The Scrappers Scoop

Sitting atop the Pinckney Division standings all season long, the Scrappers have had some prospects emerge as serious contenders with Big League aspirations.

Shortstop Tony Wolters, third baseman Jordan Smith, outfielder Bryson Myles and pitcher Danny Jimenez were selected to the 2011 New York-Penn League All Star Game. All four players are receiving their first taste of Class A ball, this season, and have proven that their early professional careers are just a hint of what is to come down the road.

Wolters, an Indians 3rd round draft pick in 2010, has drawn comparisons to Red Sox infielder,  Dustin Pedroia. He stands at just 5’10,” but proves that you don’t have to be a big guy to make a big impact. Wolters swings a good bat and gets on base. He has good speed knocking three triples this year and is second on the team with a .307 batting average. Even before he was a pro, Wolters has experience playing with the best of the best when he was a part of the 2009 U-18 USA baseball team. Baseball prodigy, Bryce Harper in the Nationals system was on that team and the two remain close friends to this day.

Mahoning Valley’s best overall hitter, thus far, is Jordan Smith. The St. Cloud State product was a legend at the Division 2 school earning All-American honors. He was originally tabbed as an outfielder, but has seen considerable time at third base for the Scrappers. Smith is batting a blistering .327 with 72 total bases and 34 RBI. On August 6th, he was named the Wing Warehouse Player of the game in a 5-3 win over Auburn. He collected a pair of key RBI, while going 2-for-3 in the game.

The speediest player of the team, Myles has swiped 11 stolen bases on the year. One look at him, though, and you would think he could be a football linebacker. His build of 5’11,” 235 pounds is beastly. He has been tremendous at the plate batting .294 in just 27 games, having missed some time due to injury. A 6th round pick in 2011, the Texas native set the hits record at Stephen F. Austin University. Throughout his collegiate career, Myles was always noted as one of the top outfielders in the country. The Indians are seeing why as he could be on the fast track to a promotion. He is a trusted lead-off hitter who sees the ball well.

Jimenez has struck out 33 batters in 2011 while averaging over six Ks per nine innings. He is a flame-throwing lefty who has been consistently clocked in the low 90s. His control is solid and he is most of all, consistent. Manager Dave Wallace has been able to have confidence that Jimenez can go deep into games and still have gas in the tank to get guys out. He is no stranger to the spotlight, as he was rated as the No. 1 Junior College prospect in the state of Illinois coming out of John A. Logan College. Jimenez has had time to develop himself as a quality pitcher with two years in the Arizona Rookie League before earning a spot on the Scrappers roster.

Fans, be sure to pay attention to the All-Star festivities which are taking place in Lowell, Mass on August 15 and 16. Support your Scrappers who look to represent the Mahoning Valley, and their first place team, well.

Photos are credited to Jesse Piecuch and his Scrappers baseball card project. More samples of Jesse’s work can be found on his facebook page and sportsshooters.com.

Nearly 200 avid runners came out to Eastwood Field early Saturday morning. Not for a baseball game, but for the opportunity to take part in the Scrappers annual 5K race/walk. This year, proceeds from the event were donated to Akron Childrens Hospital-Mahoning Valley.  CASHLAND, REFRESH DENTAL MANAGEMENT, LASER HAIR REMOVAL, ATC HEALTHCARE SERVICES, MAXIM PEDIATRIC SERVICES, SAVANYU REFLEXOLOGY, THE BODY SHOP AEROBICS AND FITNESS, BRAYDICH CENTER FOR ADVANCED DENTISTRY, CORTLAND LANES and WALGREENS all sponsored the race and helped to make it truly successful.

On a perfect day for a run, participants ran throughout the Eastwood Mall complex and crossed the finish line at homeplate, right on the field.

Festivities got underway at 8:15 with the kid’s fun run. A swift jog around the warning track of Eastwood Field got the youngest trekkers’ blood pumping.

The horn sounded at 8:30 for the 5K and it was a rush all the way through. Members of the Scrappers front office staff were on hand to motivate the runners and hand out cups of water to the dashing athletes.

While everyone could be considered a champion for their efforts, the top three runners for both males and females received trophies and the winners of certain age groups earned plaques.

Listed below are the winners for the race.

