By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
IT’S NO coincidence the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ early-season success and the bat of Bo Greenwell were working in harmony.
The Scrappers swept a season-opening series against Jamestown, then continued their winning ways during their initial ’09 homestand at Eastwood Field against State College.
Meanwhile, Greenwell garnered at least 2 hits in each of the squad’s first 4 games, highlighted by a 3-for-5, 2-runs scored, 2-RBI plate performance in a 12-2 recent rout of the Jammers. The following afternoon he added another pair of hits (arguably could have had a 3rd, though an infield grounder was ruled an error) including a key base knock in Mahoning Valley’s 9th-inning rally resulting in a 1-0 win in the series finale with Jamestown.
A 4-pitch outburst included leadoff man Lurvin Basabe’s base hit to right, followed by 1st-pitch swinging Greenwell’s grounder in the 1st-2nd hole that sent Basabé to 3rd. On the 1st pitch he saw, Kyle Bellows belted a sac fly for the lone run in Sunday’s matinee.
“That’s my job right there as a No. 2 hitter,” Greenwell gushed. “Fastball — look for something I could handle, something I could drive. ... I don’t usually bunt unless I’m told to. Being a left-handed hitter, and I’ve established the trust with Travis (Fryman, the Scrappers’ 2nd-year skipper). He’d seen me play in spring training, and he knows I can handle those situations, and that’s what I live to play for — that pressure right there, that’s fun, it really is!”
In addition to the lone blowout, 3 of their 1st 4 wins have been 1-run affairs. Consequently, the Scrappers are leading the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division.
“As a team, that’s what you want ... you want to establish that fan-base right away to show that you’re a winner, keep the fans coming back,” Greenwell observed, adding, “On a personal note, that’s how you want to start it. (Four) multi-hit games in a row, that’s fun! That’s what you work hard for.”
Interestingly, Fryman, a 5-time all-star during his productive 13-year MLB career, realizes that in skippering a Short-Season single-A squad he has to be acutely aware of young players’ emotional make-up, particularly self-confidence.
“At this level of play, you don’t always manage to win the game. I hate to say it that way, but player development is important, Fryman said, explaining, “ ... some decisions you make are based on the player-development philosophy of the (Cleveland Indians’) organization.
Following Sunday’s win, a grinning Fryman said, “In the end, the good guys won,” though he later cautioned, “Jumping out early’s nice (such as Saturday night’s win), but to get a look at how your club responds in a close ballgame is important, too. ... It was a good look at our ballclub, what we’re capable of doing, and it’s nice to see our club in that light, because it helps me as we go forward.”
Eschewing a sacrifice bunt in the 9th on Sunday with Greenwell, according to Fryman, was “more of a decision based on the fact Bo’s been swinging the bat well, left-handed batter, with Basabé on first base, we had a bigger hole there. ... He’s swinging the bat well, and he earned the right. I’m a big believer in what’s a player doing lately? You see a body-of-work, too,” Fryman continued, “but I also know how hitting, is an ebb-and-flow. The guys’ swinging the bat well and his confidence level is high, some of those situations you give him a chance to do something exciting.”
Obviously, the cast of characters from last season’s Scrappers has changed, but perhaps recalling the 31-44 ledger of ’08, Fryman said,
“I learned last season not to make too many judgments too soon with players. So maybe we’ll just wait and see how the summer goes; but, certainly, they’ve all gotten off to a good start.”
It’s been a lot of fun thus far, and if seeing the Scrappers is something you’re considering, they’re worth a look.
Sports
Related Photos
SCRAPPERS NOTEBOOK: Greenwell's hot bat helps MV to great start
- Sports
-
-
Roundup: Hickory girls beat Franklin in battle of 5-AAA leaders
Knowing its male counterparts upset Franklin 48 hours earlier, the Hickory High girls basketball team was not to be outdone.
Forcing Franklin into a substandard shooting performance, the Lady Hornets harvested a 53-42 District 10 Region 5-AAA win Monday night. -
SPORTVIEW: Reynolds, Greenville are 2 of state's historic programs
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Reynolds High wrestling program which became the fastest Class AA team in the history of the state to reach 700 wins last weekend.
The program, which began in 1960-61 under coach Dick Sherwood, has set a torrid pace for winning since that 4-4 season.
Ironically, the school’s 700th victory came Saturday in the District 10 Dual Meet Championships against long-time rival Greenville, which went over the 700-win plateau in 2009. Greenville is believed to be the first AA team to reach 700 wins, while Reynolds did it in the shortest time. -
Hickory soccer standouts Free, Richards to Ashland University
Hickory High girls’ soccer coach B.J. Rudge believes the bar has been elevated, and his Lady Hornets have helped hoist it.
“In general, soccer has grown in this area ... and what our girls have accomplished is a reflection of the whole (Shenango) Valley,” Rudge recently observed. -
Ft. LeBoeuf beats Reynolds at D-10 AA Team Duals
EDINBORO — The Reynolds Raiders notched the school’s 700th victory in the semifinals of the District 10 Dual Meet Championships Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Raiders, No. 701 will have to come later.
The Raiders topped long-time rival Greenville, 51-16, in the semis to become the first Class AA school in Pennsylvania history to 700 wins. However, in the D-10 finals at Edinboro University’s McComb Field House, the Raiders fell to familiar foe Fort LeBoeuf, 31-28. -
Roundup: Popatak hits 1,000; Hickory, Farrell, Sharon boys win 6-AAA contests
ä Hickory 64, Franklin 52 — At “The Castle” in Franklin, the Knights (9-3, 15-3) led 28-21 at halftime, but coach Nick Cannone’s Hornets (11-2, 13-5) came storming back and outscored the hosts 24-9 in the 3rd quarter and 19-15 in the 4th to win a key Region 6-AAA clash.
Vinnie Mastrian rifled in a career-high 28 points to lead Hickory while Matt Votino scored 22. -
Roundup: WM, Sharpsville, Lakeview grab region wins
When in doubt, defer to Dogan.
West Middlesex High junior point guard Matt Dogan dominated the 2nd half of Friday night’s District 10 Region 1-A contest with visiting VisionQuest.
Dogan deposited 18 of his game-high 27 points after intermission, converting 12 of 16 free-throw attempts, leading the Big Reds to their 9th consecutive conquest, 56-41. -
Greenville's Zahniser headed to St. Francis
Nico Zahniser believes four years of scholastic football prepared him for the next level — and learning how to win and lose was only part of the process.
The Greenville High senior committed to St. Francis University of Loretto earlier this week, where he hopes to become part of a Red Flash resurgence under coach Chris Villarrrial. -
Belichick: Indy friendlier after failed '09 call against Colts
Coach Bill Belichick jokes about the welcome he has gotten since arriving in Indianapolis -- where Colts fans are less-than-friendly toward his New England Patriots -- for Super Bowl XLVI.
-
SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers
The nation's biggest sporting event produces some staggering statistics, from the number of chicken wings consumed -- 1.25 billion -- to the amount of money some people plan to bet on the game.
-
Roundup: Hickory, Sharon, GC boys grab 6-AAA wins
The District 10 Class AA Team Dual-Meet Championships have been owned by Reynolds and Fort LeBoeuf since its inception, with the Raiders winning 10 titles under now retired coach Brian Hills and the Bison winning the other 3.
The two teams are heavily favored to meet again Saturday in the finals of the tourney at Edinboro University’s McComb Field House which expands to 8 teams this year for the first time. The top 2 teams advance to the state tourney the following weekend. - More Sports Headlines
-
