SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Schaumburg Boomers Professional Baseball team took the home field for the first time in franchise history Friday evening and did not disappoint, claiming a 5-2 victory over the Florence Freedom and introducing the energetic crowd of 6,067 fans to the unique brand of entertainment that is Boomers Baseball!

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The Boomers Opener featured the village’s first experience with the brand-new HD video board from Daktronics and the wacky between inning fun during the triumphant return of minor league baseball to Schaumburg. From other new events to area baseball fans such as “the Joust” to the “Boomer Dance” to staples of minor league baseball like the “Mascot Race” and the “Dizzy Bat Race,” the Boomers are here to stay!

A pitcher’s duel for the first five innings of the game, Schaumburg’s Cameron Roth and Florence’s Dan DeSimone allowed just two hits each and the game remain scoreless until Florence solved Roth in the top of the sixth inning. Peter Fatse tripled into the right-center gap and scored on a sharp single up the middle from Chris Curley.

The Boomers discovered an answer of their own in the bottom of the sixth, putting together their top offensive inning of the year. Schaumburg strung together five consecutive hits with one out including four for extra bases to take a 5-1 lead. Drew Heithoff opened the inning with a single and scored from first when Jereme Milons banged a double off the wall in left. Gerard Hall scored Milons with a double into the left field corner. Frank Pfister posted a triple down the right field line to make it a 3-1 lead. Nate Baumann drilled the first homer at Boomers Stadium with a two-run blast to left for the first homer of his career.

Florence pulled within 5-2 in the eighth as Fatse again tripled and scored. Roth pitched 7.1 innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Alex Theiroff posted a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to finish off the opening victory. Pfister and Heithoff posted two hits apiece in the victory.

Schaumburg (4-3) continues the series with Florence tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive magnet schedules, and a foam prairie chicken helmet. Competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi will be in attendance to showcase his skills and as a special, $1 hot dogs will be available. RHP Tyler Watkins (1-0, 3.00) takes the hill for the Boomers against RHP Maxx Catapano (0-0, 2.57).

PECKS

• Heithoff posted the first hit in franchise history at Boomers Stadium in the bottom of the third
• Florence’s Jim Jacquot collected the first Frontier League hit in the park in the top of the second

Season Tickets, Group Outings and single-game tickets for the Inaugural Season of Schaumburg Boomers Baseball are on sale now by calling the 847.461.3695, by visiting www.boomersbaseball.com or by stopping by Schaumburg Boomers Stadium located at 1999 S. Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg.