KSU pitcher Dorsch back at Eastwood Field, this time as a pro

June 29, 2014 at 12:09a.m.

NILES

For three years, Eric Dorsch made countless trips through the Mahoning Valley as he made his way from his home in Gibsonia, Pa., to Kent State University.

Saturday, Dorsch found himself smack-dab in the middle of the Mahoning Valley, standing on the pitcher’s mound at Eastwood Field.

A relief pitcher for Jamestown, Dorsch worked the ninth inning in the Jammers’ 12-5 win over the Scrappers in front of 3,041 fans. Dorsch gave up a one-out single and recorded a pair of strikeouts.

Dorsch was a standout closer for the Golden Flashes who was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round of the June draft.

A redshirt junior this past season, Dorsch threw 30.1 innings this spring with 27 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA. The righty was previously selected in the 21st round by the Cincinnati Reds as a sophomore, but declined the offer.

“Getting drafted by the Pirates was just surreal, it was something I dreamed up my entire life,” Dorsch said. “Getting the opportunity to play this close to home, that’s pretty neat.”

Gibsonia, located north of Pittsburgh, is a 69-mile drive to Eastwood Field. Dorsch had a large contingent of family and friends seated behind the third base dugout. Many were on their feet and cheering throughout the bottom of the ninth inning.

Dorsch’s appearance wasn’t his first at Eastwood Field. Last spring he picked up a win against Youngstown State.

“I very much remember being here, and the result was good so I was anxious to come here as a professional,” Dorsch said. “It’s pretty odd to pitch here as a college player, then find yourself back at the same place a few months later wearing a different jersey. “

Dorsh stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 245 pounds. He said that he “dabbled in basketball” but never seriously considered playing the sport.

“My growth spurt didn’t really kick in until my senior year of high school,” Dorsch said.

“By then I had really fallen in love with baseball. It was always my top sport.”

The Scrappers (5-11), who have lost eight of their last 10 games, held leads of 3-1 and 5-3.

However, any hope of preventing their four-game losing streak was erased with Jamestown’s eight-run sixth inning. The Jammers sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning and hit for the cycle.

The big blows were a three-run homer from Kevin Ross and a bases-loaded clearing triple off the bat of Michel Francisco. Ross batted twice in the inning, collecting two hits and scoring a pair of runs.

Kevin Krause also had four RBIs for the Jammers, while Taylor Gushue went 3-for-3.

The Jammers collected 13 hits and reached base five times via walks. Also, three Jammers reached base by way of being hit by pitches.

Scrappers reliever Anthony Vizcaya was roughed up for eight runs on six hits in just 1.1 innings. He also walked two and committed a pair of wild pitches.

Francisco Mejia and Bradley Zimmer went 2-for-4 and collected an RBI for the Scrappers.

The Scrappers and Jammers conclude their four-game series today at 5:05.