‘Too-relaxed’ Procner doesn’t disappoint

By Joe Scalzo

NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE BASEBALL

The Girard High graduate had a no-decision in the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader, swept by Aberdeen, 5-2 and 4-3.

NILES — Aberdeen pitcher Stephen Procner is quick to smile and slow to speak. Although he’s been a standout pitcher his entire career, he doesn’t really like to stand out.

But Thursday night, in the second game of a doubleheader, in front of the fourth-biggest crowd in Eastwood Field history, all eyes turned to Procner.

The Girard High graduate was honored before the game, his nephew, Matthew, threw out the first pitch and a crowd of more than 100 friends and family gathered in Section 210 to cheer him on.

Aberdeen averages about 6,500 fans a game, but, as Procner said, “usually half of them aren’t my friends and family.”

Clearly, this was a special night.

After all this hoopla, you’d have expected Procner to be too amped up in the first inning. And after letting the first five hitters reach base — although one came on an error — and giving up two runs, it seemed like a logical explanation.

But it was the wrong one.

“Actually, I was too relaxed,” said Procner, whose Orioles won both games to sweep the three-game series with the Scrappers. “I needed my intensity built up. I had to focus a little harder and attack the hitters.”

Procner eventually settled down and held Mahoning Valley scoreless over the next 32‚Ñ3 innings before getting pulled with a high pitch count.

“I felt like I threw well,” said Procner, who lowered his season ERA to 3.74. “I haven’t thrown that many innings in a while. I started getting tired and I couldn’t get my curveball over for a strike, so it was the right time [to come out].

“I just did what I try to do all the time — keep the team in and try to get a win.”

He didn’t, but Aberdeen did, scoring in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie and hold on for a 4-3 victory. The Orioles hit two homers in the first game en route to a 5-2 victory.

Procner’s father, Robert, hadn’t seen his son pitch in person this season until Thursday. He’d watched a few games on the Internet and saw a game in person last season when his son was at Bluefield (W. Va.).

Like his son, Robert doesn’t say much. But, like his son, he seemed touched by all the attention.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” he said. “I’ll tell you, nobody’s worked harder. He’s worked since he was 6 years old on pitching and throwing the ball.

“And he’s not content until he’s No. 1, so it doesn’t really surprise me that he’s here. He’s really dedicated.”

Girard Baseball Association president Jim Standohar presented Procner with a plaque before the game, thanking him for “making the people of Girard proud.”

“We’re trying to build a strong organization with our youth,” said Standohar, “and things like this, we want to be a part of.”

When asked if he’s been embarrassed by all the attention this week — he’s been profiled on television, in print and on the radio — Procner smiled and shrugged.

“I wouldn’t say embarrassed,” he said. “But I’m kind of a quiet guy. I don’t say too much.

“This is a lot more attention than I’m used to getting.”

Although it wasn’t a great night for Mahoning Valley, it was a good one for first baseman Brock Simpson, who hit his first homer of the season in the first game and doubled in the second to raise his average to a team-high .317.

Walter Diaz added three hits over the two games.

———

First Game

ABERDEENSCRAPPERS

abrhbiabrhbi

Lester cf3010W. Diaz 2b4021

Baxter 1b3121Chisenhall ss4010

Julius dh3113Blair lf4000

Kolodny 3b4111Tice 3b3010

Stephen ss3000Simpson 1b3111

Ellis rf2000JValdes cf2010

Widlansky lf3000Hernandez rf2110

Bent c3110Pickens c3000

Perlozzo 2b3120Webb dh3020

Totals27585Totals28292

Aberdeen0040100—5

Scrappers0000110—2

DP — Aberdeen 1. LOB—Aberdeen 5, Scrappers 7. 2B—Bent (1), Perlozzo (3), Tice (6). HR—Julius (4), Kolodny (3), Simpson (1). SB—Ellis (2). SF—Baxter.

