Archive for the ‘Scrappers’ Category

Ted Kubiak had been promising for a week or so that his team was capable of scoring runs.  Tuesday night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers delivered on Kubiak’s statement and posted a big number in a 6-2 win over the Williamsport Crosscutters.

Williamsport scored the first run of the game.  Speedy Diego Gonzalez reached first on a bunt single.  Gonzalez then stole second and went to third on a throwing error.  He then scored when the next batter, Chace Numata, hit a ball that second baseman Robel Garcia could not field cleanly.

The Scrappers answered in the bottom of the first.  Jairo Kelly singled up the middle and moved to second base on a Tyler Naquin single.  Kelly was caught stealing third which proved costly as the next batter, Juan Romero, hit his league-leading fourth home run of the season (below) to stake Mahoning Valley to a 2-1 lead.

The Scrappers tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second.  Erik Gonzalez started the frame with a walk and stole second.  Evan Frazer and Garcia also walked to load the bases off of Crosscutter starter Jonathan Musser.  With one out, Naquin walked forcing in a run.  Charlie Valerio greeted new Williamsport pitcher, Luis Gonzalez with a two-run single increasing the lead to 5-1.

“I am really impressed with this bunch”, boasted Kubiak.  “They bring a lot of energy and attitude and our pregame workouts have gone really well.”

The Scrappers added a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a commanding 6-1 lead.  Naquin recorded his third hit of the night, an RBI-double, that plated Garcia and seemingly put the Scrappers in the drivers seat in this one.

Ryan Merritt (above) pitched five complete innings for the Scrappers in picking up the win.  Merritt scattered six hits and gave up an earned run while striking out three Crosscutters and walking one.  The outing started shaky, but Merritt really dialed in after the rough first inning to keep Williamsport at bay.

“I am impressed with him [Merritt]”, said Kubiak.  “It seems that the longer the game goes, the better he gets.  He has good control, but we have to address this slow start thing, maybe we can get him to throw longer before the game starts to some fake batters.”

Jacob Lee ,Rafael Homblert, and Robert Wagner closed out the game yielding just one unearned run in the four innings combined.

The Fifth Annual Eastwood Field Summer Baseball Camps are scheduled for July 10-12 at Eastwood Field.  Craig Antush is the lead instructor of this year’s camp which is open to boys and girls aged 6-14.

Each of the three days are broken into three options:

Option 1 runs from 9 am until noon and is a fundamentals camp for hitting, throwing, and fielding.  The cost for this portion of the camp is $125.00 per participant.

Option 2 runs from 12:30 pm until 2 pm and concentrates solely on pitching skills such as release point, proper leg drive, mechanics, and motion.  The cost for the pitching-only option is $60.00.

Option 3 is simply the combination of options 1 and 2 at a reduced rate.  The all-day camp cost is $150.00.  If campers plan on attending the all-day camp, they will need to bring a lunch.

These camps will take place come rain or shine.Videotaping will take place Tuesday and Thursday only.

To register contact the Scrapper offices at 330-505-0000 or call Crain Antush at 330-539-4577.  Registration for the camps have begun, so call to reserve a spot as space is limited!

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have been struggling for offense through the first week of the 2012 season.  Monday night, the Scrappers managed to score a couple of runs, but Williamsport scored a third to win the game 3-2.

“We just are not scoring runs”, said Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak.  “After losing the three on the road, I was very pleased from a developmental standpoint of the day workout we had here today.  These kids are all very upbeat and were in good spirits today, we just did not get the win tonight.”

In the bottom of the third inning, the Scrappers scored the first run of the game when Jairo Kelly found his way on base and trotted home on a Charlie Valerio single.

The Scrappers would double their lead in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 2-0 lead.  Aaron Siliga crossed the plate with the run.  Siliga reached base on a double and later scored when Williamsport SS Roman Quinn could not handle a hard hit ball by the Scrappers Erik Gonzalez.  Although Quinn was given an error, Gonzalez was still credited with an RBI because Siliga broke on contact for home.

Luis DeJesus was cruising right along with a no-hitter into the fifth inning when Crosscutter right fielder Mitch Pointer made it a 2-1 game with one swing of the bat.  Pointer hit a DeJesus offering into the right field Scrappers bullpen.  Michael Peoples pitched the ninth for the Scrappers.

