A Scrapper slump-snapper

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Anthony Lunetta was surrounded by screaming, autograph-seeking kids, who wanted to hang out with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' shortstop.
"I don't even think they have a clue that I hit a home run tonight," Lunetta said.
Probably not, but that's OK. To kids, it doesn't matter. To kids, it wouldn't matter if Lunetta had a .191 batting average, which he took into Wednesday's game against the Oneonta Tigers at Cafaro Field.
But Lunetta, the former USC standout, may be on his way to breaking out of his early-season slump.
If his batting average begins to rise, think back to Wednesday's dramatic ninth-inning home run, which rallied the Scrappers to a 4-3, 10-inning victory.
"Struggling like I am, it's always good to get a boost like that, to hit a ball like that, in a situation like that," Lunetta said. "It obviously builds confidence, and hopefully it will continue."
Memorable at-bat
With the Scrappers trailing 3-2, Lunetta stepped into the batter's box to lead off the ninth inning, having gone hitless in his first three at-bats.
A ninth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians, Lunetta battled the count full against Oneonta pitcher Christopher Homer.
"I was just trying to put the bat on the ball," Lunetta recalled. "I was just trying to get on base and spark a rally. I'm just struggling anyway, so I just wanted to get something started."
He did a whole lot more than that. Lunetta ripped a solo home run over the left-field wall to send the game into extra innings.
"The last time I hit one good like that, it went off the top of the wall," said Lunetta, whose home run was the first of his professional career. "So I was sprinting. I didn't even see where it landed."
Lunetta feels that his slow start can be attributed mainly to his adjustment to the wooden bat. College players have the benefit of using aluminum bats, which are known for their lively results.
"Maybe the wood bat is giving him some trouble. He's still learning how to swing it," Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak said. "But in crucial spots, he stands out. Whether he makes an out or not, in those spots, he does a good job."
Walking in the winner
In the 10th, the Scrappers loaded the bases against Homer, who threw four straight balls to Jesus Colmenter, forcing Brad Snyder home with the winning run.
"I've had Jesus for a number of years, and I've seen him become a good hitter," Kubiak said. "He looked calm in that at-bat. I was glad he was up there. I know he would have done something."
Mahoning Valley (13-9) overcame Oneonta (14-7), the Stedler Division's top team, by rallying from a 3-0 deficit. In fact, the Scrappers were held hitless through the first five innings.
"We do that often. We lay down and go through the motions at the beginning," Lunetta said of the team's slow start. "Something sparks, and then once we get a crack in the door, we go through that door wide open."
Josh Noviskey singled in the sixth for the Scrappers' first hit, and Ceasar Suarez scored the team's first runs with a two-run double in the eighth.
That set the stage for Lunetta's home run and the game-ending walk.
ONEONTAMAHONING VALLEY
abrhbiabrhbi
Rodland 2b5210Colmenter 2b4001
Giarrantano ss5130Lunetta ss4111
KIrkland 3b3000Mulhern 1b4010
Hunt 1b4001Conroy lf4000
Huddleston dh4002Goleski rf4120
McKinney lf5010Snyder cf3110
Sanchez c4010Noviskey dh3010
Flowers rf4000Chauncey c3100
Blue cf4020Suarez 3b4022
Cotto pr0000
Totals38383Totals33484
Oneonta1020000000--3
Mahoning Valley0000000211--4
One out when winning run scored.
E--Colmenter. DP--Mahoning Valley 1, Oneonta 1. LOB--Oneonta 9, Mahoning Valley 5. HR--Lunetta. 2B--Giarrantano, Suarez. SB--Blue. SH--Noviskey.
IPHRERBBSO
Oneonta
Vasquez400004
Santo2 2-320004
Ronz1 1-332201
Homer L, 0-11 1-332231
Mahoning Valley
Perez543134
Davis210002
Lincoln230000
Casey W, 1-1100011
WP--Casey. PB--Chauncey. Umpires--Manny Gonzalez, home; Pat Harrington, bases. T--2:43. A--4,324.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST INNING
ONEONTA 1, MAHONING VALLEY 0
Tigers: Randy Perez pitching, Eric Rodland singled in the infield, Anthony Giarrantano doubled to left, Rodland to third. Kody Kirkland flied out to right. Kelly Hunt walked to load the bases, Robert Huddleston grounded out to short, Rodland scored, Giarrantano to third, Hunt to second. Garth McKinney struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left.
THIRD INNING
ONEONTA 3, MAHONING VALLEY 0
Tigers: Perez pitching. Rodland reached on an error by the second baseman. Giarrantano singled to right, Rodland to second. Kirkland walked to load the bases, Rodland to third, Giarrantano to second. Hunt grounded out to first, Rodland scored, Giarrantano to third, Kirkland to second. Huddleston grounded out, Giarrantano scored, Kirkland to third. McKinney flied out to right. 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left.
EIGHTH INNING
ONEONTA 3, MAHONING VALLEY 2
Scrappers: Kenon Ronz pitching. Ryan Goleski singled in the infield, Brad Snyder singled to right, Goleski to second. Josh Noviskey struck out. Cliff Chauncey hit into a fielder's choice, Snyder out at second, Goleski to third. Ceasar Suarez doubled into the right center field gap, Goleski, Chauncey scored. Jesus Colmenter grounded out back to the pitcher. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left.
NINTH INNING
ONEONTA 3, MAHONING VALLEY 3
Scrappers: Christopher Homer pitching. Anthony Lunetta homered over the left-field wall. Ryan Mulhern struck out. Mike Conroy grounded out to second. Goleski singled to left, thrown out trying to reach second. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left.
10TH INNING
MAHONING VALLEY 4, ONEONTA 3
Scrappers: Homer pitching. Snyder walked, Noviskey bunted to sacrifice Snyder to second. Chauncey was intentionally walked, Suarez singled to load the bases, Snyder to third, Chauncey to second. Colmenter walked, Snyder scored the winning run. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 left.
richesson@vindy.com