Scrappers rout Williamsport

August 5, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

Salters, Tom provide

big hits; Lovegrove

pitches well for MV

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers desperately needed a lift on Tuesday when they hosted Williamsport in the second of a three-game series.

Mission accomplished, thanks to an unlikely source on the mound and a hot-hitting catcher.

Kieran Lovegrove pitched 42/3 strong innings and the Mahoning Valley offense erupted for 15 hits as the Scrappers defeated Williamsport 10-5 in front of 2,468 fans at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers (20-22) entered the game 6-12 at home, and had given up 20 runs and 34 hits in their previous two games.

Lovegrove entered the game with a 6.32 ERA.

The matchup indeed favored the visitors, but instead it was the home Scrappers who scored in bunches. The Scrappers collected four straight singles in a second inning which produced three runs. In the fourth, they tacked on two more runs courtesy of a Ka’ai Tom two-run homer. They added two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Tom and Daniel Salters.

Salters then capped the scoring when he belted a two-run homer to right field in the eighth.

Lovegrove gave up just two earned runs on two hits before being lifted in the fifth.

“Getting a win at home is always extra nice,” Salters said. “Our fans are always really supportive so it’s good to reward them with a win.”

Salters has provided a spark for the Scrappers, who are now leading the New York-Penn League in offense. The Dallas Baptist product was selected by the Indians in the 13th round of the June draft. He leads the Scrappers with a .279 batting average.

Salters played sparingly at the start of the season, but assumed the lead role behind home plate in late July because of an injury to Li-Jen Chu. The Oklahoma native has taken full advantage of the opportunity. He owns a .366 batting average over his last 10 games, and recently owned a 12-game hitting streak.

“I think it was just a matter of getting into a routine, finding a groove,” Salters said. “Playing every day definitely made a difference as far as helping me settle in and get acclimated to this level.”

“It’s a big step up from college to this level. At college, you face some really good pitchers but you also face a lot of guys who aren’t going to be playing beyond college. Here, it’s day after day of going against guys who were drafted for a reason.”

While some minor league players may find the everyday grind and the long bus rides to be taxing, Salters views the experience as “a learning experience” and said he welcomes the rigors of his job.

“It’s baseball, it’s a game, and we’re being paid to play it,” Salters said. “I never forget that, and I never take my God-given talents for granted.”

In fact, traveling throughout the NYPL cities is nothing for a player who recently spent his summers playing in the Alaskan League.

“Some people think you have to be crazy to spend your summer in Alaska, but it was an unreal experience,” Salters said. “Gorgeous scenery, and the weather was perfect.

“The travel, the weather, the long days, I think it helped prepare me for what I’m doing today.”