Augusta, NJ – The Sussex County Miners were once again beaten by the Quebec Capitales last night by the final score of 13-4 at Skylands Stadium as the community celebrated the fourth annual Battle Of The Badges Night. The New Jersey State Police team ran rough shot on their Pennsylvania counterparts to the tune of 26 runs including scoring ten in one of the seven innings in the exhibition. A silent auction was held among other fundraising efforts per tradition as over 1700 came to support both the New Jersey State Police and The Miners.
Sussex County would have certainly needed some of the runs the State Troopers managed to put up only hours prior as Quebec (61-26) who owns the league’s best record and winners of 14 of their last 15 games, got to work early in the second inning. TJ Schofield-Sam would score on a balk from Miners starting pitcher Tristan Harley. After a Jordan Smith single Emile Boies grounded to short to score Schofield-Sam. Boies, who this season has been on the mound more often than at the plate reached base on the error and was later tagged out stretching to third on a nice play from Edwin Mateo getting the out despite Quebec scoring another run. That moment was short lived however as centerfielder Chavez Young hit a line shot over the right field corner wall for a two run homerun capping off what would be enough runs to win the ball game.
In the fourth inning, Matt Stil would enter the game for the Miners and give Sussex County three innings of relief, Quebec would score the remaining eight runs during this time including a Jordan Smith Grand slam. Sandro Gaston would come to the plate in the next half inning and give the Miners faithful something to cheer about, a grand slam of his own in the bottom of the fourth inning, Gaston’s first home run at Skylands Stadium.
Kiko Romero would follow up with an absolutely stellar display of defense in the top of the fifth inning, diving to his left and making a great toss to Matt Stil who covered the bag. More milestones for Billy Parsons as he appeared for the 100th time as a Sussex County Miner, only the second player to do it.
Tonight the Miners host Chaos Night with post game fireworks and plenty of unknown fun and surprises both on and off the field. Tickets are still available for the game with post game fireworks to follow as per Saturday night tradition. Come watch the Miners play Quebec at and stay for the Chaos and Fireworks. Fans can also watch and listen to all the action on the Miners Broadcast Network, on the Frontier League Network powered by HTN or on the Miners Radio Network on mixlr.com
By Sean Bretherick