Avon, OH - September 4, 2026 - The Lake Erie Crushers announced today that catcher Ian Francis had his player contract purchased by the Cincinnati Reds organization on Tuesday afternoon. Ian Francis was signed by the Crushers on August 17th. The 23 year-old Youngstown, Ohio native played three college seasons at Youngstown State University before transferring to the University of Kansas in 2025. During his collegiate career, Francis hit .260 with 21 home runs, 26 doubles, and an .816 OPS. After his time in the Big 12 and a stint with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League, the Cincinnati Reds took interest in the young catcher and signed him to a free agent contract ahead of the 2026 season. After a stint of 34 minor league games between Rookie-ball and Single-A Daytona, Francis signed with the Crushers to supplement a need at the catching position. Francis collected his first Lake Erie hit in his second game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored on August 20th. When the Crushers hit the road to play a four-game series in Florence, Francis got the nod to catch three of the four games. During the series, he went 6-for-12 (.500 BA) with two doubles, and three runs scored. He had multiple hits and scored a run in all three games he caught against the Y’alls, and his series was highlighted by an incredible swim move to avoid a tag at home plate. On a play where he looked to be out convincingly, his remarkable athleticism allowed him to contort his body, dive out of the reach of the tag, and hit the plate to score a key run in a game the Crushers would go on to win. Despite only playing in seven games with Lake Erie, his .333 batting average and a caught stealing in a key situation got him the look of his former organization once again. Then, after a fourth straight game with a hit and a run scored as the Crushers opened their series in Evansville, the Cincinnati Reds decided to purchase Francis’ contract from the Crushers and bring him back for a second stint in affiliated ball. Crushers Skipper Jared Lemieux said, “Ian wasn’t here for a long time, but in his short time he displayed all the characteristics you need in affiliated ball. He’s confident, works hard, and he’s a gamer. We’re excited to see him back with the Reds organization and wish him the best.” Ian Francis becomes the second Crushers player to have their contract purchased in the 2026 calendar year, joining Nathan Shinn, who was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in June. Francis has been assigned to the Reds’ Single-A affiliate, the Daytona Tortugas. The Crushers organization is thankful for Ian’s contributions to the team and wish him the best as he rejoins the affiliated ranks.

AVON, OH - Down East Bird Dawgs outfielder Stephen DiTomaso made Frontier League history on September 3, recording his 145th hit of the 2026 season to set a new Frontier League single-season record. DiTomaso surpassed the previous record of 144 hits, set by Jose Rodriguez with the Chillicothe Paints during the 2005 season. Rodriguez’s record had stood for 21 years before DiTomaso broke the mark in 2026. DiTomaso has been one of the Frontier League’s most consistent hitters throughout the 2026 season. At the time of his record-breaking hit, the Down East hitter has recorded 145 hits while batting .338 with 26 doubles, 39 RBI, 80 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He also put together one of the longest on-base streaks in the League this season, reaching safely in 53 consecutive games through September 2. The record comes during DiTomaso’s second season in professional baseball, both spent with the Down East Bird Dawgs. He joined the organization ahead of their inaugural season in 2025 after playing five seasons collegiately at George Washington University. During his collegiate career, DiTomaso appeared in 215 games and recorded 295 hits while batting .326. DiTomaso immediately became a key piece of the Bird Dawgs lineup during his rookie season in 2025. He appeared in 75 games, leading Down East with a .301 batting average while recording 92 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs, 36 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He was selected to the 2025 Frontier League All-Star Game and went on to win the Frontier League Home Run Derby, hitting 22 home runs across the three-round competition. His success continued into 2026, earning his second consecutive Frontier League All-Star selection in July. DiTomaso was also signed to a contract extension by the Bird Dawgs on August 21. With his 145th hit, DiTomaso now stands alone atop the Frontier League record book for hits in a single season, breaking one of the League’s longest-standing offensive records.

