Youngstown State University’s offensive unit was flat in the first three quarters, but the defense played outstanding for all four as the Penguins (3-1) got by a pesky Indiana State (0-5) team 28-0 in Terre Haute on Saturday.  YSU pushed the Indiana State losing streak to 31 games in a row, third longest streak in the country.

The Penguins got on the board in the first quarter when Brandon Summers found Dominique Barnes for a 36-yard touchdown.  Summers also hit Donald Jones for a 13-yard completion within the initial scoring drive.  Stephen Blose connected on the first of four extra points to give YSU a 7-0 lead.

Not much else happened in the first half until the Penguins marched 67 yards to the Sycamores 17.  With 2.4 seconds left in the half, Blose came out to attempt a field goal.  Indiana State employed the ‘ice the kicker’ strategy successfully as Blose missed the chip shot to the left keeping the score 7-0 at halftime.

In the third quarter, sophomore Randy Louis picked off an Indiana State pass at the Sycamores 30-yard line.  An apparent touchdown was nullified when Donald Jones was called for interference in the end zone.  Blose came back out for redemption but missed a 43-yard attempt keeping the score at 7-0.

The Penguins first possession of the fourth quarter yielded points.  Kevin Smith capped a 75-yard drive with his 21-yard touchdown dash.  Summers completed five passes on the drive which gave YSU a 14-0 lead.

The next series featured zero passing yards until Summers used a play-action pass to Aaron Pitts for a 1-yard TD.  The drive, which started at YSU’s own 38, showcased the versatility of three running backs.  Smith, Jabari Scott, and Dana Brown ran YSU from their own 38 to the ISU one.  Pitts’ TD reception pushed the Penguin lead to 21-0.

On Indiana State’s next series, Na’eem Outler picked off a Travis Johnson pass and returned the interception 37 yards to extend the Penguin lead to 28-0.  It was the second straight game that YSU scored on an interception.

Summers finished the game 21-33 for 194 yards with two TD’s and a pick.  He also rushed for 11 yards.  Kevin Smith led the way on the ground with 16 carries for 78 yards.  Barnes finished the game with 7 catches good for 86 yards and a TD. 

Youngstown State returns home for a game with Missouri State Saturday.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

A press conference to be held at the New York Giants practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J. on Tuesday will confirm that Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams will finally meet up to sign the deal that will see them face off on December 5th.  The fight will be held at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hotel. 

The fight was originally scheduled to take place on October 3 but Pavlik backed out days before a press conference in August to promote the fight with a severe staph infection.  Since then, Pavlik has been careful with the injury, sporting a splint, and undergoing IV drips to heal the bad hand.  Obviously, the attention has helped the hand as Pavlik will resume running next week. 

The fight will be televised on HBO, something Pavlik seemed adamant about from the time I interviewed him in July.  Tickets will cost $400, $300, $200, $100, and $50 and will go on sale Wednesday, one day after the press conference.  Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hotel box office or via Ticketmaster.

According to Youngstown Vindicator boxing reporter Joe Scalzo, Jack Loew is thrilled to finally get back at it with Pavlik.  Scalzo quoted Loew in Tuesday’s Vindicator as saying, “The last time we took this amount of time off, he came in and fought a left-hander, and knocked him out to win a championship.”  Loew was making reference to Pavlik’s 9th round TKO of Bronco McKart after a 10-month layoff.

What a horrible year Cleveland Sports fans have had to endure.  The Cavs could have done better.  The Indians started and are ending the season with disgraceful heartless performances.  The Browns are lucky if they win six games this season.  When will it end?  Doesn’t matter what team or season, the result for over 50 years has been disappointment. 

