Florence Y'alls

The Florence Y'alls are a professional baseball team based in Florence, Kentucky. The Y'alls compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the Midwest Division. The franchise is one of the oldest current running teams of the league. Founded in 1994, the team was known as the Erie Sailors for their first season. For the next four seasons, the team was named the Johnstown Steal, then the Johnstown Johnnies until 2002, as well as the Florence Freedom until 2019.

The Y'alls have had the most playoff berths in all FL franchises based in the United States (11), and are third overall amongst active teams in total Frontier Cup championships, behind the Schaumburg Boomers (4) and Windy City ThunderBolts (3). The Y'alls played their home games at Foundation Field from 1994 until 2004, after playing for 10 years at that facility. They moved into Thomas More Stadium beginning with the 2004 season.

Between the 2001 and 2011 seasons, the Y'alls missed the playoffs 11 seasons in a row. After that, from 2012 to 2021, they made the playoffs 5 times in 10 seasons.

History

The team began in Erie, Pennsylvania, as the Erie Sailors in 1994, before moving to Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1995, where it was first known as the Johnstown Steal then the Johnstown Johnnies beginning in 1998.<ref name="digparks">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team won two Frontier League championships in their time in Johnstown, one in 1995 as the Steal and one in 2000 as the Johnnies.<ref name="flhist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team was sold after the 2002 season and moved to Florence, where it became known as the Freedom.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In July 2004, shortly after the opening of Champion Window Field, contractors began filing liens against the Freedom, accusing the team of not paying for work done on the stadium. Eventually, 33 liens totaling US$4.7 million were filed. In August, Fifth Third Bank sued team part-owner Chuck Hildebrant for failing to repay multiple loans taken out to finance the stadium construction. As part of the lawsuit, it was revealed that Hildebrant had used Template:Convert of land that he did not own as collateral for the loans, and that he had given the bank a forged document as proof of ownership.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hildebrant was later the subject of a federal white collar crime investigation and sentenced to prison in October 2005.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team was sold in November 2004 to a new ownership group led by Clint Brown, who was not associated with Hildebrant's ownership group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2005, former Chillicothe Paints manager Jamie Keefe was signed as the team's new manager. Keefe led the Freedom to their first winning record (53–42). The team finished tied for second place in the Frontier League's East Division, missing out on the playoffs by a tiebreaker. Three Freedom players hit more than 20 home runs in 2005—outfielder Mike Galloway (24), designated hitter Kyle Geswein (24), and first baseman Trevor Hall (23). closer Ted Rowe tied for the league lead in saves with 17.<ref name="flohist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2006, the Freedom had a losing record of 38–50, finishing fifth in the Frontier League East Division.<ref name="flohist" />

In 2007, the Freedom again had a sub-.500 record, going 42–54 for the season. This placed the team third in the East Division. Outfielder Reggie Watson led the league in batting average (.357) and steals (20), while also winning the Home Run Derby at the 2007 Frontier League All-Star Game, hosted by Florence. Outfielder Ryan Basham earned the Frontier League Rookie of the Year award, hitting .298 with 17 home runs on the season.<ref name="flohist" />

In 2007, Champion Window Field, home of the Freedom, hosted its first Frontier League All-Star Game, with the Freedom's East Division winning 11–3. The Freedom's Reggie Watson had three runs batted in and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. The game's attendance of 4,483 set a new attendance record for Florence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Failed verification

In 2008, the team finished with a 47–49 record, missing a playoff spot by four games. For the first time, the Freedom attracted over 100,000 fans to Champion Window Field, with a total of 106,707 fans for the year.<ref name="flohist" />

In early 2008, the Freedom changed their primary colors from red, white, and blue to black, red, and silver.<ref name="colors">Freedom Introduce New Logo, Colors and Uniforms for 2008 at oursportscentral.com, URL accessed December 31, 2009. Archived 12/31/09</ref>

In 2009, the Freedom opened against the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti at home on May 20.<ref name="recap">Sliders Spoil Freedom's Opening Day at florencefreedom.com, URL accessed December 31, 2009. Archived 12/31/09</ref> Florence opened 2009 with two major changes—FieldTurf instead of a natural grass surface and a new coaching staff.<ref name="turf">Freedom Host First Game on New Turf Sunday at oursportscentral.com, URL accessed December 31, 2009. Archived 12/31/09</ref> Toby Rumfield became the new field manager, and Freedom alumni Greg Stone, the Freedom's all-time hit leader, as hitting coach and Bill Browett as pitching coach.<ref name="coaches">New Coaching Staff At Florence at frontierleague.com, URL accessed December 31, 2009. 12/31/09 Template:Dead link</ref>

