Tag Archive for: Mahoning Valley

EASTWOOD FIELD NAMED 2023 OSFMA FIELD OF THE YEAR

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NILES, OH- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are proud to announce that Eastwood Field and Head Groundskeeper Noah Bard have been awarded the 2023 Field of the Year by the Ohio Sports Field Management Association (OSFMA). The Field of the Year is awarded to athletic fields in Ohio that exhibit excellent playability and safety and whose managers utilize innovative solutions, effectively use their budgets, and have implemented a comprehensive agronomic program. The Scrappers and Bard will receive the award on December 6th at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF) Conference and Show in Columbus.

Head Groundskeeper Noah Bard said, “I am honored to receive this award. I would like to thank the OSFMA Board for selecting Eastwood Field. This would not be possible without the efforts of my game day grounds crew, I can’t thank them enough for their help. I would also like to thank the Scrappers front office, and most importantly thank you to my wife Kendra for her constant support of me and my work.”

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“We are excited for Noah Bard to receive this much deserved recognition as the 2023 OSFMA Field of the Year”, said Heather Sahli, Mahoning Valley Scrappers General Manager. “Noah and his team work tirelessly to keep Eastwood Field in amazing condition for over 150 events at the facility throughout the year including Scrappers games, Youngstown State University Baseball, high school games, charity walks, concerts and more. We are proud to receive this great honor.”

The Ohio Sports Field Managers Council was incepted in Northwest Ohio in the late 1990’s. Known in the early years as the Great Lakes Sports Turf Managers Association, this group was a collaboration of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio Sports Turf professionals. The GLSTMA later formed as the Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association and has never looked back. For over 25 years, they have provided Ohio’s turf managers with education, outreach, access to the latest in R&D, and created a network of industry professionals dedicated to providing Ohio’s athletes with first class surfaces.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are one of six founding members of the MLB Draft League, joining the Frederick Keys, State College Spikes, Trenton Thunder, West Virginia Black Bears and the Williamsport Crosscutters. Scrappers ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities are on sale now. To view the complete 2024 Scrappers schedule, early bird ticket packages and stay up to date with the Scrappers in the offseason, visit mvscrappers.com or contact the front office at 330-505-0000.

*Contributed by mlbdraftleague.com

WILLIAMSPORT AVOIDS SCRAPPERS SWEEP

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NILES OH- After claiming victory in the first two games of the series, The Mahoning Valley Scrappers and The Williamsport Crosscutters met on the diamond for a Father’s Day edition of MLB Draft League baseball on Sunday afternoon! With Mahoning Valley looking to break out the brooms and Williamsport trying to get back in the win column.

   Pitching and defense took precedence early on as both teams struggled to score with runners on. As Drew Bryan (Crosscutters) and Cale Lansville (Scrappers) were dealing on the mound, exchanging zeros the first three innings of the game. Lansville continued his day into the fourth inning and pitched another clean frame, keeping it Scoreless heading to the bottom of the fourth inning. With Bryan on to continue his outing into the fourth, The Scrappers struck first after back-to-back two out errors put both Mason Sykes and Jack Moss on before Braeden O’Shaughnessy lined an RBI-single to center, giving Mahoning Valley an early 1-0 lead!

   Elijah Pleasants would then take over on the rubber for The Scrappers, pitching around a walk in the fifth to keep Mahoning Valley in front. The Scrappers would add to their lead in the bottom half of the fifth when Jordan Williams worked a one out walk and stole second before a base hot from Trenton Harris moved him over and an RBI-single from Colton Coates moved him in! With Harris now at third, The Scrappers added on more on a sac-fly by Brandon Hylton, making it 3-0 Mahoning Valley.

 However, in the top of the sixth inning, The Crosscutters started cutting into The Scrappers lead. Staring with a one out hit batter in Sean Smith who ended up at second following a stolen base before he came home on a Stephen Hrustich RBI-single to center. Not done there, Williamsport would get another run when Jack Oberdorf would hit a single to move Hrustich over and Nate LaRue recorded his third hit of the day as an RBI-single making it a one run game! It did not stay a one run game for long though, following another walk in the inning, Mahoning Valley made the change for Charez Butcher in place of Pleasants on the hill. Butcher would toss a wild pitch to the first batter he faced, scoring Jack Oberdorf from third and tying the game at three runs a piece!