Female Age 13-19: Rachel Roberts

Male Age 13-19: Sam Sheonovich

Female Age 20-29: Lindsay Blazek

Male Age 20-29: Brad Bee

Female Age 30-39: Margaret Hudak

Male Age 30-39: Ed Brainard

Female Age 40-49: Donna Danko

Male Age 40-49: Donald Peace

Female Age 50-59: Jodi Banas

Male Age 50-59: Mark Osborne

Female Age 60+: Renee Persin

Male Age 60+: Robert Latavish

Female Overall Standings: 1) 20:28-Tina Seech 2) 21:47-Lisa Dano 3) 23:09-Katie Seech

Male Overall Standings: 1) 17:28-Jonathon Richmond 2) 17:31-Alexander While 3) 17:58-Ronnie Malmfeldt

The average baseball game lasts approximately three hours. The time it takes for each team to record 27 outs can vary with every swing of the bat, though. Each pitch, each hit, each diving catch all have an impact on the game. Sometimes if you blink, you’ll miss it.

Jesse Piecuch is here to record it all.

A Photographer from Woodard Photographic, Piecuch is an everyday regular at Eastwood Field. An avid baseball fan, he grew up dreaming of taking action shots of his boyhood heroes playing the game he loved. His dream has come true as he sets up shop every evening taking pictures of the game, inside and out. His work is noticed by fans on liveyouryear.com. Shots of kids playing between inning games, National Anthem singers and groups from games can be found there. Also, he has been picked up by the grand stage, MiLB.com, the official website of Minor League baeseball. On four seperate occasions, so far, Piecuch has been featured on the Photo of the Week section. It is an honor he says is completely humbling.

The Scrappers Scoop discussed with Piecuch what drives his passion for sports, photography and the great game of baseball.

Scrappers Scoop : What got you into photography?

Jesse Piecuch: When I was younger I loved to collect baseball cards. The action shots always seemed to capture my imagination, and I was always disappointed when the card was just a guys portrait. When I figured out that baseball wasn’t in my future, I knew I still wanted to be around the game. Photography just seemed like a good way to combine two things that I’ve always enjoyed.

SS: Would you say sports photography has always been a hobby for you?

JP: Photography was never a hobby for me. I’m a very impulsive person, so I literally decided in one day that I was going to be a photographer. There was never even a question what I was going to shoot. It was going to be baseball.

SS: What type of equipment do you use each game?

JP: I use a Canon Mark IIN camera body attached to a Canon 300mm f/2.8 L series lens for the action. That basically means my camera is really fast and sharp, and my lens gets some distance and lets in a lot of light!

SS: How does it feel to be a notorious member on MILB’s “Photo of the Week” list?

JP: It truly is an honor. There are 240 teams in Minor League baseball and you can always find someone with a camera at the park every night. I’ve been very fortunate that the Scrappers have an exciting team and the games have been pretty action packed. Hopefully we can keep it going and get the club some exposure every week!

SS: Where would you like your career to eventually take you?

JP: Well, let me first say that the company I currently work for, Woodard Photographic, is a first class company. Like the Scrappers, they are stacked with talent! I have learned more from the other photographers I work with then I did in college. However; my ultimate destination is to be a full time team photographer. I want to shoot an organization from top to bottom every day!

SS: What is it like showing up to work at a baseball stadium, each day?

JP: This season has been phenomenal. My goal coming in was to keep my head down and try to stay out of everyone’s way. Instead, I have met some outstanding people and made some great friends. I can’t wait to get to the ball park every day just to see everyone! I’m willing to bet that is one of the reasons why my images have been coming out so well!

The chuckles of “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase could be heard throughout Eastwood Field on Sunday.

But it was the Scrappers who had the last laugh in a series against the State College Spikes.

In three games, Mahoning Valley tallied 16 runs to take every game against the Spikes. The offensive onslaught by the Scrappers was the most runs collected by the team in a three game stretch, this season.

With DiBiase on hand, the Scrappers held Wrestling Night on June 26. Trivia, autographs from the “Million Dollar Man” and even a main event bout between Scrappy and Costanza the Rally Gorilla turned the stadium into an all-out wrestling ring. On the field, it was a one sided cage match with the Scrappers scoring six 1st inning runs. Doubles from Tony Wolters, Jake Lowery, Todd Hankins and KC Serna paced the way as the Scrappers batted around in the first frame. In his professional debut, Mason radeke earned the win goign five full innings, allowing justone run on three hits. The Santa Barbara, CA native fanned four Spikes batters in his first Minor League go-around.

