FLCS Game 1 Primer - vs Québec Capitales
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Sept. 10) - The Washington Wild Things swept the Lake Erie Crushers in the West's Division Series to become undisputed West Division champs in 2024 after capturing the regular-season division title, two games to none. Now the journey to bring Washington a Frontier League title continues to the Frontier League Championship Series, to be contested against three-time defending East Division champion and two-time defending Frontier League Champion Québec in a best of five set that begins tonight at Wild Things Park. First pitch for game 1 is set for 7:05 p.m.
The matchup is a bit long-awaited for some fans of Indy Ball. Many thought the two franchises would meet in 2022's Championship Series after finishing with identical 62-34 records that season. Now they meet for the 2024 league title after finishing at the top of their respective decisions by a wide margin this year.
Washington bested Lake Erie in Game 1 of the FLDS 2-0 behind a splendid outing from Kobe Foster and six up six down in relief from the combination of Christian James and Gyeongju Kim. Ricardo Sanchez posted the only scoring play of that game, delivering a two-run single in the second to give the Washington pitchers all the support they'd need.
In Game 2 at Wild Things Park Saturday, Washington used a steady offensive approach to plate 10 runs on eight hits and take advantage of four Lake Erie errors and a myriad of free passes, sweeping the series in the process. Zach Kirby allowed one hit but walked five in four shutout innings, stranding the bases full on two occassions, before giving way to Dariel Fregio in the fifth. Fregio got the win after throwing two 1-2-3 innings. Ryan Munoz worked a scoreless seventh, Alex Carrillo a scoreless eighth and Jordan DiValerio a scoreless ninth to seal the deal. In the win, Jalen Miller and Ricardo Sanchez had multi-hit nights while Tommy Caufield (2), Ethan Wilder (2) and Sanchez (3) drove in multiple runs.
The FLDS in total saw Washington's top-ranked pitching staff from the regular season continue to roll, allowing just five hits in the two shutouts. Washington will send Foster back to the mound in Game 1 of the FLCS tonight against Québec, a team Kobe has only faced once in his three seasons with Washington. On July 29, 2022, Foster beat 2022 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year Miguel Cienfuegos as he worked a quality start, allowing nine hits and two runs over six innings with three strikeouts. Foster is now 1-1 in his Frontier League playoff career, as his Game 1 outing in the FLDS served as a very fine bounce back to the same start in 2022's FLDS.
The Québec Capitales are in search of a three-peat, which has never been done in the history of the Frontier League, which spans 30+ seasons. The Capitales fell behind in the East Division FLDS to Ottawa by dropping game one on a walk-off walk in Ottawa, but bounced back to take Game 2, 10-6, and Game 3, 8-7, in Québec. In Game 3, Québec rallied from down 5-1 and 6-3 to win 8-7, despite Ottawa getting the tying run to second after scoring in the ninth.
The Capitales boast an experienced roster, having numerous players with Québec and Frontier League title experience, even dating back to the postseason run in 2021 with Équipe Québec, a combo of Trois-Rivieres and Québec as a travel team, which bowed out to Washington in 2021's Division Series in five games, which culminated with three games north of the border. The Capitales posted a 64-32 regular-season record. As an offense, the Capitales score 585 runs, which was tied for the best total in the league. They were third in doubles and home runs, second in RBI, first in walks drawn and in on-base percentage. The staff struck out the mosdt batters in the league, largely behind the efforts of Ryan Sandberg, Harley Gollert and pitcher of the year James Bradwell. Ryo Kohigashi also fanned 87 in 61 innings, mostly from the pen. The staff also allowed the fewest homers (46) in the league druing the regular season and was third in ERA behind Washington (first) and Lake Erie (second).
It'll be Sandberg taking the rubber in game 1, in what will also be, like Foster, his second outing against the opposition. With Empire State in 2023 on June 17, Sandberg started and went 2.1 innings. He allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) with a walk and a strikeout before exiting the game with an injury. He'd miss the next month of play and eventually made his way to Québec, where he finished the season. This year, Sandberg was 7-2 with a 2.18 ERA in 103.1 innings. He fanned 107 to just 20 walks in what remains his second pro season. He started game one of the FLDS at Ottawa and dealt 5.1 scoreless frames with three hits against him and four strikeouts.
You can watch the game with a subscription to FloBaseball or listen for free on the Wild Things' MixLR channel. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase for $5 online, at the box office or by calling 866-456-WILD.
