SCRAPPERS Castillo, Kubiak enjoy a reunion

Mahoning Valley defeated last-place Jamestown, 4-2.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Ted Kubiak has a fan in Jamestown, and his name is Benny Castillo.
Kubiak is the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' manager. Castillo holds the same role with the Jamestown Jammers, who conclude a three-game series tonight at Cafaro Field.
The teams' series with each other this season has provided a reunion of sorts for the two managers.
Castillo, 37, is a former outfielder in the Cleveland Indians organization who played under Kubiak in 1995 at Double-A Canton-Akron.
"The first time I saw Teddy this year was the first time I've seen him since ['95], and I basically gave him a big hug and told him thanks for giving me a fair shot," said Castillo, a native Dominican raised in the Bronx, N.Y.
Journeyman
Castillo played for the Indians late in his professional career, which spanned 11 years. When he joined the Cleveland organization, he already had been released several times.
"I played for six teams and that was the best team I'd ever played for," Castillo said of the Indians. "Realistically, if I didn't have a shot, I always felt like I had a shot because Teddy made me feel like I was a big-league player."
Eight years later, Castillo sees no difference in Kubiak's managing style.
"He hasn't changed one bit," Castillo said. "Always has a smile on his face and is always willing to help a kid out. You don't see that a lot with guys who played in the major leagues as long as he did."
Saying good-bye
Castillo was at Canton-Akron for two months before the Indians released him. He spent the remainder of his playing career in independent leagues.
"I always felt like I was one of the boys" with the Indians, Castillo said. "I just remember having a real close relationship with those guys."
While with the Indians, Castillo became close with a number of people, including former Tribe manager Charlie Manuel and late trainer Jim Warfield.
Soon after his stint with Cleveland, Castillo began preparing to manage.
"I wanted to be in baseball," he said. "I wasn't a real superstar. I was an average player, but I played hard and I played every game like it was my last. I was a team player, and I think that opened some doors for me."
Season of struggles
Castillo is a first-year manager in the Florida Marlins organization, trying to lead a struggling Jamestown club. The Jammers are 17-49 and in last place in the New York-Penn League's Pinckney Division.
"He seems to have a good attitude, the way he deals with them," said Kubiak, who dismisses any type of rivalry with his former player. "They've played us hard, but I thought we should have beaten them more than we have."
After Mahoning Valley's 4-2 victory Monday, the season series between Kubiak and Castillo is tied 6-6. They will play tonight and then close the season with three games Sept. 1-3 at Cafaro Field.
"I enjoy managing against him now," Castillo said. "It's tough because I respect him so much, but at the same time I've got to try to kick his butt."
JAMESTOWNSCRAPPERS
abrhbiabrhbi
Seifrig 2b4000Snyder cf5000
Young ss4000Conroy lf4111
Miller cf4110Kouzmanff 3b4010
Bear 1b3021Goleski rf4000
Blake dh4000Mulhern 1b4011
Mattison rf4000Noviskey c2011
Sosa 3b3110Van Every dh2100
Wyman c3011Colmenter ss4111
Thedorf lf3000Lunetta 2b4130
Totals32252Totals33484
Jamestown000110000--2
Scrappers00004000x--4
E--Sosa 2, Mattison. LOB--Scrappers 9, Jamestown 4. 2B--Lunetta, Miller, Bear, Sosa, Wyman. SB--Mulhern, Bear. CS--Noviskey.
IPHRERBBSO
Jamestown
Primus L, 1-34 1-354413
Russell2 2-310014
Cillo120002
Scrappers
Lincoln W, 3-0 542216
Pereyra310005
Southerland S, 2100001
HBP--by Primus (Van Every), by Cillo (Van Every). Umpires--Darren Budahn, home; John Tumpane, bases. T--2:28. A--3,269.
HOW THEY SCORED
FOURTH INNING
JAMESTOWN 1, SCRAPPERS 0
Jammers: Roger Lincoln pitching. Dusty Young flied out to left. Jai Miller doubled to left, Ryan Bear doubled to left, Miller scored. Ryan Blake struck out. Justin Mattison flied out to left. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left.
FIFTH INNING
SCRAPPERS 4, JAMESTOWN 2
Jammers: Lincoln pitching. Pablo Sosa doubled to left, Spencer Wyman doubled to right, Sosa scored. Chris Thedorf struck out. Cole Seifrig struck out. Young flied out to right. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left.
Scrappers: Carl Primus pitching. Jonathan Van Every hit by pitch, Jesus Colmenter singled to right, Van Every scored, Colmenter to second on an error by the right-fielder. Anthony Lunetta singled to right, Colmenter to third. Brad Snyder flied out to left. Mike Conroy singled to right, Colmenter scored, Lunetta to second. Kevin Kouzmanoff singled to left, Lunetta to third, Conroy to second. Eddie Russell pitching. Ryan Goleski flied out to right. Ryan Mulhern singled in the infield, Lunetta scored, Conroy to third, Kouzmanoff to second. Josh Noviskey walked, Conroy scored, Kouzmanoff to third, Mulhern to second. Van Every struck out. 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 3 left.
richesson@vindy.com