Scrappers to open at home

In what will be a first, Mahoning Valley will be in Niles for the first game on Friday.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- For the first time in their six-year history, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will open the New York-Penn League season at home.
"We're so used to getting the team in town and then sending them away for five or six days," said Dave Smith, the Scrappers' first-year general manager who is preparing for the 2004 opener against the Auburn Doubledays on Friday at Eastwood Field.
Yes, Eastwood Field.
Mahoning Valley's home field, formerly Cafaro Field, has been renamed to unify the entire Eastwood Mall complex, Scrappers officials have said.
It's one of several major changes for the coming season.
Another is the stadium's natural playing surface, which was re-sodded for the first time after the final event last September.
"There's been a number of events -- YSU games, concerts, just a ton of activity on the field," Smith said.
"After five years, it's recovered to a certain extent in the off-season, but ultimately the integrity wears down."
Upgrades
There also have been upgrades to the clubhouse, and the parking lot was resealed and repainted, as the Scrappers embark on a 76-game schedule, 38 at home.
Smith reported that ticket sales "have been awesome for opening day. We hope to sell the place out, which we haven't done the last two seasons."
In a stadium that seats 6,200-plus fans, the Scrappers drew 5,600 for their last two home openers, Smith said.
By the middle of last week, 4,000 tickets had been sold for Friday, Smith added, and the Scrappers estimate 1,000 to 1,500 more walk-up sales on game day.
"Each year, your first and foremost goal is to put out an entertaining product," Smith said.
"From a business standpoint, your goal is to improve numbers-wise on the previous year."
Scrappers attendance has dipped in recent years, most notably after 2001 when season ticket holders' three-year commitment, given in the inaugural '99 season, ended.
Inclement weather affected five dates last season, Smith said, taking average attendance, which hovered around 5,500 in the first two years, to 4,200.
"Our goal is to have some good weather," Smith said.
"If we get all of our games in, with the promotions we have set in place, we'll increase our average attendance."
The Scrappers' ticket prices ($6, $7 and $8) remain the same.
Team make-up
The biggest change on the field begins at the top. Mike Sarbaugh, a coach with the Double-A Akron Aeros last season, assumes his first managerial role with the Scrappers. He takes over for Ted Kubiak.
A Mount Joy, Pa., native, the 36-year-old Sarbaugh will be assisted by coaches Jim Rickon, Chris Bando and Matt Ruebel; strength coach Neil Shaftner; and trainer Chad Wolfe.
"You leave it all on the field and you learn from your mistakes," Sarbaugh said in the off-season of his philosophy. "If you're aggressive and you do the best you can at that time, that's how you learn. I'll never give up on them if they're playing hard."
A tentative roster of Mahoning Valley players arriving from extended spring training in Winter Haven, Fla., includes pitchers Dan Cevette, Richard De Los Santos, Chip Southerland, Mathew Haynes, Hector Santana, Mark Harris, Roger Lincoln, Blake Allen, Michael Hernandez, Matt Knox, Todd Pennington and Joe Weaver; catcher Omar Casillas; infielders Fernando Pacheco and Chris Clem; and outfielders Tim Montgomery, Jose Cruz and Teodoro Encarnacion.
These players will be mixed with others from the amateur draft to complete the 2004 Scrappers roster.
richesson@vindy.com