Folgia carries Scrappers to win

Photo

Scrappers Kyle Bellows (22) slides into home plate safely before Auburn Doubledays catcher Yan Gomes (5) can get him out during the 4th inning, Tuesday July 7, 2009 Lisa-Ann Ishihara

By Joe Scalzo

Greg Folgia went 2-for-3 with three RBIs in the Scrappers’ 8-4 victory.

NILES — Scrappers newcomer Greg Folgia entered Tuesday’s game hitting .178 through his first 12 games, which is why his two-run bloop single in the fourth inning felt more like a wall-denting double.

“I was like, ‘Yes! It dropped!’ ” Folgia said, smiling. “I felt a little more comfortable tonight.

“I’m putting a little bit more manly swings on the ball.”

Folgia finished 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs, helping the Scrappers beat Auburn 8-4 in front of 3,495 at Eastwood Field. He also raised his average to .208.

“It’s about time I made contact a little harder than those little dinkers,” he said. “But I’m not saying I’m there yet.”

Folgia got a late start with Mahoning Valley, joining the team on June 23. (The Scrappers’ first game was June 19.) He was a 40th-round pick of the Indians out of Missouri after batting .326 with team-highs in homers (12) and RBIs (70) as a junior.

The Tigers advanced to the NCAA regionals, which is one of the reasons for his late signing. The other was more personal — he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave school.

“I guess I needed a little break,” he said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to go back for my senior year or not.

“It was a tough decision. But coming out as a junior is probably a little better than coming out as a senior. You get another year of experience. Gotta get used to these wood bats.”

Folgia hails from North Wales, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia. It’s a six-hour drive to Niles and his family has already made the drive to catch a few weekend games.

“For my family, it’s a lot closer than where I went to college,” he said. “I think they’re coming up a few more times.”

Although he’s still adjusting at the plate — “The wooden bats are more fun to use anyway,” he said. “It sounds better.” — it’s been an easy transition in the clubhouse.

“The guys are nice guys,” he said. “Good players, too.”

Shortstop Kyle Smith and outfielder Tim Palincsar each added two hits for the Scrappers (12-7), who have won four of five.

“It looks to me like our guys, the new guys, are getting a little bit more comfortable,” said Scrappers manager Travis Fryman, whose team finished with 11 hits. “The quality of the at-bats are better and they looked more relaxed to me on the field.”

Mahoning Valley was also aggressive on the bases, stealing two while repeatedly taking the extra base.

“We have to,” said Fryman, whose team has just two homers among regular players so far. “We have to be disciplined as hitters, we have to move runners, we have to hit and run, we have to execute sacrifice bunts and we have to make things happen and capitalize on other teams’ mistakes if we’re gonna compete.”

———

AuburnScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Brisker cf3210J.Henry cf5111

Eiland lf2000K.Smith ss5020

Hopkins lf1000J.Smit 1b4310

Glenn dh4133Carlson dh3011

Gomes c4000Bellows 3b4110

W.Ramirez rf4000Folgia lf3123

Durham 1b4111Vera 2b4111

Gilligan 3b3000Palincsar rf4121

K.Nolan ss3000J.Aponte c3000

J.Fernandez 2b2000

Totals30454Totals358117

Auburn100012000—4

Scrappers00042101x—8

E—Durham (3), J. Fernandez (4), J. Aponte (1). DP—Scrappers 1. LOB—Auburn 2, Scrappers 9. 2B—Vera (3), Palincsar (1), Carlson (1). HR—Durham (2), Glenn (2). SB—Brisker 2 (4), J. Fernandez (2), J. Smit (3), K. Smith (3). CS—Gomes (1). S—J. Aponte. SF—Folgia.

IPHRERBBSO

Auburn

E.Crawford L, 1-1454006

W.Mendez112221

Outman231112

Beck121100

Scrappers

Guilmet W, 1-2522224

J.Johnson222201

Burns S, 3210012

WP—Mendez, W. Burns. HBP—by W. Mendez (Carlson). Umpires—Home, Nick Lentz; Bases, Brett Houseman. T—2:30. A—3,495.

HOW THEY SCORED

Doubledays 1st — Brisker walks. Eiland strikes out swinging, Brisker steals 2nd. Glenn singles to center, Brisker scores. Gomes grounds into double play (4-6-3). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Scrappers 4th — Smith grounds out (6-3). Smit reaches on fielding error (E-3). Carlson strikes out looking. Bellows singles to right, Smit to 2nd. Folgia singles to right, Smit scores, Bellows scores, Folgia to 2nd on throw. Vera doubles to left, Folgia scores. Palincsar singles to left, Vera scores. Aponte strikes out swinging.

Doubledays 5th — Ramirez flies out to right. Durham homers to right. Gilligan strikes out swinging. Nolan grounds (1-3). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Scrappers 5th — Pitching change: Mendez replaces Crawford. Henry singles to center. Smith grounds out (6-3), Henry to 2nd. With Smit batting, Henry to 3rd on wild pitch. Smit walks. With Carlson batting, Smit steals 2nd. With Carlson batting, Henry scores on wild pitch, Smit to 3rd. Carlson hit by pitch. Bellows walks, Carlson to 2nd. Folgia sacrifice fly to left, Smit scores. Vera strikes out looking. 4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Doubledays 6th — Pitching change: Johnson replaces Guilmet. Fernandez grounds out (3-1). Brisker singles to center. With Eiland batting, Brisker steals 2nd, Brisker to 3rd on throwing error (E-2). Eiland strikes out swinging. Glenn homers to center, Brisker scores. Gomes grounds out (3-4-3). 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.

Scrappers 6th — Pitching change: Outman replaces Mendez. Palincsar doubles to right. Aponte sacrifice bunt, Palincsar to 3rd, Aponte to 1st. Henry grounds into fielder’s choice (G-4), Palincsar scores, Aponte out at 2nd, Henry to 1st. Smith singles to center, Henry to 2nd. Smit strikes out swinging. Carlson walks, Henry to 3rd, Smith to 2nd. Bellows grounds out (1-3). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

Scrappers 8th — Pitching change: Beck replaces Outman. Henry lines out (F-1). Smith grounds out (3-1). Smit singles to left. Carlson doubles to center, Smit scores. With Bellows batting, Carlson to 3rd on passed ball. Bellows grounds out (5-3). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.