NOTEBOOK \ Scrappers vs. ValleyCats

Mascot mania: The Tri-City ValleyCats are one of the few professional sports franchises which have a pair of mascots — Southpaw and Sammie. Southpaw is a jersey-wearing cat patterned after the team name. Sammie is modeled after Uncle Sam. Sammie appears both in costume and as a giant inflatable behind the right field wall at Tri-City’s home park in Troy, N.Y. Sam Wilson, whose likeness serves as the Uncle Sam symbol, was a native of Troy.

Road warriors: Eight of the 14 teams in the New York-Penn League have better winning percentages on the road than they do at home. Heading the list is Tri-City, which is just 9-18 at home, but above .500 on the road. At the opposite end of the spectrum is State College. The Spikes have won just three of 22 home games.

Presidential bobbleheads: The Scrappers weren’t the only team in the NY-PL to give away bobblehead dolls this past week. The Hudson Valley Renegades were one of six teams owned by the Goldkgang Group which held bobblehead style presidential elections. Bobbleheads were given to the first 1,000 fans to enter the gates, and each fan had his choice between a John McCain and a Barack Obama bobblehead. In Hudson Valley, fans swooped up the Obama bobbleheads at a rate of two to one.

Odds ’n ends: Scrappers infielder Jeremie Tice is batting .354 at home this summer. … The Scrappers are 17-1 this year when they take a lead into the eighth inning, and they are a perfect 15-0 when they own a lead at the start of the ninth inning. … The Scrappers on Sunday donned green jerseys as part of Going Green Night, sponsored by the Trumbull County Soil and Water Conservation District. The jerseys were auctioned off following the contest.

Bark of the night: “I used to refer to the rain patterns that moved our way as the Eastwood Split. In the past, it seemed as though whenever rain came our way, it would split off in two directions and completely miss Niles. This year, it’s the Eastwood Magnet. Eastwood Field seems to attract every storm sell in the region.” — Scrappers general manager Dave Smith.

Growl of the night: “Considering all of the rain we got here this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if a water spout formed in right field.” Scrappers official scorer Craig Antush, as a wall of ominous dark clouds rolled over Eastwood Field.

Steve Ruman