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Scrappers open season on road tonight
Scrappers play two
against Black Bears,
home opener Sunday
By STEVE RUMAN
NILES
Fireworks, bobbleheads and dollar hot dogs.
New grass, a new team name (for a day) and a salute to the hot dog.
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are back!
So too are the promotions and sideshows that are a staple of minor league baseball.
The Scrappers usher in their third decade of baseball tonight when they visit West Virginia for the first of a two-game series. The Scrappers will open the home portion of their schedule Sunday with the start of a two-game set against Batavia.
The Father’s Day game at Eastwood Field, which begins at 6:35 p.m., will be the first of 38 scheduled home games. It will feature a post-game fireworks show.
The Scrappers will be seeking their third consecutive Pinckney Division championship.
“A lot of these players, they’re coming from the Arizona League and they’ve never played in front of the type of crowds we see (at Eastwood Field),” said Scrappers pitcher Jordan Scheftz. “They’re going from playing in front of no one to playing in front of thousands, and these fans really get into it. It makes for an exciting atmosphere.”
Scrappers first-year manager Dennis Malave is no stranger to Eastwood Field. He played for the Scrappers for three years, beginning with their inaugural season in 1999. He also served as the Scrappers hitting coach in 2010.
“I have great memories of this place being full of energy, the fans really get into the games and they back the players,” Malave said. “For a lot of reasons Niles is like a second home to me.”
Aside from the game itself, players and fans will notice some upgrades to Eastwood Field this summer. During the off-season, the turf throughout the entire playing field was dug up and replaced. A new drainage system was installed beneath the playing surface.
“Our turf was last replaced more than ten years ago, and this is the first upgrade in terms of drainage,” said Scrappers general manager Jordan Taylor. “We redid everything underneath the playing surface. This is a game-changer. This is going to greatly reduce our risk of rainouts.”
“In the past, we might get a fifteen minute downpour, and the water would build up on the field and have nowhere to go. This spring, we’ve been hit with one big rainfall after another, and standing water has never been an issue.”
Also new to the Eastwood Field clubhouse is a weight and workout room, along with a players lounge area.
From a promotional standpoint, many of the fan favorites which have become staples at Eastwood Field return this summer. Sunday will mark the first of seven fireworks nights. “Buck Nights” (bleacher seat tickets, drinks and hot dogs each for one dollar) return for every Thursday home game. There are four bobblehead nights (Michael Brantley, Scrappy, Shane Bieber, Jesus Agluilar), along with numerous other giveaways and ticket discounts throughout the season.
A trio of specialty jersey nights will include a fauxback 1970’s Cleveland Indians design and a salute to the hot dog.
When the players don jerseys plastered with green, red and orange peppers on July 13, the team will change its name to the Mahoning Valley Peppers In Oil.
“The response has been fantastic, we’ve already sold Peppers In Oil merchandise to eighteen states and the promotion has received national publicity,” Taylor said.
Through 20 seasons, the Scrappers have an overall record of 764-762. That includes six trips to the playoffs and an NYPL title in 2004. The franchise has drawn more than 2.5 million fans to Eastwood Field.
MEET-THE-TEAM EVENT JUNE 23
Thursday’s rainy weather caused the Scrappers to postpone their annual “Meet the Team” party at Eastwood Field.
The event has been rescheduled for June 23 when the Scrappers host the Auburn Doubledays in a 4:05 p.m. game. The “Meet the Team” party will begin at 12:45 p.m.