Scrappers Drop Series to State College

Jordan Boitnott

STATE COLLEGE, PA- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers just wrapped up a three-game series on the road against the State College Spikes. They dropped two of three, winning only game two. Losing the series puts the Scrappers in third place in the MLB Draft League standings, a game behind West Virginia and Trenton. Their record now stands at (18-12-2).

Game one was a tightly knitted contest, with most of the scoring coming early on. After going down 3-0 in the bottom of the first Jarrod Belbin and Jalen Jones both hit RBI singles to make the game 3-2. State College answered in the bottom half adding two insurance runs to extend their lead to 5-2. That’d be all they needed because the Scrappers would only add one more run on a Dan Harwood groundout in the 6th. After the 6th inning neither side did much offensively making the final 5-3 in State College’s favor.

Deylen Miley struggled out of the gate giving up all five runs in the 3.2 innings he threw. While only three runs were earned he gave up eight hits and three walks while striking out four. The bullpen was strong, they didn’t allow a run in 5.1 innings of work. As a unit Davis Feldman, Garrett Schoenle and Liam Eddy gave up a combined three hits.

Jason Hinchman and Belbin both had multi-hit games. Hinchman went 2-3 with a double and triple, he also scored two runs. Belbin had two singles, an RBI and a run scored.

In game two the Scrappers’ bats came alive. They scored 10 runs to win 10-2. Every batter reached base throughout the night whether it was due to a hit or a walk. Dan Harwood was the standout performer of the night, going 2-5 with two runs scored and three RBI.

The pitching staff also played well. Jimmy Burnette started the game, tossing four innings giving up two runs on four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. The bullpen was strong for a second night in a row. Relievers Keegan Batka, Trevor Olson, Aaron Haase and Jacob DeLabio didn’t give up a run and combined to strikeout six State College batters.

The rubber match was a complete turn of events. State College did exactly what the Scrappers did to them in game two. The Spikes dominated game three winning 10-2. They hammered Collin Floyd and Drake Batcho early. Floyd gave up seven runs on eight hits in four innings. Batcho gave up three runs on a hit and four walks in 0.2 innings of work. After Batcho the bullpen was strong again, not giving up a run after the 5th.

Despite the loss Sam Crail had himself a night to remember. He went 4-4 at the plate, all singles, with an RBI and a run scored.

After losing the three-game series the Scrappers will travel to Williamsport to face the Crosscutters for a two-game series starting tonight before returning home for the Fourth of July.

The Scrappers will face West Virginia Sunday, the Fourth of July at 7:05 p.m at Eastwood Field. It will be the first of a five-game homestand. The night will feature Fourth of July Fireworks presented by April Cheney - Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, 21 WFMJ & WBCB and Mix 98.9. It is also Every Sunday Matters; fans can bring canned goods for Second Harvest Food Bank or new children's books for a free general admission ticket to the game.

To purchase tickets to the Fourth of July and the remainder of the upcoming homestand you can visit the Chevy Allstars Box Office, call 330-505-0000, or by clicking HERE.

For all statistics around the MLB Draft League via Prep Baseball Report click HERE.