Flat Scrappers collapse

Jamestown's eight-run seventh inning epitomized a dismal season. By JOHN BASSETTI VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF NILES -- Unlike 2004, there was no season-ending victory, no playoff and definitely no championship. Mahoning Valley watched a 5-1 lead evaporate when the Jamestown Jammers scored eight runs in the seventh inning to win, 10-5, in the New York-Penn League season finale at Eastwood Field Thursday night. "Defensively, we didn't make some plays and we got hurt. That was the reason they had a huge inning," manager Rouglas Odor said as the defending league champion Scrappers concluded 2005 with a 33-43 record. Jamestown, the Pinckney Division's last-place team, finished 31-44. Mahoning Valley had a 5-1 lead when the collapse occurred. Mark Jecmen started the seventh, but only lasted a third of an inning during which time he permitted four runs. He gave way to Matt Haynes (1-2) who allowed another four runs in 12/3 innings. Each team used five pitchers. "If we had made some plays, we probably would have won the game," Odor repeated. Thud The seventh started with James Guerrero's single and stolen base. He scored on Gary Roche's broken-bat dribbler behind the mound that was bare-handed by shortstop Jose Chavez. Roche went to second when Chavez's throw was off balance and off-target and got by first baseman P.J. Hiser (5-2). Jecmen and Chavez worked in concert to alertly pick off Roche for the inning's first out. However, Tanner Rogers, who reached base on a throwing error, then stole second. Brett Hayes walked, then Greg Burns loaded the bases when his weak bouncer died about 15 feet in front of home plate on the third-base side. When Haynes arrived, pinch-hitter Matt Kutler doubled over shortstop to push across Rogers, Hayes and Burns to tie the score at 5. Kutler scored the go-ahead run on Nate Messner's single between third and short. A high fly ball dropping behind Mahoning Valley second baseman Andy Lytle set up more disaster when Guerrero homered with two runners on to make the score 9-5. Of Jamestown's 13 hits, Burns, Kutler, Guerrero, Rogers and Mark Aranda had two apiece. Odor was pleased with the season overall, but not making the playoffs when the Scrappers were within distance did sting. "The last two weeks of the season were disappointing," he said. "Overall, we did a great job until the last two weeks of the season. We were three, four games behind first place and, all of a sudden, things didn't work out our way." Odor said that some of the players progressed, especially the pitching staff. "They all have the ability to one day pitch in the big leagues. I was happy and pleased the way they handled themselves on the mound," he said. When Mahoning Valley realized it was out of the playoff race, the first-year manager sent a message. "The message I sent to the team was to respect the game, especially since we were out of the race. I told them to go out and compete and do anything we could to win games. "It's always nice when you have a chance to make it to the postseason, but if we're out of it, you still play to win games . That's what we were doing. They gave their best right up to the last out." JAMESTOWNSCRAPPERS abrhbiabrhbi Burns cf4120De Leon lf2112 Walton cf1000Mrtnsn ph-lf2010 Witt ss5010Chavez ss5000 Van Houten lf3000Lytle 2b4110 Kutler ph-lf2223Cmbrbtch dh2111 Messner 1b5111Frnsre ph-dh1000 Aranda rf4121Hiser 1b3100 Guerrero 2b4323Longworth rf3100 Roche 3b4010Clem 3b3011 Rogers dh4120Thomas cf4000 Hayes c3100Spilman c2000 Totals3910138Totals31554 Jamestown010000801--10 Scrappers121010000--5 E--Chavez, Clem. DP--Scrappers 1. LOB--Jamestown 5, Scrappers 9. 2B--Kutler, Clem. HR--Guerrero, De Leon, Cumberbatch. SF--De Leon. SB--Guerrero 3, Rogers 2, Aranda, Roche, Lytle, Longworth, Hiser. IPHRERBBSO Jamestown Tucker334445 Doolittle100002 Berkenbosch W, 1-0211112 Castor210033 Easton100000 Scrappers S. Lewis2 1-311113 Loberg3 2-330003 Jecmen1-324110 Haynes L, 1-21 2-354403 Knox121100 WP--Tucker 2. HBP--Hiser (by Tucker), Guerrero (by S. Lewis). Umpires--Home, Robert Boyle; First, Mario Seneca. T--2:49. A--4,783.