SCRAPPERS NOTEBOOK From Cafaro Field

From baseball to boxing: Following tonight's game, the Scrappers will depart for a two-game road series at Auburn. Their field will be used Tuesday night for a nationally-televised boxing card featuring undefeated Youngstown middleweight Kelly Pavlik against Rico Cason. "We talked to the Cafaro Company, and the promoter approached us about doing the fight," Scrappers general manager Andy Milovich said. "We thought it was a good idea and a chance to do something new with the facility." Scrappers staff members will be present to facilitate the event, just as they have for 20-plus concerts at the stadium. "The boxing will be relatively easy, at least from an operational standpoint," Milovich said. "Rings are fairly easy to set up. There's very few seats on the field. We lower the net [behind home plate] and go, and just hope for good weather." The ring will be set up between the pitcher's mound and home plate, Milovich said, with three sections of seating surrounding it. ESPN2 cameras will televise from an area in center field. Milovich was asked about damage to the field. "The only thing with concerts that would damage the field is heavy foot traffic, and there are so few seats on the field [for Tuesday] that there really isn't any major concern," he said.
Incoming: After Sunday's game, a helicopter hovered over the Cafaro Field outfield, dropping hundreds of golf balls at a flag. The drop was part of the Rotary Club of Warren fund-raiser benefiting The Children's Rehab Center. Throughout the past couple of months, fans had the opportunity to purchase one of 4,000 raffle tickets -- for $5 each -- with the chance to win up to $7,500 in prize money. Each ticket corresponded to a numbered golf ball. Prizes of $2,500 (first place), $1,500 (second place) and $1,000 (third place) were awarded based on balls closest to the pin. The next 50 closest balls earned contestants $50 each.
Postseason college honors: Three players drafted by the Cleveland Indians this year have been named to the 2003 College All-America Team. First baseman Michael Aubrey from Tulane (first round), outfielder Brad Snyder from Ball State (first round) and catcher Ryan Garko from Stanford (third round) were selected to the first team. Snyder is with the Scrappers, while Garko, who recently participated in the College World Series with the Cardinal, has been assigned to Mahoning Valley.
Speaking of Garko: The Stanford standout is supposed to arrive at Mahoning Valley in the next two weeks. He made a trip back to his hometown of Walnut, Calif., before he begins his professional career. The Cleveland Indians believe Garko could be a first baseman, Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak said. Garko won the Johnny Bench Award this season as the nation's top collegiate catcher.
Promoted: Pitcher Chad Durbin completed his rehab stint with Mahoning Valley and was assigned to Double-A Akron. Durbin went 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA for the Scrappers. The former Kansas City Royals pitcher underwent elbow surgery last year.
Headed to Mahoning Valley: Former big leaguer Chris Magruder is scheduled to rehabilitate an injury with the Scrappers beginning next week. An outfielder, Magruder played in 87 games with the Indians last season, batting .217. He was not tendered a contract for 2003 and signed a minor league deal in December.
-- Brian Richesson