Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Florence Y’alls clinched a berth in the Frontier League baseball playoffs for the first time since 2021 with a dramatic 6-5 win over Windy City Thunderbolts in the final regular season game on Sunday at Thomas More Stadium in Florence.
In the top of the ninth inning, Y’alls relief pitcher Aiden McElvoy retired three batters with the tying run on third base to nail down the one-run victory.
Florence and Windy City were tied for the league’s final wild card playoff berth going into their weekend three-game series. The teams split their first two games on Friday and Saturday, setting up Sunday’s win-of-go-home finale.
The Y’alls (55-47) will play Central Division champion Washington (Pa.) Wild Things (66-35) in a best-of-three playoff series with the winner advancing to the Midwest Conference championship final.
The first game is set for 6:55 p.m. Wednesday at Florence with the other two games at Washington.
In Sunday’s game, Y’alls scored two runs in the bottom seventh to take a 6-3 lead. A double by Garrett Broussard knocked in the first run and he scored on a line drive single by Cole Brannen.
Windy City scored one run in the eighth inning and another in the ninth to make it 6-5. But the Thunderbolts left the tying run stranded at third base in the ninth when McElvoy got a strike out, pop out and force out to pick up his 10th save of the season.
The Y’alls won 21 of their last 38 games. An 11-game winning streak in July and August put the team in contention for a playoff berth. They lost five in a row before winning three of their last five.
The Frontier League is the oldest independent professional baseball league in the United States. In 12 previous league playoff appearances, Florence reached the championship final six times, winning titles in 1994, 1995 and 2000. The 2021 team lost a best-of-five series in the first round.
Tickets for Wednesday’s playoff game at Thomas More Stadium will be $2 with food and beverages the same price at concession stands. For more information, go to the florenceyalls.com website.