 Schaumburg clinched a second consecutive playoff berth and fifth in six years with a win over Florence in the final game of their regular season at Wintrust Field, while Windy City overcame a seven-run deficit to beat Lake Erie in their regular-season home finale. Ottawa swept a doubleheader against Trois-Rivières to complete their first home series sweep of the year and close out their regular-season home schedule, and New York won their fourth consecutive series for the first time since May 2024 by taking the rubber game against Tri-City. Sussex County, Québec, Evansville and Mississippi also picked up wins on Thursday. TRI-CITY VALLEYCATS 1 @ NEW YORK BOULDERS 3 – For the first time since May of 2024, the Boulders have won four consecutive series after taking their rubber game from the Tri-City ValleyCats, 3-1, Thursday night at Clover Stadium. EVANSVILLE OTTERS 17 @ DOWN EAST BIRD DAWGS 7 – The Evansville Otters (60-39) scored 17 runs on 22 hits on their way to a game three win against the Down East Bird Dawgs (47-52) on Thursday night, 17-7. BROCKTON ROX 4 @ SUSSEX COUNTY MINERS 8 – The Sussex County Miners completed a three-game sweep of the Brockton Rox on Thursday, riding another strong offensive performance to secure the series finale and cap a dominant set against Brockton. NEW JERSEY JACKALS 0 @ QUÉBEC CAPITALES 4 – The Québec Capitales shut out the Jackals 4-0 on Thursday night, holding the opposing offense completely at bay. FLORENCE Y'ALLS 3 @ SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS 5 – The Schaumburg Boomers secured a second consecutive trip to the Frontier League playoffs and a fifth in six years by toppling the Florence Y’Alls 5-3 on Thursday night in the final game of the regular season at Wintrust Field. MISSISSIPPI MUD MONSTERS 7 @ JOLIET SLAMMERS 1 – In his final start of 2026, Tyler Campbell became the first Mississippi Mud Monsters (39-59) starter to toss a complete game this season in a 7-1 series-clinching win over the Joliet Slammers (41-58) Thursday night at Slammers Stadium. LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS 8 @ WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS 9 – The ThunderBolts overcame a seven-run deficit to beat the Lake Erie Crushers 9-8 in their regular season home finale at Ozinga Field Thursday night. TROIS-RIVIÈRES AIGLES 2 @ OTTAWA TITANS 3 – The Ottawa Titans (54-43) defeated the Trois-Rivières Aigles (35-64) 3-2 in the first game of Thursday night's doubleheader at Ottawa Stadium. TROIS-RIVIÈRES AIGLES 0 @ OTTAWA TITANS 3 – The Ottawa Titans (54-43) shut out the Trois-Rivières Aigles (35-64) 3-0 in the second game of Thursday night's doubleheader at Ottawa Stadium, completing their first home series sweep of the year and closing out their regular-season home schedule.

AVON, OH - As the 2026 regular season enters its final weekend, the Frontier League is proud to honor the 2026 All-Frontier League Team and its 2026 annual award winners. The following individuals and organizations have been recognized by voters from around the league for excellence in the 2026 season (all statistics through September 1): The Morgan Burkhart Most Valuable Player Award: Andrew Czech, Washington Wild Things First baseman Andrew Czech’s sixth season with the Washington Wild Things has been his best yet. The veteran has posted the league’s best on-base percentage (.483) and slugging percentage (.679) while also driving in 101 runs, hitting 26 home runs and drawing 92 walks to earn the Morgan Burkhart Most Valuable Player Award. He also moved into second place on the Frontier League all-time walks leaderboard (404) and third place on the all-time home run leaderboard (113). Czech earned one Player of the Week Award this year (Week 16), and represented the Midwest Conference at the Y’all Star Game. The Brian Tollberg Pitcher of the Year Award: Kobe Foster, Washington Wild Things Washington Wild Things left-handed pitcher Kobe Foster has posted a 2.38 ERA and a 0.970 WHIP this season, both league-best marks. He also threw a no-hitter, collected two Pitcher of the Week Awards (Weeks 5 and 6), earned the start for the Atlantic Conference at the Y’all Star Game, and now takes home the Brian Tollberg Pitcher of the Year Award. The Jason Simontacchi Rookie of the Year Award: Brett Blomquist, Florence Y’alls Brett Blomquist leads rookies in nearly every offensive category this season, including OPS (.918), slugging percentage (.542), and on-base percentage (.429), earning himself the Jason Simontacchi Rookie of the Year Award. The infielder also has hit 16 home runs and driven in 71 runs for the Y’alls and was the starting second baseman for the Midwest Conference at the Y’all Star Game. The Roger Hanners Manager of the Year Award: Tom Carcione, Windy City ThunderBolts In his first season guiding the ThunderBolts, Tom Carcione has taken the team from 36 wins in 2025 to 52 and counting, earning him the Roger Hanners Manager of the Year Award. He also served as an assistant coach for the Midwest Conference during the Y’all Star Game. The Bob Wolfe Executive of the Year Award: Max Johnson, Florence Y’alls The Fran Riordan Citizenship Award: Nolan Thebiay, Evansville Otters The Darren Bush Coach of the Year Award: Harrison DiNicola, Florence Y’alls The Sam Hartsfield Clubbie of the Year Award: Wyatt Draz, Joliet Slammers The Robert Ford Broadcaster of the Year Award (TIE): Spencer Pattison, Down East Bird Dawgs and Terry Bonadonna, Windy City ThunderBolts The Frontier League Trainer of the Year Award: Myles Thornton, Lake Erie Crushers The Frontier League Writer of the Year Award: Mikaël Lalancette, Le Soleil The Frontier League Umpire of the Year Award: Alex Lawrie The Frontier League would also like to recognize the following 2026 organizational award winners: Organization of the Year: Florence Y’alls Field of the Year: Superior Metal Structures and Concrete Field at Historic Grainger Stadium (Down East Bird Dawgs) Hotel of the Year: Delta Hotels by Marriott Québec (Québec Capitales) Now, introducing the 2026 All-Frontier League Team: Starting Pitcher: Kobe Foster, Washington Wild Things Relief Pitcher: Cooper Morgan, Québec Capitales Catcher: Derek Bender, Brockton Rox First Base: Andrew Czech, Washington Wild Things Second Base: Brett Blomquist, Florence Y’alls Third Base: Felix Stevens, New Jersey Jackals Shortstop: Kyle Crowl, Québec Capitales Outfield: Anthony Brocato, Washington Wild Things Outfield: Chavez Young, Québec Capitales Outfield: Dylan Broderick, Tri-City ValleyCats Designated Hitter: Carlos Peña, Windy City ThunderBolts