 It then became a pitching battle with neither team giving an inch on offense, posting consecutive zeros all the way until the ninth inning. With the hard-throwing Andrew Lucas coming on the mound for Mahoning Valley in the ninth, The Scrappers looked for a shutdown inning to have the opportunity to walk it off. With their backs against the walls, Williamsport got the lead off runner on with Nate LaRue walking and reaching for his fourth time in the ballgame! Lucas would retire the next two batters in order before Ryan Vogel, with ice running through his veins, lined a two out RBI-double to right field, giving The Crosscutters their first lead of the series 4-3 in the ninth! Will Schomberg, who pitched the eighth, stayed on to pitch the bottom of the ninth for Williamsport. The Scrappers would go quietly, as Schomberg sent them down 1-2-3 to salvage the third game of the series and get Williamsport back in the win column!

   Both Mahoning Valley and Williamsport have an off day on Monday before returning to action Tuesday night! With The Crosscutters (5-10) hosting in the red hot Frederick Keys (10-5). While The Scrappers (7-8) will hit the road to take on The Trenton Thunder (9-6). Scrappers will return home on Tuesday, June 27th to start a home series with The Thunder. Don’t forget, all Scrappers home games are streamed live on YSN!

SCRAPPERS SUFFER FIRST DRAWBACK OF THE SEASON

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By Ty Bartell


NILES OH- In the second game of a four game series, The Mahoning Valley Scrappers, once again, met The West Virginia Black Bears on Eastwood Field. The Scrappers sent Ahmad Harajli to the mound as the starter while West Virginia responded with Cobe Reeves. 

Following the loss in Thursday’s outing, The Black Bears realized the importance of scoring first, hanging three runs in the top of the first inning with Ross Mulhall hitting a two-run shot as an exclamation point on the inning! Scrappers would get a run back in the bottom of the second when Harrison Rodgers belted an RBI-double to trim the deficit to two. 

However, The Black Bears were not to be messed with, responding with six runs in the top of the third and chasing starter Harajli early. On the other side, Cobe Reeves was in a rhythm and rode the wave of momentum through five innings of work, giving up a lone unearned run in his outing. Adding on to their lead once again, West Virginia extended their lead to double digits with RBI hits coming from both Logan Kohler and Devin Saltiban. 

The Scrappers would get three runs back in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of a two RBI-double by Mason Sykes and an RBI sac fly from Colton Coates. But again, West Virginia was not messing around on offense, re-extending their lead to double digits with a Ryan Grabosch RBI-double and a Brody Fahr RBI-single making it 16-4 West Virginia. 

The 16 runs would be more than enough offense, as the combined pitching efforts of Cobe Reeves, Mitch Dye, Evan Brandt and Brady Choban combined for 12 total strikeouts on the evening. Reeves was credited for the win with his five inning outing as West Virginia evened the opening four game set at a game a piece. 

Both teams will be back at it on Saturday, June 3rd with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch start time. Live coverage of the game can be found on ysnlive.com/live

SCRAPPERS WALK OFF TO OPEN HOME STAND

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NILES, OH- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers walked-off the West Virginia Black Bears to win the series opener. It was a pitching duel throughout the ballgame, but the offense opened up late to win the ballgame.

Both starting pitchers were phenomenal through five innings of work. West Virginia starter Zach Bravo threw 5 scoreless innings which included 5 strikeouts. Mahoning Valley starter Michael Brewer tossed 5 scoreless innings as well, while retiring the last 14 batters in a row to end his outing. The offense then started to pick up when both teams went to the bullpen. Both teams we’re able to score a run in the sixth inning to get on the board.

In the ninth inning, the Scrappers got a lead-off single by Zach Dezenzo to put the game winning run on base. Brian Kalmer was hit by a pitch, and then Matt Archer put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner 90 feet away from home plate. West Virginia intentionally walked a batter to bring up 17-year-old catcher Adrian Salas with the bases loaded. Salas banged a ground ball into right field to win the ballgame by a final of 2-1. West Virginia and Mahoning Valley compete again tonight in game 2 of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

*Contributed By YSN’s Richie Juliano

Postgame Interview With Homer Bush:

Postgame Interview with Adrian Salas:

SCRAPPERS NAME MANAGER

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NILES, OH – Former MLB second baseman and 1998 World Series champion, Homer Bush will manage the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League during the 2022 season.

