It was turn back the clock night at Mercy Health Stadium in a sense. Ryan Feierabend, the 2003 Midview grad who went on to pitch in the Major Leagues for several seasons, struck out nine batters and scattered seven hits over 5 ⅓ innings as the Crushers knocked off Schaumburg 5-1 in the seven-inning first game of doubleheader July 17.
Back 2003 and Feierabend was a fire-throwing teenager who was on the radar of every major league team.
These days, Feierabend relies far more on finesses than he did when he was a flame-throwing youngster. He throws a knuckleball at times, and although he can hit 90 mph, he gets people out more via smoke and mirrors than pure smoke.
Feierabend struck out the side to open the game and then used a mixed of pitches to keep Schaumburg off balance for the remainder of his time on the hill. The Boomers entered the game with the top offense in the Frontier League averaging six runs a game and hitting .296 as a team.
So what was working for Feierabend, who improved to 4-2 on the year with the win and lowered his ERA to 4.00.
“A little bit of everything. We decided to mix it up. We wanted to keep them as off-balance as possible and that’s what we rolled with,” said Feierabend.
He allowed just one hit over the first three innings. He struck out lead off Alec Craig three times.
After days of rain, the clouds cleared out and the sun appeared just before first pitch. A nice crowd of 2,110 showed up for the twin bill.
Lake Erie jumped out to a 2-0 first-inning lead. Isaac Benard, who entered the game hitting .356, singled with two-outs. Trevor Achenbach followed with another single and catcher Karl Ellison doubled them both home.
Centerfielder Shawn Dunston Jr., reached on a infield error to open the third inning and then came around to score on Benard’s RBI ground out. Steve Kraft, who singled, came around to score when Ellison reached on a throwing error by Schaumburg third baseman Luke Becker to increase the Lake Erie lead to 4-0.
Schaumburg finally got to Feierabend in the fourth inning. Matt McGary doubled and Chad Dawson singled. Feierabend got a strikeout before Clint Hardy doubled to drive in Schaumburg’s lone run in the first game. Feierabend got a strike out and a flyout to end the frame.
Feierabend went out for the sixth inning having thrown 80 pitches. When he allowed the first two hitters to reach via singles Crushers’ manger Dan Rohn opted to go to the bullpen. J.T. Perez slammed the door as he got Clint Hardy to hit into a fielders choice and then Nick Ames to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Perez went on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his sixth save of the year and lower his ERA to 1.55.
Rohn was happy with the performance of Feierabend.
“I thought he threw the ball well. He had good command. He made a couple of mistakes in the sixth inning when he got the ball up, but other than that he threw the ball well,” said Rohn.
The win improved the Crushers to 24-20 while Schaumburg fee to 23-22. The Crushers increased their first-place lead in the Central Division to 1 ½ games with the win.
Feierabend entered the season with the goal of pitching well enough to make it back to the big leagues. That’s still the goal.
“I’m not worrying about it too much now that the season’s started. Obviously it’s in the back of my mind a little bit. I feel if I can take care of what I need to on the mound; if if get picked up great. If not, I gave it all I had,” Feierabend said.
And if he doesn’t get picked up would he abandon his quest to get back to the Major League, where he last pitched as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019?
“We’ll have to play it by ear and run it by the family. The game is getting younger. Not too many teams are looking for 36-year-old left-handed pitchers. If I was 26 or 27 I think it would be a little easier,” said Feierabend.
Schaumburg came back to win the nightcap 4-0 to earn the split.
Schaumburg right-hander Ryan Middendord allowed just four hits and struck out three as he pitched a seven-inning complete game. He improved to 4-3 with the win.
The 6-foot-6 Middendorf pitched collegiately at Lake Erie. He graduated in 2021 and was taken in the first-round of the Frontier League draft by Schaumbur after trying out for the league earlier this spring during open tryout that were held at Mercy Health Stadium.
Schaumburg scored three times in the fourth inning to get all the runs it would need. Nick Ames two-run home run, his fourth of the season, was the big blow.
Shawon Dunston Jr. had two hits to pace the Crushers’ offense. He also stole a base.
Aaron Glickstein took the loss and dropped to 3-2 on the season.
What’s next: The Crushers wrap up the three-game series with Schaumburg at Mercy Heath Stadium. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m.