 Washington's Central Division magic number dropped to one behind Zach Kirby's seven shutout innings and three home runs in a dominant 7-0 win over Gateway, while Schaumburg lowered their playoff magic number to four with a walk-off 9-8 victory over Florence to open the final week of the season. Down East got a walk-off solo home run from Kalae Harrison in the ninth to take the series opener over Evansville, and New Jersey got back in the win column with a strong performance from Jorhan Laboy. Tri-City, Ottawa and Mississippi also picked up wins on Tuesday. TROIS-RIVIÈRES AIGLES 0 @ OTTAWA TITANS 2 – In just two hours and two minutes, the Ottawa Titans (52-43) bounced back to defeat the Trois-Rivières Aigles (35-62) by a 2-0 final on Tuesday night. EVANSVILLE OTTERS 6 @ DOWN EAST BIRD DAWGS 7 – Kalae Harrison delivered a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to cap a three-RBI night and lift the Down East Bird Dawgs to a 7-6 victory over the Evansville Otters at Historic Grainger Stadium Tuesday night, taking the series opener and improving to 46-51 on the season. TRI-CITY VALLEYCATS 9 @ NEW YORK BOULDERS 7 – The Tri-City ValleyCats pushed back the fall for a night as Ian Walters doubled in Dylan Broderick, who doubled in the previous at-bat, in the top of the ninth on the way to a 9-7 win over the New York Boulders on September 1. NEW JERSEY JACKALS 5 @ QUÉBEC CAPITALES 1 – Jorhan Laboy was magnificent on Tuesday night as the Jackals got back in the win column with a much needed 5-1 over the Capitales. GATEWAY GRIZZLIES 0 @ WASHINGTON WILD THINGS 7 – Behind a stellar start from Zach Kirby over seven shutout frames for his eighth win, three big homers from Anthony Brocato, Andrew Czech and Wagner Lagrange and a Down East walk-off win over Evansville, the Central Division magic number came down to one Tuesday night with a 7-0 shutout victory for Washington, its 11th shutout of the season. FLORENCE Y'ALLS 8 @ SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS 9 – The Schaumburg Boomers kicked off a huge series to open the final week of the season beginning the last home series of the year by drawing 11 walks in a 9-8 victory over the Florence Y’Alls, inching closer to a playoff slot. The win lowers the magic number to clinch a fifth playoff slot in six years down to four as the Boomers are two games clear of both Florence and Windy City with five games remaining. LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS 5 @ WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS 2 – The Lake Erie Crushers (40-56) continue to play spoiler at the end of 2026, and their latest victim was the Windy City ThunderBolts (52-45). Lake Erie walked into Ozinga Field and bested the Bolts 5-2 to open the final road series of the season. MISSISSIPPI MUD MONSTERS 5 @ JOLIET SLAMMERS 3 – With help from a strong start by Brian Williams, Slater Schield’s sixth-inning bases-clearing triple proved to be the difference in a 5-3 win for the Mississippi Mud Monsters (38-58) over the Joliet Slammers (40-57) Tuesday night at Slammers Stadium.

AVON, OH – In the regular season's penultimate week, Sussex County Miners right-handed pitcher Kellen Brothers delivered a strong performance to capture Pitcher of the Week. Brothers struck out 19 over 14 scoreless innings. Sussex County Miners right-handed pitcher Kellen Brothers recorded two scoreless starts to take home Pitcher of the Week. Brothers struck out ten batters across eight innings against the Trois-Rivières Aigles on Tuesday. He allowed five hits and walked none in a 14-2 Miners' victory. Brothers started again on Sunday against the New Jersey Jackals, striking out nine over six shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and walked two in the win. Overall, Brothers finished the week with 19 strikeouts, six hits allowed, and two walks over 14 scoreless innings. Brothers is in his third season with the Miners. He leads the League in strikeouts (128) this season and is among the League leaders in innings pitched (105.2). Brothers joined the Miners in 2024 after graduating from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, where he was named All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference twice.

