Pesco to pitch opener for Scrappers

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers will open their 2006 season, the eighth in the history of the franchise, tonight when they travel to Jamestown, N.Y. to meet the Jammers.
Scrappers manager Rouglas Odor has named Nick Pesco as the opening day starting pitcher against the Jammers.
Pesco, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound right-hander, is with the Scrappers on rehab assignment from the Class A full season Kinston Indians.
He is the first of a five-man rotation that Odor has set up for the early part of the season.
Another rehab assignment pitcher, J.D. Martin, is slated to start Wednesday against the Jammers. Martin, a 6-4, 195 right-hander, is rehabbing from the Class AA Akron Aeros.
Thursday, the Scrappers will send 2006 draft selection Michael Eisenberg against the Jammers. Eisenberg, who was taken in the eighth round out of Marietta College, is a 6-7, 198 right-hander.
Tomlin in home opener
When the Scrappers return home Friday to face the Williamsport Crosscutters, they will have rookie Josh Tomlin on the hill.
Tomlin, selected in the 19th round out of Texas Tech University, is a 6-0, 185 right-hander.
He will be followed Saturday night by left-hander William Delage, a 14th round selection in the draft out of Lamar University.
The Scrappers have added two new faces to the roster, Brent Lacey, an infielder out of Central Missouri State and infielder Dustin Realini out of Santa Clara University.
Three of the four players returning from last year's Scrappers roster will get starting nods tonight.
Starting lineup
Cirilo Cumberbatch will start in right field and Evandy DeLeon will start in left field. The center fielder will be Jason Denham, who moved up from Burlington this season.
Andy Lytle, the other returning Scrapper, will start at shortstop, while Josh Roberts, Jared Goedert and Brent Lacey will also start in the infield.
Kelly Edmundson, the rookie from Tennessee, will be the catcher and second-round draft pick Matt McBride from Lehigh University will be the designated hitter.
Following their three-game series in Jamestown, the Scrappers will return home against the Crosscutters for a three-game series beginning Friday.
Fireworks special
A special fireworks display will be featured after the home opener at Eastwood Field.
After the Crosscutters leave town, the newest entry in the New York-Penn League, the State College Spikes, will come to town next Monday night for a three-game set.
The Scrappers have 26 players on the roster, but are expected to be adding players over the next couple of weeks as the Cleveland Indians, their parent major league team, signs players.
mollica@vindy.com
Tickets for all the Scrappers games are available at the team office at Eastwood Field or can be obtained by calling the office at (330) 505-0000 or toll free at (888) 388-7600.