KC Serna makes his pitch for Scrappers
By Tom Williams
NILES
After four weeks in his inaugural season as Mahoning Valley Scrappers manager, Dave Wallace was asked which of his players has been the biggest surprise.
“I hate to pick but I’d take KC Serna,” said Wallace of his infielder who also has spent time in the outfield. “He’s done everything for us.
“He’s played second, short, third, left field,” Wallace said. “And he’s been a good, reliable bat in the lineup.
“We didn’t know [much] about him going in [to the season], but he’s been a guy who has really stood up,” Wallace said.
Serna says there’s another position he’d like to play before the New York-Penn League season ends.
“I’m actually trying to get out on the mound,” Serna said.
When told what Serna said, Wallace laughed.
“He’s begging me,” Wallace said. “I hope it never happens because if it does, it means we’re getting blown out.”
Asked which position he prefers, Serna diplomatically replied, “As long as I’m out there, I’m having fun.”
In Thursday’s 9-6 win over the Connecticut Tigers that lifted the Scrappers into a first-place tie with the Jamestown Jammers, Serna played third base while Jordan Smith patrolled right field.
Serna made two big plays in the fourth inning to stifle a Tigers’ rally. With the bases loaded and none out, Serna fielded a ground ball, stepped on third base and fired to first for a double play.
Serna said his decision to go for the double play rather than try to erase the runner going home was based on how hard the ball was hit.
“It’s just wherever the ball takes you,” Serna said. “It was hit very well but kind of toward the bag so I just thought that would be the best option. That was the best play that we could have made.”
Serna then bobbled a ball hit by the next batter, but alertly saw Tigers baserunner Colin Kaline trying to advance to third. Serna tagged him to end the inning with the Tigers scoring just once.
Injuries have influenced Wallace’s decision to use Serna’s versatility. Outfielder Bryson Myles is recovering from a hamstring pull while Aaron Siliga rolled his ankle.
“KC has done so much for us,” Wallace said. “He’s played defense in multiple positions, he’s hit in the lineup in multiple positions.”
In Friday’s 7-4 loss to the Tigers, Serna was moved to left field and Smith returned to third.
“We drafted him as a third baseman,” said Wallace of Smith. “We have a little bit of a logjam of infielders so we’re going to [use a rotation] to get everybody time, to get everybody at-bats.”
As long as he’s in the lineup, Serna doesn’t mind where he’ stationed defensively.
“I like to have fun wherever I’m at,” Serna said. “It’s fun actually to play [more than one position] because it’s something new every game. I have to learn all three spots in the infield.
“Up until I got here, I mostly played short,” Serna said. ”I’ve always been a student of the game, always tried to pay attention to other positions just in case. I always feel comfortable wherever I’m at.
“Coaches have made it easy for me because they’ve given me a lot of extra work for the position I’m going to be playing that day.”