The Frontier League has announced that Freedom right-hander, Steve Hagen and first baseman, Jordan Brower have been named Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, for week one of the 2018 campaign.
The honors come just two days after the Freedom swept the Joliet Slammers to start the season, 3-0.
Pitcher of the Week, Hagen, dazzled in his debut start, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning of what ended up being a, 10-1, Florence victory in the series finale on Saturday. Hagen left the game after six innings having only allowed one hit and no runs while striking out eight. He will take the ball next on Friday, May 18, when the Freedom play host to the Gateway Grizzlies at UC Health Stadium.
During a weekend in which the Freedom batted around four times and produced 31 runs as a team, nobody had more success at the plate than Brower.
Boasting a .538 batting average, the first baseman exited the first weekend with seven hits in his first thirteen at-bats, including a line drive two-run homer on Friday, his first of the year.
In three games, Brower already has seven runs batted in, just one behind Jose Brizuela for the team lead. He’ll be in the lineup tomorrow in Crestwood, IL when the Freedom collide with the Windy City Thunderbolts (2-0) in a battle of the unbeatens at Standard Bank Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence.
Florence Freedom