AVON, OH – In the regular season's penultimate week, Tri-City ValleyCats outfielder Dylan Broderick delivered a strong performance to capture Player of the Week. Broderick hit .444 (8-for-18) with four home runs and 11 RBIs. Tri-City ValleyCats outfielder Dylan Broderick tallied six extra-base hits in seven games to earn Player of the Week. Broderick opened his week by going 2-for-4 with a double against the Down East Bird Dawgs on Tuesday. He hit a two-run home run on Thursday in his only at-bat before the game was suspended. Broderick hit another two-run home run on Friday, scoring the first two of Tri-City's ten runs. He saved his best for last, going 3-for-4 on Sunday with a pair of home runs, six RBIs, and a walk. Broderick drove in all six runs with two swings, recording a grand slam in the third inning and a two-run home run in the fifth. Broderick is in his third season with the ValleyCats. He was named an All-Star this season, and his 1.009 OPS currently ranks seventh-best among qualified hitters. Broderick started his Frontier League career with the Washington Wild Things, for whom he played six games in 2023 after graduating from Pittsburgh-Johnstown University.

Down East made Frontier League history as Kenny Levari's go-ahead single in the ninth inning became the 1,000th hit of the Bird Dawgs' season — breaking a league record previously held by the 2005 Washington Wild Things — to lift Down East past Tri-City. Washington capped their road trip with a sweep after defeating Florence for the sixth consecutive time at Thomas More Stadium, while Québec improved to 67-28 with a shutout win over Ottawa, and Windy City moved into a tie for the league's final playoff spot with a victory in Mississippi. Evansville, Gateway, Sussex County, Brockton and Joliet also picked up wins on Sunday. WASHINGTON WILD THINGS 9 @ FLORENCE Y'ALLS 2 – Washington got a quality start and plenty enough offense in the road regular season finale to take down the Y’alls for the sixth-straight time at Thomas More Stadium, as the Wild Things finished the road trip with a sweep with a 9-2 win in Northern Kentucky. LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS 6 @ EVANSVILLE OTTERS 7 – The Evansville Otters (59-37) overcame a comeback attempt to win the final regular season home game and series against the Lake Erie Crushers (39-56) on Sunday afternoon, 7-6. GATEWAY GRIZZLIES 11 @ SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS 5 – The Gateway Grizzlies got an excellent start on the mound from Ben Harris (7-6) and a similarly excellent start at the plate on Sunday afternoon, scoring six runs in the first inning en route to an 11-5 win at Wintrust Field over the Schaumburg Boomers, clinching the season series against their West Division rivals in the process while avoiding the weekend sweep SUSSEX COUNTY MINERS 4 @ NEW JERSEY JACKALS 2 – The Sussex County Miners held the New Jersey Jackals to just five hits on Sunday afternoon, clinching a 4-2 victory over a Jackals squad fresh off celebrating their own playoff berth. NEW YORK BOULDERS 4 @ BROCKTON ROX 5 – The Brockton Rox rallied from a 4-0 deficit after the sixth inning to defeat the New York Boulders 5-4 in Sunday's series finale at Campanelli Stadium, denying the Boulders a chance to claim the #1 Wild Card spot in the Atlantic Conference and close the gap on the East Division leaders. DOWN EAST BIRD DAWGS 9 @ TRI-CITY VALLEYCATS 8 – Kenny Levari's go-ahead infield single in the ninth inning — the 1,000th hit of the Bird Dawgs' season, breaking a Frontier League record previously held by the 2005 Washington Wild Things — capped a wild finish and lifted Down East to a 9-8 victory over the Tri-City ValleyCats at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Sunday afternoon, splitting the six-game series and wrapping up the road schedule at 20-31. JOLIET SLAMMERS 7 @ TROIS-RIVIÈRES AIGLES 4 – The Joliet Slammers won 7-4 on Sunday evening against the Trois-Rivières Aigles, avoiding the sweep at Stade de Trois-Rivières OTTAWA TITANS 0 @ QUÉBEC CAPITALES 6 – The Québec Capitales improved to 67-28 on the season by shutting out the Ottawa Titans for a 6-0 victory on Sunday night, handing Ottawa its fourth scoreless game of the season. WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS 7 @ MISSISSIPPI MUD MONSTERS 4 – The ThunderBolts scored six runs in the fifth inning to beat the Mississippi Mud Monsters 7-4 and move into a tie for the Frontier League’s final playoff spot at Trustmark Park Sunday night.