but is nailed at the plate by Byron Buxton.

Having kept it at a two run deficit, Fremont hopes to get a runner on and a two-run HR. A Joey Bart single accomplishes the first Part, then the Crushers’ closer Mason Miller comes out to preserve the lead. A pop out and ground out get it done, and Game 6 goes to the Crushers 5-3 in 10.

Snell struck out 7 in just 3.1 IP, while Skubal racked up 8 over 8.1 IP. Coconut Creek’s stealing ability really shows up, as they go 4-4 in SB.
HR: CCC- Brandon Nimmo (1), Matt Olson (1), Willi Castro (1); FRE- Shohei Ohtani (1)

Coconut Creek 5 – Fremont 3  (10 INNINGS)

Win: David Robertson  1-0  (1.93)
Loss: Sean Guenther  0-1  (4.15)
Save: Mason Miller #3

GAME #7 – Erick Fedde 12-9 (3.41) vs. Bailey Ober  12-9  (3.02)

Neither team’s ideal choice for a crucial Game 7 matchup, but both pitch well. Ober gives up a walk in each of the first two innings but nothing comes of it. Fremont strikes in the second with a Byron Buxton single followed by a Teoscar Hernandez double. After Hernandez moves to third, the Crushers elect to walk Elly de la Cruz, then Elias Diaz flies out to keep it 1-0.

Anthony Santander leads off the fourth with a double, then Matt Olson walks to put two on with no outs. Ober gets three straight outs to keep Fremont in the lead. With two outs in the fifth, Carlos Correa doubles. The Crushers walk Shohei Ohtani to bring up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and bring in the reliable Derek Law. Guerrero Jr. wins the battle, doubling in two to increase the lead to 3-0. Fremont gets two on again in the sixth but fail to pad the lead.

A walk and steal from Michael Toglia in the seventh gives Coconut Creek a runner in scoring position, the Will Wagner doubles him home for the Crushers first run. Sean Reid-Foley gets the next two outs to keep it at 3-1. Guerrero Jr. doubles in the seventh but Michael Otanez comes on and strands him.

Time is winding down on the Crushers, Geraldo Perdomo singles in the top of the eighth. The chance is snuffed out on a hit-and-run that becomes a lineout double play. The Cannons do nothing in the eighth so we head to the ninth for Coconut Creek’s last stand.

Edwin Uceta gets the first out, but Brandon Nimmo puts a charge in one and sends it over the fence to cut the lead to 3-2 Fremont. Michael Toglia grounds out, but Will Wagner strikes again with a double to put the tying run on second base. Yainer Diaz has a chance to extend the game, but grounds out to Carlos Correa to end the game and the series. 3-2 is the final in favor of Fremont as they take the series 4-3. Guerrero Jr. went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and 2 RBI.

HR: CCC- Brandon Nimmo (2); FRE- none

Fremont 3 – Coconut Creek 2

Win: Bailey Ober  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Erick Fedde  0-2  (10.00)
Save: Edwin Uceta #1