Cole Zaffiro had an outstanding performance on the mound overshadowed by three runs in the bottom of the ninth as the Schaumburg Boomers suffered a 4-3 walkoff loss to the Florence Y’Alls in Kentucky on Saturday night.
Zaffiro was dominant as the righty sat down the first 10 Florence batters, including seven via strikeout. Zaffiro went on to strike out 12, matching the second most in single game franchise history. Cole Cook was the last pitcher to fan 12, achieving the total against Mississippi on June 13, 2025. Zaffiro worked six shutout innings to run his scoreless streak to 17 innings. The New York native allowed just two hits and faced two over the minimum in tying the third most strikeouts in a Frontier League game this season.
A pitcher’s duel early, the Boomers were able to strike first for the second consecutive night in the series, plating a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Anthony Calarco led off the inning with a double and Chase Dawson walked with one away. A wild pitch put runners at second and third for Kyle Fitzgerald, who lifted a sacrifice fly to open the scoring. Dawson trotted home moments later on a wild pitch as the Boomers led 2-0. Alex Calarco homered on the first pitch of the seventh, his seventh blast of the year, to extend the lead to 3-0. Florence drew within 3-1 against the bullpen in the seventh on a solo homer from Brendan Bobo and took advantage of two walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to score three runs and steal the victory. Tom Vincent suffered the loss in relief. Schaumburg finished with eight hits in the game but left nine men on base. Fitzgerald and Christian Fedko logged two each.
The Boomers (47-36) wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon at 12:07pm. All-Star RHP Buddie Pindel (8-2, 3.44) is slated to make the start against LHP Jonaiker Villalobos (4-3, 5.03) in the rubber game. The team returns home on August 19 for a Business Day Game presented by All About Personnel in the first of a brief two-game stint at Wintrust Field. The Boomers are in the midst of a stretch which features 19-of-24 on the road. Don’t miss out on the fun before it’s too late. Feel the Boom this summer! Visit www.boomersbaseball.com or call 847-461-3695 to secure your ticket to fun this summer.