NOTES FROM EASTWOOD FIELD

On Fire: Prior to Monday’s game, Eastwood Field played host to a softball match between the Niles safety forces. In a lopsided contest, the Niles Fire Department hosed the Niles Police Department 14-4. Fortunately for the NFD, paramedics were also on hand. Firefighter Randy Ciminero was carried from the field after suffering a broken ankle.
Fantasy fanatic: When he’s not managing his baseball team, there’s a good chance Scrappers manager Tim Laker is busy tending to his fantasy football squad. The Scrappers press guide notes that Laker is a self-proclaimed fantasy football junkie. The claim is accurate, according to Scrappers radio play-by-play announcer Mike Pilch. “When we’re traveling on the road, the team bus resembles NFL headquarters on draft day,” Pilch said. “Tim and a number of the players take their fantasy drafts very serious. I’ve even seen players designing their team uniforms.” Laker noted that he owns the No. 5 spot in his upcoming draft. “I’m leaning toward a quarterback, perhaps Drew Brees, because my league is all about yardage,” Laker said Friday. One day later, Laker was having second thoughts. “After doing some homework overnight, I’m now leaning toward a running back, with the hopes Brees will still be available for my second pick.”

Lets Jam: For years, NY-PL fans raised questions about the Jammers’ nickname, and how it was associated with Jamestown. The team’s logo, a bat-wielding Tasmanian Devil, provided little clues. However, the mystery behind the nickname was cleared up last year when the Jammers unveiled their new logo — a bat-wielding, cap-wearing anthropomorphic cluster of grapes. Turns out the Jammers nickname is a salute to the thriving grape industry within the Jamestown region. Chautauqua County, which includes Jamestown, is the No. 1 producer of Concord Grapes in the country. The red, black and silver uniforms worn by the club for 12 years were replaced with colors more associated with grapes: green and purple.

Odds ’n Ends: In their past eight games, the Scrappers have blown three eighth-inning leads. Prior to that point, they were 20-1 in such situations. … Jammers 2B Ryan Curry is batting .371 with 13 hits and 8 runs in his last nine games. … If the postseason began today, Brooklyn would play Staten Island while Auburn would face Oneonta.

Steve Ruman