DeJesus pitched six full innings for the Scrappers, yielding just three hits, and striking out eight while walking none.

“He [DeJesus] is a hard worker”, said Scrappers pitching coach Greg Hibbard. “He is doing a good job of throwing his fastball on both sides of the plate and gets his breaking stuff over.  When he throws strikes and relies on the defense behind him, he will do well.”

“My dad always told me not to get mad or show emotion”, said DeJesus.  “My mentality after the home run was to keep going.  I was still confident and was surprised to learn that I had eight strikeouts tonight.”

The Scrappers could not hold the lead DeJesus managed to garner before exiting.  Larry Green scored on Pointer’s double with one out.  Cody Penny was the Scrapper to relieve DeJesus.  Penny had Green down with an 0-2 count before losing that battle.

The next batter, Mitch Walding singled up the middle to score Pointer and give Williamsport a 3-2 lead.

The Scrappers had a couple of runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to score.

Meeting for the fourth time in as many days, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Jamestown Jammers continued a pattern of alternating whose turn it was to win.  On Thursday, Jamestown jumped out to a three run lead and held on to earn a split with the Scrappers, posting a 6-2 win in Niles.

Jamestown scored in the top of the first inning when Anthony Gomez, a pest in the Scrappers sides all night, walked and stole second.  Gomez trotted home with the game’s first run when Viosergy Rosa doubled.

Mahoning Valley tied it up in the bottom half of the first when Jose Ramirez started with a single and stole second.  After advancing to third, Ramirez trotted home on a wild pitch.

Scrappers starting pitcher Ryan Merritt lasted four innings and had a shaky outing.  Merritt gave up nine hits and four earned runs before departing with his team trailing 4-1.  Merritt was relieved by Rafael Homblert.  Cody Penny started the seventh and  Luis Encarnacion finished for the Scrappers (2-2).

Brian Dice homered for the Jammers in the sixth to increase the lead to 5-1.

The Scrappers didn’t fare much better with the bats on “Buck Night”. Ramirez singled to start the game and doubled in the eighth, and Mitchell Nilsson, Juan Romero and Hunter Jones singled for the Scrappers only hits in the game.

Jacob Esch, who relieved Jamestown starter Ryan Newell to start the third, earned the win in relief.  Esch pitched five scoreless innings in picking up the win.

The Scrappers take to the road for a three-game series at State College before returning home Monday for six consecutive home games.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers opened the doors to Eastwood Field Wednesday night.  The fans, all 5,122 of them, were treated to extra innings against the Jamestown Jammers.  The Scrappers pulled out a dramatic 11^th inning 2-1 victory to raise their record to 2-1 on the young season.

The Scrappers loaded the bases with nobody out in the 11th.  Evan Frazar hit into a fielders choice for a force at home.  That brought Juan Romero to the plate, bases jammed, one out.  Romero walked on four pitches to force Joseph Wendle across the plate with the winning rub.

Tyler Naquin, the Cleveland Indians First Round Draft Pick (pictured above), showed why he was taken early a couple of weeks ago with a 3-4 plate performance.  Naquin collected his first professional hit in the first inning, stole second, and doubled in his next at-bat.  Proving he was not a one-dimensional player, the Scrappers young center fielder showed off his arm with a couple of very strong throws to third base after catches.

There are kinks to work out, but this will be a fun team to see.  The Scrappers got on the scoreboard first when Charlie Valerio doubled.  The next batter, Joseph Wendle, singled home Valerio to put the Scrappers ahead, 1-0.

“I have never played in front of this many people before”, said Wendle.  “It is going to be a fun Summer here and I like my host family, so far it has been a great experience.”

Scrappers starter Luis DeJesus had a good outing for Mahoning Valley.  DeJesus threw five scoreless innings, had a pair of strikeouts and yielded a walk in his debut before exiting with a knee problem.  Michael Peoples took over on the mound to start the sixth.

Jamestown rallied in the seventh when Juancito Martinez singled in Jose Behar to tie the game at a run each.

Louis Head came out of the Scrappers bullpen to start the eighth inning of the 1-1 game.   Head threw three scoreless innings in his relief stint, but the Scrappers could not get a run in the bottom of the ninth and play continued into extra innings.

“I thought Head and Peoples gave us tremendous innings out of the bullpen tonight”, said manager Ted Kubiak (above).  “Our guys in the middle made solid plays on hard chances and it was nice to hear these people here cheering for us tonight.”

