NOTEBOOK \ Scrappers

Locked in: The Scrappers were sporting a 35-31 mark heading into Friday night’s game. Although the playoff picture is rather dim for the club, they once again seem to be locked in the runner-up spot to Auburn, the fifth time in the past six seasons the Doubledays and Scrappers finished 1-2 in the final standings of the Pinckney Division. Heading into Friday night’s game with Williamsport, the Scrappers found themselves six games behind Auburn, but 31⁄2 games ahead of third-place State College.

Big difference: Although Auburn has dominated the divisional picture for the past half dozen campaigns, the big difference is that the Scrappers won it all in 2004. On the other hand, the Doubledays haven’t won a title in the other five campaigns when they finished just ahead of the Scrappers. Auburn’s last crown came in 1998.

Who’s hot: Although he got roughed up somewhat in Thursday’s night 6-5 win over the Crosscutters, Joanniel Montero tossed four scoreless innings to start the game, stretching his scoreless streak to 141⁄3. That all came to an end in the fifth inning when Williamsport pushed across four runs to take a 4-1 lead.

New faces on the block: The Scrappers have a few new faces on their roster as they added Josh Judy and Chris Nash from the Gulf Coast Indians, while Garrison Campfield was activated from the disabled list.

Closing it out: The Scrappers have seven games remaining in the regular season. They host State College for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday before Williamsport comes to Eastwood Field on Monday and Tuesday. The Scrappers close out the regular season with a three-game series in State College beginning Sept. 5.

Bill Albright