Mahoning Valley found itself in an all too familiar scenario on Tuesday.

With a chance to walk off with a win in the bottom of the 9th, the Scrappers did. It took 11 innings back on June 22, but pinned against the wall to win in stunning fashion, the home team has come through. In both situations, the game has ended on a walk. Both times, Jordan Smith has been the hero with a good eye drawing a walk to win it in the end.

The Scrappers polished off the series sweep on Tuesday with a 2-for-4 performance by Bryson Myles.

The Stephen F. Austin product led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single. Showcasing his speed, Myles stole second, and then third. He now has five stolen bases in 2011. Myles scored the first of six Scrappers runs there in the first frame. He collected his fourth RBI of the season scoring Todd Hankins with a triple in the bottom of the 2nd. Myles leads the team with a .333 batting average and .412 on-base percentage.

Alex Lavisky and Wolters also had two hit days, Tuesday.

It’s now the Spikes turn to be at home as the Scrappers travel to State College for another three game set Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Be sure to include a trip to Eastwood Field in your 4th of July weekend plans. The Scrappers will be back in Mahoning Valley on the 2nd and the 3rd. With a Youth Jersey giveaway on Saturday and Patriotic Night celebrations on Sunday, the perfect way to honor America is with some Scrappers baseball.

Photo Credits: courtesy of Woodard Photography/ Jesse Piecuch

The Scrappers were the only team in the New York-Penn League to open the season with six straight games at home.

Boy, were they fun.

Mahoning Valley, behind the support of its home town fans, tallied four wins in those two opening series against the Jamestown Jammers and Batavia Muckdogs.

The extended weekend from Friday June 17 to Wednesday the 22nd were action packed with great on and off the field action.

With the shout of “play ball,” proclaimed by OTN Performance Play-Ball-Kid Ethan English, the 2011 Scrappers campaign began.

Though the team fell 9-3, the crowd of 5, 428 went home well entertained with a post game fireworks extravaganza.

Saturday and Sunday proved to be much better for the Scrappers as they picked up a pair of wins to close out, and win, the series against Jamestown.

On bark in the park night, many events included man’s best friend with dog themed parades, trivia and activities. The Scrappers had some bite in them, too. Centerfielder Cody Elliot went 2-for-3 with an RBI and was named the Wing Warehouse Player-of-the-Game.

Families flocked to Eastwood Field for Fathers Day and were treated to an exciting game of baseball. The final score was 5-2 in favor of Mahoning Valley. The Scrappers led all game and started off hot with a run in the bottom of the first. Catcher Jake Lowry collected four of the team’s five RBI.

Despite an opening series loss to the Muckdogs on Monday, the Scrappers found some power in the lineup. Outfielder Bryson Myles knotted his first hit of his professional career, a 5th inning bomb of a home run well over the left field fence. The home team wound up losing, though, 10-7. Late rallies in the bottom of the 8th and 9th were not enough for the Scrappers to come back. They did out-hit the Muckdogs 13-11.

Following suit with the first series, the Scrappers dropped the first game but would go on to win the next two. On Tuesday, they earned their first shut out of the year thanks to superb pitching from starter Danny Jimenez and relievers Cody Allen and Bryce Stowell. It was a 2-0 win in favor of Mahoning Valley.

Joseph Colon led another valiant pitching performance on Wednesday for a 4-3 Scrappers win. Colon was strong with four strikeouts in five innings. Kyle Petter closed the game and earned the win after 2.1 innings of two hit ball with three strikeouts of his own.

There are still 32 home games left in the season making for a convenient outlet for summer entertainment. The team is currently on the road in Auburn, New York and will return home on Sunday the 26th for Wrestling Night featuring and appearance from “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase.

Be sure to check back on The Scrappers Scoop for Mahoning Valley baseball updates, all season long.

