SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - World-renown competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi wowed the Boomers faithful who stuck around to see the Boomers grab a 1-0 walk-off victory in Game Two of the first home series in franchise history.

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The 34-year-old competitor held the world record for hot dog eating for nearly six years and is currently the unofficial record holder for most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes with 69. Saturday evening, at Boomers Stadium, Kobayashi polished off the two-foot, 1.5 pound Brat-a-Boom in an incredible 1 minute and 55 seconds! The Brat-a-Boom, available exclusively at the third base concession stand at the home of the Schaumburg Boomers, is a pound and a half bratwurst on a two-foot pretzel bun, slathered with Levy Restaurant's special beer cheese, topped with sauerkraut and diced applewood smoked bacon, finished with deep-fried onion strings.

First-baseman Nick Kuroczko of the Schaumburg Boomers broke a scoreless tie for a 1-0 victory over the Florence Freedom at Boomers Stadium Saturday evening, scoring on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the home half of the thirteenth for the first walk-off victory in Boomers history.

Pitching and defense were the name of the game for both Frontier League teams Friday with the Boomers finally able to break through in the 13th. Kuroczko led off the inning with a sharp single through the right side and wound up at second on an error. After Boomers leftfielder Sean Mahley drew a walk to load the bases, Kuroczko dove into home to score the winning run on a wild pitch by Freedom reliever Jorge Marban, who took the loss for the visitors.

Reliever Jose Rodriguez (1-0) claimed the victory for the Boomers after throwing a scoreless frame in the top of the 13th but is was a very well pitched ballgame by both teams. Boomers starter RHP Tyler Watkins (2-0, 1.26) was excellent in his 8.1 innings of work. The rookie right-hander surrendered just 4 hits while striking out 3 Freedom hitters. Maxx Catapano (0-0, 1.20) was up to the challenge for Florence allowing just 3 hits over his 8 innings of work.

The Boomers look to capture the series sweep tomorrow with RHP Robbie Penny (0-0, 1.29) set to square off against LHP Andres Caceras (1-0, 2.57) for a 6:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.

PECKS

• The Boomers signed LHP Eric Holmes, a rookie out of Bradley University, prior to the game and also placed LHP Thomas Nelson on the 7-day disabled list.
• Boomers SS Gerard Hall left the game in the fourth with an apparent shoulder injury after diving head first on a steal of second base.

Bonus fireworks highlight another exciting night of Boomers Baseball on Sunday, May 27. The gang from Melrose Pyrotechnics is back at Boomers Stadium for the second time this weekend and will follow up Friday’s extravaganza with another great show after the 6:30 p.m. contest. Tickets are available now by calling the Boomers at 847.461.3695, stopping by the Boomers Box office located at 1999 S. Springinsguth Rd. or online at www.boomersbaseball.com.