The Ottawa Titans couldn’t get it going on Sunday afternoon in Joliet, falling to the Slammers by a score of 9-0. For the first time in franchise history, the Titans fall in a regular-season game, however, they are still in good shape after winning the opening two games of the series, by scores of 10-6, and 6-2 respectively.
Slammers pitcher Cole Cook made life difficult for Ottawa hitters, frustrating them for the entire duration of his start. Cook tossed six innings, surrendering just two hits, while walking none and striking out five. His start set the tempo of the game, letting the Titans know early on that their bats wouldn’t be able to be as successful as they were in the opening two games of the series.
Cook was routinely in the strike zone, having 51 of his 85 pitches going for strikes, although the Titans took issue with some of the home plate umpire’s calls, particularly early in the contest. The game started as a battle of the pitchers, with Jack Alkire starting strong, but as the game rolled on, only one team continued their strong defensive outing, and it was the Slammers.
As the game went along, Alkire gave up four runs in the fifth inning, including a bases-clearing double from Scott Holzwasser with the bases loaded, and was subsequently pulled ahead of the sixth. The Titans’ bullpen couldn’t stop the Slammers offence, and the flood gates opened up. Joliet continued to pile up the runs, and with the Slammers’ bullpen holding the Titans in check, they iced the game away.
It was a tough afternoon at the plate for the Titans, registering just four hits in the losing effort. While everyone struggled, there was one member who was htting the ball with regularity for Ottawa, and that was once again Will Zimmerman. Zimmerman finished the game with three hits in four at bats and a stolen base.
The only other hit of the night came from Brandon Dadson early in the game, but the Titans could do nothing with it. It’s a stark difference from where their offence has been in the past two days, when they scored 16 runs against the struggling Slammers.
It’s a game that the Titans will want to forget. You can’t win every game of the season, and all things considered, the Titans should be happy with their opening series in Joliet.
Next up for the Titans, a short trip for their next series, when they take on the Windy City ThunderBolts for three games. The ThunderBolts are coming off a close series with the Quebec Capitales, and stand in the middle of the West Division standings.
Elsewhere in the Frontier League
Scores – May 15th, 2022
| Away | Score | Home |
| New Jersey Jackals | 10-9 | Evansville Otters |
| New Jersey Jackals | Evansville Otters | |
| Schaumurg Boomers | Sussex County Miners | |
| Trois-Rivières Aigles | Lake Erie Crushers | |
| Ottawa Titans | 0-9 | Joliet Slammers |
| Empire State Greys | Gateway Grizzlies | |
| Quebec Capitales | Windy City ThunderBolts | |
| New York Boulders | Washington Wild Things |
Standings – May 15th, 2022
| West | East |
| Gateway Grizzlies (2-0) | Sussex County Miners (3-0) |
| Lake Erie Crushers (1-1) | New Jersey Jackals (2-0) |
| Washington Wild Things (1-1) | Quebec Capitales (2-0) |
| Windy City ThunderBolts (1-2) | Ottawa Titans (2-1) |
| Florence Y’alls (1-2) | Tri-City ValleyCats (2-1) |
| Joliet Slammers (1-3) | Trois-Rivières Aigles (1-1) |
| Evansville Otters (0-2) | New York Boulders (1-2) |
| Schamburg Boomers (0-2) | Empire State Greys (0-2) |
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