I applaud Cleveland fans for hanging in there and staying true to the teams they root for.  However, after attending a recent Indians game with about 25% of the stands at Progressive Field full, I have to wonder when fans will get disgusted enough to either switch teams or just put Cleveland sports as a whole on the back burner.  Again, there are diehards, but Chicago has tasted victory with the Bears, Detroit with the Pistons, Boston with the Patriots and Red Sox, etc… 

Let me start my story with the team that provides the greatest chance of winning something soon – the Cavs.  With the recent addition of Shaq and departure of Ben Wallace one of two things can happen.  1)  Everything will click, no one will be injured, and the Cavs will make a strong showing for an NBA Championship.  OR.. 2) Shaq will only play about half the year putting LeBron James back into the ‘I have to do it all myself’  mode, or worse yet, James could get injured.  I still argue that he isn’t going anywhere at the end of the season, but watch how that debate rages through the entire season and playoffs and becomes a bigger issue than the Cavs actually winning.

Move to baseball.  Eric Wedge should have been fired on Memorial Day or shortly after.  Wedge’s admitted pal and BFF Mark Shapiro stuck his neck out for Wedge to at least be given the end of the season to present his capabilities as a manager.  He has failed to do so.  Shapiro traded Cliff Lee to Philadelphia this season, even though he had another year on his contract, for pitching prospects like Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 9.64 ERA).  Last year CC Sabathia was pushed away instead of being offered a new contract and he didn’t do too bad in Milwaukee.  Both guys (Shapiro and Wedge) need to go and a true rebuilding process needs to take place, otherwise expect more Pirate-like boneheaded moves followed up by the financial weeping of a money-hungry front office. 

Question: Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?   Answer: Neither.   Browns fans are truly some of the most loyal people who follow sports.  The defense looked rather good in the first half against Minnesota in the opener.  In the second half, they looked dismal.  There is no consistency on this team.  They will jump up and win a few games, they always manage to do that much.  The problem at quarterback is not the individuals who play that position.  Quinn OR Anderson will be running for their lives as the line is still weak.  When they do have time, who do they throw to?  Braylon ‘drop ’em’ Edwards?  Josh ‘Wildcat’ Cribbs?  They need help at receiver bad.  Cribbs running the Wildcat Offense on Minnesota’s two-yard line was comical, for two plays.  Drew Brees would struggle with this team.

Sorry Cleveland fans.  Mad respect for the loyalty to these three franchises, but if the Cavs don’t do it this year it’s gonna be awhile longer in any sport.

Please comment if you think I am right or wrong, I am anxious to hear what others think about this.

Luke Holko continues to fight and some positive results are finally starting to result.  Luke is pictured here with his parents, Nicole and Chad Holko.  This photo was taken right before the ball hit Luke and started what is now a three week ordeal for this family.  Nicole and Chad have not left Luke’s side since the incident happened on September 2. 

Luke was given an EEG to measure brain activity on Tuesday.  The results showed that Luke is in a “locked-in” state, meaning he is trapped in himself right now.  It is not technically a coma anymore.  He can now see and hear but cannot respond or communicate back yet.  Bruising must go down some more before he can be expected to respond normally.  He is also moving his arms and legs without stimulation to trigger voluntary movement.

It is all good news as of this writing.  Luke is no longer in intensive care and will be moved to a rehabilitation facility in Cleveland.

It should be noted that the Holko’s are not running around with their hands extended seeking donations.  The extended family and friends have conducted several fundraisers.  Nicole was quoted as saying, “I would hand over every gift, every dollar, every card…everything I have… to have my son vibrant and healthy again.”  Chad and Nicole are grateful for the support.

Continued prayer and support to the Holko’s through this very difficult time!

Two weeks in the NFL books for 2009 already.  I predicted the Saints to win the Super Bowl three weeks ago, and took a vocal beating from everyone I saw out who read the article.  It was quiet this week.  If Drew Brees stays healthy, he will shatter many NFL records this season.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• The World of Isaac posted photos and video of some drunk women behaving badly at a Lions game and starting all kinds of trouble.
• Josh Q. Public warns Brock Lesnar to watch himself because Herschel Walker is ready to fight in the cage.  Bootlegger Sports also chimed in on Herschel Walker saying to enjoy him now because he will not be alive in a year.
• Zoner Sports has video of a hockey fight which comes real early on the cusp of the new season.
• Outside The Boxscore posted a funny animated video of how Brett Favre makes decisions.
• Detroit4Lyfe reports that old Tiger Stadium has officially been demolished but the memories will live on.
• Style Points gives Milton Bradley’s side of the story as to why he has been suspended for the rest of the season.
• Just Blog Baby apologizes on bended knee for calling the Raiders Michael Huff a ‘bust’.
• PSAMP asks mercifully if the Pirates season is over yet.
• Moon Dog Sports provides video of Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones picking his nose.
• Buster Sports lays out a tale of the tape between Sarah Palin and Lane Kiffin.