IPHRERBBSO

Aberdeen

Egan W, 1-3682226

Cooney S, 3110001

Scrappers

Young L, 1-2575502

AMartinez100011

Creps110020

Umpires—Home, Jose Esteras; Bases, Aaron Larson. T—1:53.

HOW THEY SCORED

Aberdeen 3rd—Bent doubles to right. Perlozzo grounds out (5-3). Lester grounds out (5-3). Baxter singles to first, Bent to 3rd. Julius homers to right, Bent scores, Baxter scores. Kolodny homers to left. Stephen flies out (F-9). 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Aberdeen 5th—Perlozzo doubles to left. Lester singles to short, Perlozzo to 3rd. Baxter sacrifice fly to right, Perlozzo scores. Julius grounds out (G-3), Lester to 2nd. Kolodny strikes out swinging. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Scrappers 5th—Hernandez walks. Pickens strikes out swinging. Webb grounds out (G-3), Hernandez to 2nd. Diaz singles to left, Hernandez scores. Chisenhall singles to right, Diaz to 3rd. Blair lines out (F-8). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Scrappers 6th—Tice strikes out swinging. Simpson homers to right. Valdes walks. Hernandez grounds into fielder’s choice (5-4), Valdes out at 2nd. Pickens strikes out looking. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Second Game

ABERDEENSCRAPPERS

abrhbiabrhbi

Figueroa 2b4130W. Diaz 2b4110

Joseph c4011Chisenhall ss4011

Julius rf4112Blair dh3110

Kolodny 3b3000Tice 3b3010

Baxter 1b4000Alcombrack c3000

Binick cf3110JValdes cf3001

Widlansky lf2020Hernandez rf2100

Durakis dh3011Booker 1b2000

Altenhof ss2110Smpsn ph-1b1011

Stephen ph-ss1000Webb lf2000

Totals304114Totals27353

Aberdeen0020011—4

Scrappers2000010—3

E—Kolodny (8), Altenhof (1), Figueroa (1), Alcombrack (4). LOB—Aberdeen 7, Scrappers 6. 2B—Widlansky (3), Figueroa (2), Joseph (8), WDiaz (4), Simpson (6). HR—Julius (5). 2B‚öKolodny (3), Altenhof (1). CS—Chisenhall (1).

IPHRERBBSO

Aberdeen

Procner4 2-342125

Schindling W, 1-11 1-311111

Williamson S, 1100003

Scrappers

Hinkle442208

Ramirez241102

Rieck L, 1-2121112

HBP—by Hinkle (Widlansky). Umpires—Home, Aaron Larson; Bases, Jose Esteras. T—2:04. A—6,920.

HOW THEY SCORED

Scrappers 1st—Diaz doubles to right. Chisenhall singles to center, Diaz scores. With Blair hitting, Chisenhall picked off (1-3-6). Blair walks. Tice singles to center, Blair to 2nd. Alcombrack reaches on fielding error (E-5). Valdes hits into fielder’s choice (6-4), Alcombrack out at 2nd. Hernandez flies out (F-8). 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.

Aberdeen 3rd—Altenhof singles to right. Figueroa strikes out looking. Joseph strikes out swinging. Julius homers to left. Kolodny strikes out swinging. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Aberdeen 6th—Kolodny line out (LO-1). Baxter grounds out (6-3). Binick singles to short. Widlansky singles to left, Binick to 2nd. Durakis singles to left, Binick scores, Widlansky out at 3rd (7-2-5). 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Scrappers 6th—Alcombrack grounds out (6-3). Valdes grounds out (4-3). Hernandez walks. Booker doubles to left, Hernandez scores. Webb grounds out (4-1). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Aberdeen 7th—Altenhof grounds out (5-3). Figueroa infield single. Joseph doubles to left, Figueroa scores, Joseph to 3rd on throw. Julius strikes out looking. Kolodny walks. With Baxter batting, Kolodny steals 2nd. Baxter strikes out looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.