Photo Credits: courtesy of Woodard Photography/ Jesse Piecuch

When the Eastwood Field gates open this evening at 6:00 p.m. for Opening Day, the on the field changes will undoubtedly be noticed. Team wise, there is a new manager and new coaches and players. The outfield walls have fresh signs sponsored by area businesses and new banners align the gates.  Most of age fans will recognize a popular beer vendor has now made its mark at the ballpark. Leinenkugels now has a stand serving its products, as well as other nationally noted craft beers. For $5.75 a fan can purchase a 20 oz Summer Shandy Leinenkugels and for just $8 dollars a 320z can be bought. Along with the specialty Leinenkugels, Blue Moon is also served on tap. Favorites such Corona,Twisted Tea, Miller MGD, Modelo, El Jimador and Jack Daniels Cocktails can also be purchased at the new stand. Fans won’t go hungry here, either. With Italian Sausage and bratwurst hot off the grille, great eats will be cooking all year long.

So, whether you’re coming out for the first game against the Jamestown Jammers tonight, or plan on making it out to Niles anytime this summer, pay a visit to Leinenkugels.

Opening Day is just a day away!

This week, the 2011 edition of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers slowly made their way to Niles. The front office staff compiled a litany of events to warm up the team, coaches, fans and local reporters for the season.

A crop of nearly 25 guys, no older than 22, got a chance to familiarize themselves with each other. For many, this will be their first taste of professional baseball.

Newspaper and television outlets in the Youngstown-Warren area were invited to Eastwood Field for media day on Tuesday. New manager Dave Wallace, just 31 years old, takes over the Scrappers. His journey is unique as he was a former Scrappers catcher back in 2002. He has since risen through the Indians organizational ranks spending time as the Cleveland bullpen catcher the past two years. Wallace returning to his roots is just one of the many storylines likely to unfold over the course of this exciting season.

For some players, Kirk Wetmore, Moises Montero and Kevin Fontanez, the Mahoning Valley will again be their summer home. Having played for the Scrappers before, their leadership will be key to a team littered with many younger prospects.

On Wednesday, the backbone of the Scrappers got to meet with the players personally. It’s the fans, Scrappers Backers and host families that provide the care and support for the “Boys of Summer.”

An autograph session, Scrappers Backers scholarship presentation, meet and greet, and grand buffett dinner were provided for all Season Ticket holders at the annual meet and greet event.

The ceremonial bunting is now hung at Eastwood Field. The hype and anticipation has been built, within 24 hours they will yell, “play ball,” and the 2011 New York-Penn League will begin.

Go Scrappers!

At an age when most 14 year old kids are content with playing video games and eating large amounts of junk food, Grant Tunkel was preparing for his future. Growing up on Long Island, he was surrounded by many prestigious sports teams in the New York area. A dedicated Jets, Mets, Knicks and Rangers fan, Tunkel immersed himself in sports. Listening to broadcasts of each into the wee hours of the night, he not only paid attention to the games, but put himself in the announcers shoes. It was then he knew his career calling was as a sportscaster. Even before hitting high school Tunkel recorded his own broadcasting tapes, acting as a commentator on any sporting event he watched. One particular play-by-play tape, a Mets-Cardianals Spring Training game, caught the eye of the minor league Charleston River Dogs front office. Tunkel did some work with the River Dogs live on the air and it was there he began to forge a career in sports broadcasting.

His work has taken him from Los Angeles, CA, where he attended college at USC, to Jamestown, NY, and we are lucky to have him in the Mahoning Valley for the summer calling Scrappers games. The Scrappers Scoop recently sat down with Tunkel to discuss his work, ambitions, baseball and artistic endeavors.

Scrappers Scoop: Who influenced your love of sports growing up?

Grant Tunkel: It was probably my dad. He instilled a love of sports in me from a young age.

SS: Do you try to model yourself after any particular broadcaster?

GT: To be honest, I try to create my own identity as a broadcaster, but there are certainly broadcasters who have influenced my work. Vin Scully is a legend, and his description and play-by-play are unparalleled. I strive to bring that level of description into my work every time I do a broadcast. Growing up in New York, I listened to Gary Cohen call Mets games and Marv Albert do just about every sport. They’re two of the all-time greats, in my opinion, and they’ve helped shape my love for broadcasting and my style.

SS: In such a competitive field, how do you stand out from the rest?