Youngstown State University has a pretty good track record against Indiana State University.  The Penguins have won 12 straight against the Sycamores, 17 of 18 in the all-time series, and have never lost in Terre Haute (9-0).  Sounds like a perfect way to open the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, doesn’t it?  To see YSU Coach Jon Heacock at the weekly press conference on Monday, you wouldn’t know whether YSU was playing Indiana State or Pitt again, a compliment to his ‘underestimate nobody in this conference’ attitude.

In reality, Indiana State has not been a very productive team in recent years.  Head Coach Trent Miles has a career mark of 0-16.  In fact, the last time Indiana State won a game was on October 21, 2006.  They have 14 consecutive home losses and have played a total of 30 games without a win.

Before writing the Sycamores off, understand that they have all of their skill position players back.  Junior tailbacks Darrius Gates and Antoine Brown have experience.  Heacock said, “One of the tailbacks runs as fast sideways as he does downhill”, citing the speed that the Sycamores bring.  They have last year’s quarterback playing at receiver now, they have other receivers back who started last year.  The only new guy is Freshman QB Travis Johnson.

Coach Heacock made it clear that his team will not play inferior football or treat this week with a lazy approach.  “From a defensive standpoint, it’s really easy.  We will just turn on the film from last year’s game and watch their returning tailback run for 120 some yards on us.  It was 21-7 in the first half last year and they were ahead.” YSU ultimately won last year’s contest 35-21.

Brandon Summers is putting up numbers to indicate that the strong finish YSU had at the end of the 2008 season was no fluke.  Against Northeastern, Summers had three rushing touchdowns unveiling his magnitude as an offensive weapon.  He also is quick to praise the YSU defensive unit as well as his blockers, receivers and backs.  When asked about pass distibution and trying to keep everyone happy, Summers replied, “I try my best [to distribute evenly], I don’t want to have any enemies on my side of the ball”.   So far he is doing well as Donald Jones has 13 catches, Dominique Barnes has 12, and Aaron Pitts has 7.

I look for the YSU running backs to have a big week.  Although no conference game can be taken lightly, it is nice to have an opponent that is 0 for their last 30 games to tune up the running game.  Kevin Smith should put up 100 yards against a Sycamore defense that has given up 672 rushing yards in four games or roughly 168 yards per game.

The game is set for a 12:05 kickoff in Terre Haute, Indiana at Memorial Stadium.  The forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies and a high temperature of around 79 degrees.

Penguin Notes

• The winning team in all three YSU games this season has scored 38 points.  Pitt scored 38 against YSU.  The Penguins put up 38 against Northeastern and Austin Peay.
• Junior Andre Elliott is turning into Mr. Momentum for YSU.  Elliott intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown against Northeastern.  He also blocked a punt against Austin Peay.
• YSU is 9-3 all-time in Missouri Valley Football Conference openers since joining the conference in 1997.
• Lenny Wicks should be back to 100% and will strengthen up the YSU secondary.
• The last time YSU played a game without a penalty was in 1995 against Indiana State.
• The last time YSU scored 50 points was also against Indiana State in 2006.

Certainly you have heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words,  but this T-shirt, modeled by Doug Hansen suggests that a picture could be worth a thousand pounds.

At a recent Scrappers game, Craig Antush, the official scorekeeper, ran to the bathroom.  When he got back to the pressbox, he was laughing uncontrollably about the heavy guy he saw in the hallway wearing this T-shirt that said, ‘I Beat Anorexia’.  The only other people in the press box on that particular night were myself and Scott Hansen, the scoreboard operator.  We both laughed at the thought.