One of last years returning players, Enosil Tejeda, started the 11^th for the Scrappers and picked up the win.

These two teams meet again on Thursday before the Scrappers get on the bus and head east until Monday.  The first pitch on “Buck Night” is scheduled for 7:05.

 The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are looking for host families for the upcoming 2012 season. Families have the opportunity to host a Scrappers player during the season, receive complementary tickets to each home game, discounts on team merchandise and more.

Scrappers host families share their home with a Scrappers player from June through mid-September.  The schedule of only 38 home games, practice, and other player obligations result in the player spending minimal time in the host family home.  Families wishing to be considered for the host family program are required to fill out a questionnaire.

If you would like more information about becoming a host family, are interested in hosting a Scrappers player for this season, or would like a copy of the host family questionnaire, please contact Tim Pozsgai with the Scrappers at (330) 505-0000 or email at tpozsgai@mvscrappers.com.

How many people can see they had Jason Kipnis, CC Sabathia, or Victor Martinez as a house guest?  You can help the Indians organization and enjoy a Summer at Eastwood Field!

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are proud to announce their most action packed promotional schedule in team history.  Highlighting the 2012 schedule will be seven post-game fireworks shows, five giveaway nights highlighted by a Jason Kipnis bobblehead giveaway on August 18 and celebrity appearances by Days of Our Lives Star “Brady Black” on July 28 and wresting superstars Matt Hardy and Carlito for a post-game wrestling show on July 29. The 2012 New York-Penn League All-Star Game will also be held at Eastwood Field for the first time on August 14.

Every Monday Matters presented by Grace Fellowship Church.  Bring a donation of new books, non-perishable food items, or clothing for a free ticket to the game.

$2 Tuesdays presented by Pepsi, Handel’s Ice Cream and Hershey’s. Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs, 16 oz. drinks, appetizers and ice cream sandwiches all game long.

Military Wednesdays presented by Carter Lumber.  Show a Military ID at the Scrappers box office for 2 free box seat game tickets.

Thursday Buck Nights presented by PNC Bank.  Fans can enjoy $1 General Admission tickets, hot dogs and 12 oz. drinks throughout the game.

Fridays feature a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza presented by 21 WFMJ and WBCB.

Saturdays include the Scrappers Night Live Series, with a live performance or entertainment act each Saturday Night presented by House Medic.

Sundays are Family Fun Days presented by Vlad Pediatrics. Come out and enjoy family friendly entertainment all game long.  Be sure to stick around for post-game kids run the bases after each game.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers announced today that former Cleveland Indians player and manager, Mike Hargrove, will be the keynote speaker at the New York-Penn League All-Star Luncheon presented by PNC Bank on August 14 at the Magnuson Grand Hotel in Warren, Ohio.

Hargrove played twelve seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres. After retiring, Hargrove went on to manage the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.

Luncheon tickets are available for $35 by contacting the Scrappers front office. All Star Game tickets are also available starting at just $10.

For more information, contact the Scrappers front office at (330) 505-0000.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are excited to host a special day game, presented by Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Eastwood Field between the Youngstown State University Penguins and the University of Pittsburgh. Gates will open at 10:30 am with first pitch at 11:00 am .

The Scrappers have an affordable package available for area schools. The cost of the school package is only $5.00 per student and includes a game ticket, lunch and an educational curriculum.

The Scrappers are taking reservations and encourage groups to sign up early to guarantee seating. The deadline for groups is Friday, April 13, 2012. Should you not be a part of a school group, individual game tickets will be available for $5.00 each.

For more information, contact the Scrappers Front Office at (330) 505-0000.

Every once in the while, something with a national flavor comes to the Mahoning Valley.  This year, sports fans will have the opportunity to catch the New York Penn League All-Star Game, which will be held at Eastwood Field.

The game will be played for the first time in the Mahoning Valley Scrappers team history on Tuesday, August 14, 2012.  The general public will have its first chance to purchase All-Star Game tickets beginning Monday, January 23, 2012 at 8:30 am.

Tickets will be available at the Eastwood Field Box Office, online at www.mvscrappers.com or by calling 330-505-0000. Ticket prices range from $10 to $18.

All-Star event tickets will also be available for Monday, August 13 for the All-Star Valley Gala and for the All-Star Luncheon and Post-Game Party on Tuesday, August 14.