Clint Brown died in January 2018 after 15 years as team president and owner.<ref name="Memoriam">Template:Cite news</ref> He was succeeded by his widow, Kim Brown.<ref name="sale">Template:Cite news</ref>

Sale of the team to a group of local investors was finalized July 2019.<ref name="sale" /> In October 2019, the new owners announced a rebranding of the team for the 2020 season, dropping the name Freedom immediately.<ref name="rebrand">Template:Cite news</ref> The new team name, Florence Y'alls, was announced in January 2020.<ref name="yalls">Template:Cite news</ref> The team takes its new name from the local Florence Y'all Water Tower.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Frontier League canceled their 2020 season and did not play.

The Y'alls successfully returned to the playoffs, capturing their fifth division title. However, they lost the first round to the Schaumburg Boomers 3 games to 1.

In March 2022, the Y'alls and Thomas More University partnered to rename the home of the Florence Y'alls Thomas More Stadium. As part of the agreement, the stadium will also become the home of the Thomas More Saints baseball team starting in Spring 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Seasons

Erie Sailors (Frontier League)
Year	W-L	PCT	Place	Postseason
1994<ref name="1994fl">1994 Frontier League at flhistory.com, URL accessed December 31, 2009. Archived 12/31/09</ref>	42–25	.627	2nd in FL East	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Ohio Valley 2–0. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Lancaster Scouts 2–0.
Total	42–25	.627	—
Playoffs	4–0	1.000	—	1 Playoff appearance, 1 Championship
Johnstown Steal/Johnnies (Frontier League)
1995<ref name="johnstown">Johnstown Steal / Johnnies at flhistory.com, URL accessed December 31, 2009. Archived 12/31/09</ref>	46–23	.667	1st in FL	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Richmond Roosters 2–0. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Zanesville Greys 2–0.
1996<ref name="johnstown" />	41–33	.554	2nd in FL East	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Chillicothe Paints 2–1.
1997<ref name="johnstown" />	47–33	.588	1st in FL East	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Canton Crocodiles 2–0.
1998<ref name="johnstown" />	34–43	.442	3rd in FL East	Did not qualify
1999<ref name="johnstown" />	43–41	.512	3rd in FL East	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. London Werewolves 2–0.
2000<ref name="johnstown" />	48–36	.571	1st in FL East	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. London Werewolves 2–0. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Evansville Otters 3–1.
2001<ref name="johnstown" />	44–40	.524	4th in FL East	Did not qualify
2002<ref name="johnstown" />	30–54	.357	6th in FL East	Did not qualify
Total	333–303	.524	—	—
Playoffs	8–9	.471	—	3 Division titles, 5 Playoff appearances, 2 Championships
Florence Freedom/Y'alls (Frontier League)
2003<ref name="flohist" />	27–61	.307	6th in FL East	Did not qualify
2004<ref name="flohist" />	31–65	.323	6th in FL East	Did not qualify
2005<ref name="flohist" />	53–42	.558	3rd in FL East	Did not qualify
2006<ref name="flohist" />	38–56	.404	5th in FL East	Did not qualify
2007<ref name="flohist" />	42–54	.438	3rd in FL East	Did not qualify
2008<ref name="flohist" />	47–49	.490	4th in FL East	Did not qualify
2009<ref name="flohist" />	49–47	.510	3rd in FL East	Did not qualify
2010<ref name="flohist" />	38–58	.396	5th in FL East	Did not qualify
2011<ref name="flohist" />	39–57	.406	6th in FL East	Did not qualify
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||57–39||.594||2nd in FL East||Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Gateway Grizzlies 3–2. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. Southern Illinois Miners 3–1.
2013<ref name="flohist" />	53–43	.552	3rd in FL East	Did not qualify
2014<ref name="flohist" />	41–55	.427	5th in FL East	Did not qualify
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||49–47||.510||3rd in FL East||Lost Frontier League Play-in Game vs. River City Rascals 6–5<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||46–49||.484||4th in FL West||Did not qualify
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||61–35||.635||1st in FL West||Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Washington Wild Things 3–1. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. Schaumburg Boomers 3–1.
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||49–47||.510||3rd in FL West||Did not qualify
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	57–39	.594	2nd in FL West	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Lake Erie Crushers 3–0. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. River City Rascals 3–2.
2020	-	-	-	Season not played due to COVID-19
2021	57–38	.600	1st in FL West	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Schaumburg Boomers 3–1.
2022	39–56	.411	7th in FL West	Did not qualify
2023	38–58	.396	7th in FL West	Did not qualify
2024	44–51	.463	5th in FL West	Did not qualify
Total	865–956	.480	—	—
Playoffs	13–13	.500	—	2 Division titles, 5 Playoff appearances

