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Scrappers stumble again
A .500 record remains elusive despite the team’s recent surge
By Steve Ruman
NILES
In nursery rhyme terms, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are the itsy-bitsy spider.
The Scrappers keep climbing their way upward and onward. Yet each time it appears they are just about ready to reach a milestone, a dark cloud washes them from their destination and they are forced to begin anew.
In this case, the top of the waterspout for the Scrappers would be a .500 record. It’s a mark they haven’t achieved this late in a season since 2011.
Three times in the past week, the Scrappers had an opportunity to even their record, and three times they failed.
On Thursday, the Batavia Muckdogs provided the Scrappers with their latest washout. The Scrappers (21-23) fell to Batavia 6-2 in front of 4,101 Buck Night Fans at Eastwood Field.
The Scrappers scored a pair of runs in the second inning on an RBI single by Alexis Pantoja and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jack Goihl. Thanks to a solid start by Shao-Ching Chiang, they maintained their two-run advantage into the sixth inning.
However, a two-run homer by Batavia center fielder Stone Garrett tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning. For Garrett, it was his league-leading eighth homer of the season. In the seventh, the first four Muckdog batters scored thanks to a pair of errors, a wild pitch and three hits.
The Scrappers were hoping to even their record for the first time since June 23 when they were 3-3. They were at one time as many as eight games under the .500 mark.
Despite the setback, the Scrappers appear to have turned a corner. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games, they lead the New York-Penn League in hitting, and they are having a little more fun at the ballpark than they were a month ago.
“Coach always reminds us that’s it’s a process, that it’s about developing and improving our game and working toward moving up the ladder,” Scrappers infielder Mark Mathias said. “Win or lose, we have to stick with our program and focus on why we’re here. This league is about development.”
“But yeah, no matter what level you’re at, no matter what you’re playing, it’s always more fun when you win,”
Mathias’ consistent hitting has led the Scrappers’ recent surge. He has reached base in 16 of his last 18 games, he leads the club with 24 runs scored and is batting a .279.
Despite their team league-high batting average, the Scrappers are without any individual league leaders in offensive categories.
“We were just talking about how, as a team, we don’t have any big leaders in the league stats,” Mathias said. “We don’t have one big guy who is carrying the team. Everyone is contributing from the leadoff hitter to the number nine guy.”
“We’re getting the job done with runners in scoring position and less than two outs. We’re moving runners along with a bunt or a sacrifice fly. We’re doing the little things that teams do to win games.”
The Scrappers and Muckdogs continue their three-game series tonight when the Scrappers will once again attempt to take one small step toward a balanced record.