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SCRAPPERS: Over and out
Photo
10 Giovanny Urshela and 25 Jesus Aguilar after Aguilar hit grand slam.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers score nine runs but come up short in season finale at Eastwood Field
By Jon Moffett
NILES
The 2010 season for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers went out with a bang.
The Scrappers had 12 hits, including a pair of home runs, in Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the Jamestown Jammers at Eastwood Field. But the rare offensive explosion at least provided some fireworks for the grand finale.
The Scrappers (30-46) had a rough year to say the least. Manager Travis Fryman acknowledged the team’s struggles, but said there were some positives.
“Collectively, it was ugly. Let’s just be honest, it is what it is,” Fryman said. “We were the worst-hitting team in the league, finished in last place in our division and had the third-worst pitching in the league this year.
“So you can’t sugarcoat that any way you look at it,” Fryman said. “But there has been some significant improvement from some of our guys.”
A crowd of 3,321 attended the game, though many of them stayed for a postgame wrestling match.The likes of “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Doink the Clown competed in a ring on home plate.
But the real grudge match was between the Scrappers and the Jammers.
The Scrappers delivered blows in the form of a pair of home runs and an RBI-single in the inning. The first home run was a grand slam by first baseman Jesus Aguilar.
“I felt good,” Aguilar said. “I hit it. It was a good pitch, a good swing. ”
But the wheels fell off late. The Scrappers’ bullpen gave up two runs in the fifth and another three in the eighth.
Aguilar said he was happy with the way the season ended. Fryman acknowledged Aguilar came on to produce late in the year. Fryman also singled out a few other players, including 18-year-old third baseman Giovanny Urshela.
“He’s a tremendous bright spot,” Fryman said. “He batted .290 in the New York-Penn League, hit three home runs, led the team in RBIs and probably played the best third base in the league to be honest with you. We’re excited about what we saw out of him this year.”
Fryman also said he was impressed with the play of Carlos Moncrief. The Jackson, Miss., native was promoted to the Kinston Indians earlier this month.
Moncrief was a pitcher in college. But the Scrappers experimented with a shift to the outfield, where Moncrief had played prior to college. The experiment was a success, Fryman said.
Unfortunately, some of the right pieces don’t equal a well-oiled machine. Fryman said there are still some kinks that need to be worked out in order for the team to contend in 2011.
“There are definitely some bright spots with individuals, but collectively, we obviously weren’t very good,” he said.
JamestownScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Black 2b3210Bartolone ss4110
Mendoza ss5233Cannon 2b5231
Ozuna dh4023Urshela 3b3110
Fisher 3b3111Aguilar 1b4134
Canha lf5123Seastrunk c4100
Senne 1b5010Rucker rf5000
Wooster rf4100Heere cf4111
Hord c5000Gallas lf5232
Keys cf4330Fields dh4000
Veres p0000Gaynor p0000
Estevez p0000Smith p0000
Cravey p0000Goryl p0000
Brady p0000Dickerson p0000
Conley p0000
Totals38101310Totals389128
Jamestown104002030—10
Scrappers107000010—9
E—Black (6), Cannon (8). DP—Jamestown 2. LOB—Jamestown 8, Scrappers 8. 2B—Mendoza 2 (3), Keys (8), Canha (3), Ozuna (11), Cannon 2 (9), Gallas (1). HR—Canha (4), Aguilar (2), Gallas (1). SB—Keys.
IPHRERBBSO
Jamestown
Veres2 1-3677721
Estevez1 2-321101
Cravey W, 1-0320011
Conley S, 16100012
Scrappers
Gaynor575524
K. Smith122211
Goryl L, 1-4133311
Dickerson210001
WP—Veres 2, Estevez 2, Cravey. HBP—by Veres (Urshela), by Brady (Bartolone), by Smith (Wooster). Umpires—Home, Aaron Reynolds; Bases, John Burzynski. T—2:48. A—3,321.