During his 7-year career in Major League Baseball, Bush recorded a .285 batting average with 176 runs scored and 363 extra-base hits, including 50 doubles,5 triples and 11 home runs in 162 games between the New York Yankees (1997-98, 2004), Toronto Blue Jays (1999-02), and Florida Marlins (2002).

Mahoning Valley will also see some familiar faces returning to their coaching staff this season. Vic Buttler, the head coach of Cerritos College in Norwalk, California, will be returning as the Scrappers hitting coach. Ron Mahay, who pitched in the MLB from 1995 to 2010, will be returning as head pitching coach with Craig Antush returning as assistant pitching coach.

Bush will not be the only new face managing an MLB Draft League team. Former Cincinnati Reds catcher and manager of the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, Joe Oliver, will be managing the Frederick Keys. Dave Trembley, the former 2007 manager of the Baltimore Orioles, will manage the State College Spikes. Managing the Williamsport Crosscutters this season will be Jesse Litsch, a former pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Trenton Thunder will have Jeff Manto back for the 2022 season and West Virginia will have last season’s manager, Jedd Gyroko, returning as well.

The MLB Draft League features six founding members (Frederick Keys, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, State College Spikes, Trenton Thunder, West Virginia Black Bears, and Williamsport Crosscutters) and provides an unparalleled fan and development experience that features former Major Leaguers and professional players as managers and coaches. To view the 2022 MLB Draft League schedule, visit mlbdraftleague.com; each team’s schedule also is accessible via its website.

For more information on the MLB Draft League, visit MLBDraftLeague.com and follow @mlbdraftleague on Twitter and Instagram. For player-focused analytics updates, follow @draftleaguedata on Twitter.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are set to open the 2022 season at Eastwood Field on Thursday, June 2 against the West Virginia Black Bears. Opening Night will also feature fan favorites post-game fireworks and Buck Night. Scrappers ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities are on sale now. To stay up to date with the Scrappers in the off-season or for more information, visit mvscrappers.com or contact the front office at 330-505-0000.

SCRAPPERS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST STATE COLLEGE

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NILES, OH- Starting out as a pitcher’s duel through the first six innings, the Scrappers rallied late to get their first win of the six-game homestand, 6-3. The win was much needed after losing six of their last eight games.

State College started the scoring in the top of the 3rd. They took an early 1-0 lead after a deep sacrifice fly to right field. Right fielder Zaid Walker made a great throw, but the runner was called safe on a bang, bang play.

The Scrappers answered in the bottom half of the inning. Duncan Hewitt blooped a broken-bat single into right field to score Mathieu Vallee with the bases loaded. Sam Crail followed with another bases-loaded single giving the Scrappers a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the 6th State College took a 3-2 lead. They tied the game after a groundout to second bringing home the runner from third. With runners on first and third State College took the lead after catcher Jack Kelly caught a runner stealing second allowing the runner on third to score on the throw.

The Scrappers took control of the game in the bottom of the 7th. With the bases loaded Kelly tied the game with a single up the middle. He was followed by Branden Comia who hit a sacrifice fly to deep center scoring the runner from third. Crail busted the game wide open the next at-bat driving two runs in with a single just over the second baseman’s head.

Crail was named Baird Brothers Player of the Game going 2-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two singles. Dan Harwood also had a multi-hit game. He went 2-4 at the plate with a walk and a run scored. The rest of the offense was firing on all cylinders racking up 11 hits and 11 walks as a unit. Nine different batters had base hits tonight, and all 11 Scrappers hitters that made a plate appearance reached base safely at some point throughout the game.

Right-handed starter Cole Ayers threw a strong five innings and worked his way into the 6th. He allowed two runs and only one hit. He walked four and struck out two. He was pulled after walking the leadoff batter in the 6th. The rest of the staff was strong as well allowing only one run and three hits while striking out five and walking two.

Tomorrow the Scrappers will try to take the series, playing game 3 at Eastwood Field against State College tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Tomorrow is also Buck Night presented by Quaker Steak & Lube, fans can purchase general admission tickets, 12 oz. domestic draft beer, hot dogs, 12 oz. fountain drinks all for one dollar apiece. It is also TikTok Night, fans can make a TikTok and it will be posted on the scoreboard using #mvscrappers.

 

BOXSCORE HERE

 

*Story courtesy of mvscrappers.com/Jordan Boitnott