GT: Good question. I think it’s all about crafting your own identity and working hard to excel at it. I like to be as descriptive as possible, painting a picture of just about everything you see. The more descriptive you are, the better your broadcast. A long-time USA Today reporter also told me that you can never have too much original reporting, so I like to incorporate as many stories into my broadcast as possible. Listeners want to hear about a player’s background and personality, just as they want to know about a player’s batting average.

SS: How was the adjustment from New York to Los Angeles?

GT: It wasn’t too bad. It’s definitely different, comparing to the two cities, but I embraced Los Angeles with open arms and I had an amazing four years out there.

SS: After being literally all over the country, how does the Mahoning Valley stand out?

GT: I’ve only been here a short time, but I’ve really enjoyed it. There’s a lot of interesting things to do out here. I like the Eastwood Mall, there are some unique eating options and there’s nothing like coming to Eastwood Field every day for work. It’s great.

SS: You’ve noted the Jets are your favorite professional team. But what about baseball draws you to the sport?

GT: Baseball has it’s own personality, it’s own distinct culture. There’s nothing like going to the ballpark and catching a game, or watching on TV, or really even sitting by the radio and tuning in. It’s a sport with a rich history that is well-documented and a great tradition in this country. Truly it’s an honor to be able to call baseball games, given the way the sport is entrenched in everyday life.

SS: Finally, outside of the sports realm, what makes Grant Tunkel tick?

GT: I like to consider myself a diverse person. I graduated from USC with a degree in international relations as well, so I like to keep up on world affairs. I really enjoy listening to music, a lot of classic rock and some contemporary stuff as well. I also dabble, and I do mean dabble, in guitar. I have a lot of different interests.

Be sure to tune in to 1570AM WHTX for every Scrappers game this season, with Tunkel on the call. Also, read his blog, The Niles Files, where he gives daily updates about life in the minor leagues. Examples of Tunkel’s previous work can be found on GrantTunkel.com.

Fourteen schools in the tri-country area vowed to read as many books as possible outside of the classroom.

After all, it was Scrappy’s orders.

The program, which kicked off in January, promoted reading to kids from as little as five years old to Jr. High classes. Those classes that read the most books were rewarded with a pizza party.

Over the past two weeks, members of the Scrappers front office, and of course Scrappy, made their rounds throughout the area delievring Pizza hut pizza and congratulating the classes on a job well done. Along with the pizza prize, students have the opportunity to attend a Scrappers game for free on either June 20, June 27 or July 13. Participants will also be able to go on the field with Scrappy and be honored, prior to the first pitch.

Media outlets in the area picked upon the reading movement. Articles from the Youngstown Vindicator, Salem News and Trumbull County Tribune-Chronicle, can be read by clicking thier respective titles.

As soon as the Eastwood Field gates opened at 10 a.m. for the 2011 Scrappers Fan Fest, a crowd formed on the main concourse. Many fans braved the less than ideal weather to get a taste of the upcoming season. Rain and chilly conditions did not stop the fun, though. Even with the season still a month away, baseball fever has swept across the Mahoning Valley. Check out pictures from the event below:

Scrappy was eager to meet and greet every one of the nearly 250 people who came to Fan Fest. After a winter away from Eastwood Field, he too is excited for a fresh year at the ballpark.

There were many activities for those in attendance. The face painting table was a hit amongst the children. They were so pumped to run around showing off their new artwork. Also, inflatable bounce-a-rounds were available for them to let off energy.

A baseball game can’t officially be started without the singing of the National Anthem. With 38 home games, the  Scrappers need some of the brightest talent in the Valley to usher in an evening at Eastwood Field. Many came out to showcase their voices in the Anthem tryouts. The lucky contestants are currently being selected and will be notified potential singing dates within the next two weeks.

Fans got a true taste of game day with the Dawg Chow Concession stand offering great deals on ballpark fare. The Scrappers Backers were also on hand to excite people for the season and debut their famed 50/50 contest for 2011.

No day at the field is complete without a souvenir.  Many fans took advantage of the great deals at the Pet Store including a pair of T-Shirts for $35 and two hats for just $25. This little guy went home with a new Scrappers playground ball.

While Fan Fest couldn’t last forever, fans took solace in the fact that the Scrappers season is just a few weeks away. Great seats are still available for all home games and there are plenty of promotional days to appease fans of all ages.