NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE Scrappers' worst effort results in 18-4 thrashing

Batavia pounded out three home runs and shut down Mahoning Valley.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- "This is the worst night we have had throughout the whole season."
That was the painful assessment of Mahoning Valley Scrappers' manager Rouglas Odor after his team fell to the Batavia Muckdogs, 18-4, on Thursday.
The Muckdogs (23-33) pounded out 16 hits including three home runs and their four pitchers combined to allow no earned runs.
After falling behind 3-1 in the third inning, the Scrappers (29-28) threatened to get back into the game in the last of the frame.
Missed opportunity
With none out, Mahoning Valley loaded the bases on two walks and an infield single.
Up to the plate came Mahoning Valley's P.J. Hiser, one of the hottest hitters in the New York-Penn League.
Hiser, batting .400, belted three two-run home runs earlier this week.
Hiser grounded back to the pitcher who began a 1-2-3 double play and wiped out the threat.
Batavia scored three more times in the top of the fourth for a 6-1 lead and the rout was on.
"He's done a great job," Odor said of Hiser who finished with a double and a triple. "He got a little anxious tonight and impatient there."
Another Scrapper who had been doing a tremendous job -- pitcher Kevin Dixon -- failed to deliver.
Dixon roughed up
Dixon (3-3) was named the NYPL's Pitcher of the Week last week for allowing no runs in 10 innings of work.
Against Batavia, Dixon allowed seven runs and nine hits in five innings.
Mike Costanzo led Batavia with a grand slam that went 405 feet to center, a double, two singles and six RBIs.
Jeremy Slayden and Julian Williams each added a homer and a double. Slayden scored five runs.
Chad Longworth had a single and a double in a six-hit Mahoning Valley attack.
The final margin was the worst Mahoning Valley setback of the year, outdoing a 14-5 loss to Lowell on July 17, also at Eastwood Field.
"I just told my players that games like that, it seems like every team sooner or later goes through a game like the one we played tonight," Odor said.
"That's the first game we played the way we did tonight," Odor said.
"It's over and tomorrow's another day."
Sullivan@vindy.com
BATAVIAMAHONING VALLEY
abrhbiabrhbi
Williams,cf5323Deleon,cf3000
Slayden,lf3522Constanza,lf5010
Harris,1b5321Hiser,dh5120
Costanzo,3b6346Fornasiere,2b4100
Baez,dh5011Casillas,c1100
Marson,c4112Riefenberger,c2001
Hardy,2b6011Lytle,1b3000
Szabo,rf5220Longworth,rf4121
Antoniato,ss5110Peterson,3b4011
Chavez, ss3000
Totals44181616Totals34463
Muckdogs102315033--18
Scrappers010000120--4
E--Williams, Slaydon, Costanzo, Marson, Hardy, Longworth, Peterson, Chavez; DP--Muckdogs 1, Scrappers 1; LOB--Muckdogs 7, Scrappers 8; 2B--Williams, Slaydon, Costanzo, Szabo, Hiser, Longworth; 3B--Hiser; HR--Williams, Slayden, Constanzo; CS--Deleon.
IPHRERBBSO
Batavia
Blaine411052
Henyan (W 2-0)210002
Outman243000
Correa100001
Scrappers
Dixon (L3-3)597600
Haynes0.135540
Loberg2.213121
Hiraldo133111
WP--Blaine, Outman, Correa; HBP--by Loberg (Slayden); PB--Marson; Umpires: HP-Mike Patterson; 1st-Craig Barron; T--2:51; A--5,700.