Two seconds later there was a knock on the press box door, it was the guy with the T-shirt, who turned out to be Scott’s nephew!  Good times at Eastwood Field!

The cleverly written storylines hardly ever indicate the reality in a wrestler’s life.  However, Jeff Hardy is living a storyline of excess.  The WWE storyline over the past few months saw CM Punk turn heel and emphasize his ‘straight edge’ lifestyle.  Within that storyline, Punk’s favorite target was Hardy.  Hardy bragged on a recent Smackdown telecast that he had been clean for a year. 

If sobriety was indeed the case, maybe he can use it as a defense in court as to why he was convicted on September 11 on charges of trafficking in controlled perscription pills and possession of anabolic steroids.  A search of Hardy’s house found 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters (that’s alot) of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.  Hardy spent a night in jail before posting the $125,000 bond to be released.  He will have an upcoming court date which should net him at least the minimum of three years in prison unless he can somehow justify the junk in his closet.

Drugs and pro wrestling have churned out some serious tragedies over the past ten years.  Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrerro both passed away under the influence of some foreign substance abuse.  The list is numerous and sadly is always linked to steroids, painkillers, or recreational drugs – all of which were in Hardy’s home.

The CM Punk angle seems so surreal in hindsight.  For weeks, Punk has been attacking the character of Hardy as a guy who “just can’t say no”.   Punk even mentioned Hardy on Smackdown the day after the arrest in a negative light.  I guess it gives the storyline an ending to really sell it, but geez, have mercy on the guy.

The original intent of the storyline was for Punk to win back the title to allow Hardy some time to rest his severely aching neck.  Hardy’s contract expired in June, but he agreed to an extension which ran through Summer Slam and one episode of Smackdown beyond the pay-per-view.

As expected, Vince McMahon has refused comment on the matter and has cancelled a Jeff Hardy DVD which was scheduled for Winter release.

Photo Courtesy of Nick Mays

On a chilly Fall evening, two 19-year old pitching prospects took control of their respective team’s destinies. For Mahoning Valley, Clayton Cook, the Indians 9th round draft pick of 2008 took to the hill. Staten Island sent Jose Ramirez, a 2007 free agent from the Dominican Republic.  With everything at stake, neither of the youngsters factored into the decision.  Relief pitching was the difference as Staten Island overcame a 2-run deficit to defeat Mahoning Valley 5-2 in front of 1933 fans at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers drew first blood when Ben Carlson parlayed an infield single into a run. Carlson moved to second on a passed ball and would come around to score when Rafael Vera smashed a triple into right center. Chun Chen, last night’s hero, doubled to knock home Vera and give the Scrappers a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, Scrapper-killer Neil Medchill doubled off of the wall in right center. Zoilo Almonte singled to right knocking Medchill home with no one out. With Almonte at third and one out, Cook battled back to get out of the inning only giving up a single run where the score stood at 2-1 in favor of Mahoning Valley.

In the Yankees half of the seventh inning, Almonte singled off of Vidal Nuno. The next batter, Kyle Higashioka, doubled into the left field corner scoring Almonte and tying the contest at two. That would be it for Nuno who was relieved by Austin Adams with nobody out and Higashioka on second base. Adams rose to the challenge and got the required three outs to keep the game tied at two.

In the eighth, the Yankees struck big.   Jimmy Paredes led off with a single and Mack DeAngelo walked. Luke Merton flew out to center and Paredes tagged and advanced to third. Neil Medchill hit a high chopper toward second that Adams cut off and tried to make a play at home, which failed.  With runners on first and second, Almonte delivered a dagger – a 2 RBI double off of new pitcher Tyler Sturdevant putting Staten Island up 5-2.