Alumni

Below is a list of Y'alls alumni who have gone on to play MLB-affiliated baseball. The alumni are sorted by peak level of baseball in which they have participated after playing for Florence. In total, 20 Y'alls alumni have signed professional contracts after playing for Florence, with five making the major leagues.<ref name="alums">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As of July 3, 2021:

MLB

Player	Year w/ FLO	Current/Most recent team	Active
Chris Jakubauskas<ref name="cjakubauskas">Chris Jakubauskas at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>	2003	Columbus Clippers (AAA)	No
Corey Thurman<ref name="cthurman">Corey Thurman at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>	2005	York Revolution (Ind.)	No
Steve Delabar<ref name="sdelabar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2008	Round Rock Express	No
Stephen Cardullo<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2012	High Point Rockers	Yes
Aaron Wilkerson<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2013	Oklahoma City Dodgers	Yes

AAA

Player	Year w/ FLO	Current/Most recent team	Active
Daniel Touchet<ref name="dtouchet">Daniel Touchet at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>	2005	Joliet JackHammers (Ind.)	No
Michael DeMark<ref name="mdemark">Michael DeMark at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>	2006	Tigres de Quintana Roo	No

AA

Player	Year w/ FLO	Current/Most recent team	Active
Elvys Quezada<ref name="equezada">Elvys Quezada at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>	2008	Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks	No
Yosandy Ibanez<ref name="yibanez">Yosandy Ibanez at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>	2008	Pittsfield Colonials	No
Erold Andrus<ref name="eandrus">Erold Andrus at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed May 8, 2010. Archived 5/8/10</ref>	2010	York Revolution	No

A-Advanced

The following Freedom alumni have advanced as far as Class A-Advanced: Jason Tuttle (Freedom 2003),<ref name="jtuttle">Jason Tuttle at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Kevin Rival (2004),<ref name="krival">Kevin Rival at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Tim Turner (2004),<ref name="tturner">Tim Turner at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Mike Galloway (2005),<ref name="mgalloway">Mike Galloway at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Heath Castle (2006),<ref name="hcastle">Heath Castle at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Johnny Washington (2008)<ref name="jwashington">Johnny Washington at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>

A

The following Freedom alumni have advanced as far as Class A: James Morrison (Freedom 2004),<ref name="jmorrison">James Morrison at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Steven Pickerell (2005, 2009),<ref name="spickerell">Steven Pickerell at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Joel Posey (2004–5),<ref name="jposey">Joel Posey at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Conor McGeehan (2006),<ref name="cmcgeehan">Conor McGeehan at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Tyler Evans (2007),<ref name="tevans">Tyler Evans at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Neall French (2008)<ref name="nfrench">Neall French at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>

Short Season A

The following Freedom alumni have advanced as far as Class A-Short Season:

Rookie-Advanced

The following Freedom alumni have advanced as far as Rookie Advanced class: J.D. Foust (Freedom 2004)<ref name="jfoust">Justin Foust at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref>

Rookie

The following Freedom alumni have advanced as far as Rookie Class: Reggie Watson (Freedom 2006–7),<ref name="rwatson">Reggie Watson at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 1/1/10</ref> Preston Vancil (Freedom 2010)<ref name="pvancil">Preston Vancil at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed January 1, 2010. Archived 5/8/10</ref>

• Template:Small

Records

Below is a list of Frontier League individual records set by Y'alls players as of the end of the 2009 season.<ref name="records">League Records at frontierleague.com, URL accessed January 1, 2009. Archived 1/1/10</ref>

Individual game

• Runs batted in – 9 by Garth McKinney on August 11, 2008 (three-way tie)
• Hits – 6 by Matt Cooksey (2006), Nick Salotti (2007), and Garth McKinney (2008) (seven-way tie)
• No-hitter – Preston Vancil on July 26, 2009

Single season

• Games started (pitching) – 22 by Everett Saul in 2009 (three-way tie)

External links

• Template:Official website
• Freedom page at OurSports Central