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Early outburst sends Evansville past Wild Things

4 min read
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The Wild Things’ Matt Ford hands his helmet to the bat boy after striking out with the bases loaded during the sixth inning of Friday night’s game against Evansville Otters at Consol Energy Park.

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The Wild Things’ Dan Popkins hits a triple against Evansville Friday night.

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Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Wild Things pitcher Steve Sarcone during the with Evansville Otters at Consol Energy Park on Friday, August 28, 2015

The Evansville Otters rolled into Washington Friday in the midst of a week like no other team has experienced in the Frontier League’s 23-year history.

Evansville began the week by celebrating a win Sunday over River City that the Otters thought had clinched a playoff berth.

One day later, league commissioner Bill Lee stripped Evansville of 10 wins for using an ineligible player, starting pitcher Will Oliver, who had a 9-2 record and led the league in ERA. Evansville was 53-31 and one game behind East Division leader Southern Illinois when Monday began. By that night, the Otters were 43-41 and clinging to a one-game lead over Florence for the final wild-card playoff berth.

Instead of having a postseason berth secured and playing for first place, the Otters began a weekend series against the Wild Things at Consol Energy Park while fighting for their playoff lives. Evansville is hoping to become perhaps the first team in professional baseball history to clinch a playoff berth twice in the same season.

Evansville looked like a team that had much more to play for than Washington. The Otters scored seven runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to an 11-2 victory.

“One of two things can happen. Either these guys are going to band together or they’re going to scream, ‘We’re out of here,'” Evansville manager Andy McCauley said.

The reason for the forfeits was Oliver had exceeded the league’s age limit of 27. Because of his limited time in the league, Oliver did not qualify for the one Veteran exemption to the age limit that each team is permitted.

McCauley explained that a discrepancy in Oliver’s age was caused by two typographical errors. Oliver’s correct date of birth was listed on his contract last year and this season. However, it was listed incorrectly on the Otters’ roster when he joined the team last August. When Oliver contacted the Otters’ front office staff in the offseason and mentioned the wrong date of birth, it was changed but to another incorrect year. Both typos showed Oliver with an age of less than 28.

Meanwhile, Frontier League officials did not catch that Oliver was too old until it was brought to their attention by one of the league’s teams early this month.

In addition to the forfeits, the Otters were fined $1,500 and McCauley $1,000. Evansville has appealed. The league’s four-member executive committee met Friday to hear Evansville’s appeal.

“I expect a quick decision,” McCauley said, though he’s not anticipating having the wins restored.

The Frontier League playoffs are scheduled to begin Sept. 8 with two wild-card games.

“At first, there was a state shock. We were losing a very good pitcher who was a big part of the clubhouse and had a tremendous work ethic,” McCauley said. “Adding insult to injury were the 10 forfeits. Losing 10 wins and adding 10 losses, that’s a 20-game swing.

“We have eight tough games remaining. Washington has always played us tough, then we played Normal, which has won the West, and end the season against River City, which is battling to get into the playoffs.”

Since the forfeits, Evansville is undefeated. The Otters swept a three-game midweek series against the Frontier Greys and then knocked out Washington starter Ernesto Zaragoza (6-7) with eight runs over the first two innings.

Washington manager Bob Bozzuto said this is not the best time to be playing the Otters.

“They’re focused,” he said. “Their guys deserve a lot of credit. They’ve had to go through some adversity, they’re in a dogfight and they did a nice job. We have nothing to do with the dogfight they’re in and they did a nice job against us.”

Second baseman Josh Allen hit a three-run homer in Evansville’s big first inning and first baseman Nik Balog homered in the third inning and finished with three RBI. Otters starter Blaine Howell (1-1) struck out a career-high 11 over six innings.

Washington had only six hits, including two triples by left fielder Andrew Heck.

“This is professional baseball and you can’t expect to win when you give up eight runs in two innings or score only two runs,” Bozzuto said.

Washington signed pitcher Steve Sarcone to replace pitcher Kyler Helisek, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Sarcone made his Washington debut, throwing three innings and giving up one unearned run. he struck out four. … Evansville’s Brodie Leibrandt pitched the final three innings and earned his first save.

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