Ben Watkins, the winning pitcher, was terrific in relief for the Yankees. He entered the game to start the fourth inning and only gave up one hit over the next five innings. Graham Stoneburner relieved Watkins to pitch the ninth inning for the Yankees and earn the save.  When the final out was recorded, the Yankee dugout emptied noisily as the team celebrated on the Scrappers pitchers mound.   

For Staten Island, it is their sixth NYPL Championship. 

Travis Fryman had nothing but good things to say about his Scrappers club after the game.  “You want these guys to go home on a positive note.  It is hard to lose big games, you can’t take away what they accomplished as a club this year.  It’s over, and we will prepare for next year, it’s all you can do.”

I asked Fryman about a return for next season to which he responded, “I plan on coming back here, absolutely.”

So the 2009 chapter of the New York – Penn League comes to a close.  Congratulations to all of the players in the league, not just Mahoning Valley, for making it a memorable year full of promise.  It was nice to meet so many young men who will serve as the reinforcements to Major League Baseball someday.

Photo -Courtesy of Nick Mays

The Scrappers Marty Popham and the Yankees Sean Black pitched like anything but short season Single-A prospects. Through four complete innings, the two starting pitchers combined for a total of 13 strikeouts.  In the end, it was a crack off the bat of Chun Chen in the bottom of the 11th inning that vaulted the Scrappers to knotting the series at one game apiece.

The irony of the Scrappers walk-off homer win is that Staten Island had hit 45 homers during the regular season and Mahoning Valley only had 11.

The Yankees got a lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Carmen Angelini singled. The next batter for the Yankees, DH Jimmy Paredes doubled driving in Angelini. DeAngelo Mack continued the two-out hitfest with a single up the middle which scored Paredes. After four-and-a-half innings the Yankees held a 2-0 lead.

Jason Smit doubled to start the bottom half of the fifth inning. He advanced to third on a wild pitch with nobody out. The next batter, Casey Frawley doubled deep off of the left-centerfield wall scoring Smit and cutting the Yankees lead to 2-1 and knocking Black out of the game.  Chun Chen laid down a sacrifice bunt off of new Yankee pitcher Griffin Bailey moving Frawley to third with one out. Argenis Martinez singled with two outs to plate Frawley and tie the game at two runs apiece.

With one out in the ninth inning, Jordan Henry singled and Martinez walked, but the Scrappers failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

In the bottom of the 11th inning of the 2000 NYPL finals, the Scrappers were playing Staten Island, and won that game on a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 11th inning.  Props to GM Dave Smith who walked into the pressbox during the tenth inning and laid claim to history repeating itself.  With one swing of Chen’s bat off of Staten Island pitcher Ronny Marte,  Smitty looked like a genius.  Chen was due to have a big hit sooner or later, he is just too good of a hitter.  “That was my biggest hit of my career”, said Chun through his interpreter (Jason Lynn), “I got a fastball, put a good swing on it, and the ball carried out”.

Jason Smit, Ben Carlson, Chen, and Martinez all had two hits each for the Scrappers.

Cory Burns was awesome in 3 1/3 innings of relief in garnering the win.  Burns had it going striking out 4 Yankees in his appearance and is credited with the win.  Antoine Hubbard and Matt Packer also pitched scoreless relief in keeping the loud Yankee bats quiet.

After the game, Travis Fryman tried to offer explanations on the mystique of this 2009 Scrappers team.  ” Our strength all year has been our pitching depth and ability to just win games.  I can’t explain that, I have been scratching my head all year trying to figure out how we ended up with the best record in the league.  I don’t think we had the most talented club in the league by any means, but I think tonight was a great example of what kind of ballclub we have, just finding ways to win”.

The Scrappers and Yankees hook it up Wednesday night, winner-takes-it-all.  Clayton Cook will start for the Scrappers.  “Cookie and some good guys in the bullpen, I like our chances”, said Fryman about the deciding contest.  First pitch is at 7:05 PM at Eastwood Field.  Marc Means will be on AM-1390 calling the game for those unable to attend.

$2 made from every ticket sold is being donated to the Luke Holko Fund.

Playoff Smit-O-Meter:  2-4, 2B (1), Run