If anyone reading this saw Happy Gilmore and enjoyed the Bob Barker appearance in the movie, then hold on to your hats because Bob Barker is hosting Monday Night Raw on Labor Day.  Barker has been retired for almost two years from The Price Is Right.  Drew Carey is doing well, but he is not Bob Barker and does things a bit differently.  Here are my five predictions for Barker’s appearance.

1.  Barker will order Hornswoggle the midget to play the “Mountain Climber Game”.  He will have a random audience member guess the prices of pre-selected items and every dollar they are off will have Hornswoggle ascend up the ramp a step.  If the contestant is off by too much, Hornswoggle will fall over the side of the entrance stage.

2.  Barker will reveal at the end of the show that he is a secret advisor to Degeneration X as he crotch chops and tells the audience about his secret passion for Rage Against The Machine music.

3.  Barker calls out Drew Carey, and much to the crowds delight, Carey shows up and accepts Barker’s challenge to a “Steel-Cage Showcase Showdown Submission Match”.  Barker would be the good guy and brings long-time model and Barker Beauty Janice out while Carey, playing the heel, arrives with Mimi as he is booed heavily.

4.  At about the midway point of the show, Barker brings out George “The Animal” Steele to remind the viewing audience to always have their pets spayed and neutered.

5.  Conan O’Brien interferes in the “Showcase Showdown Steel Cage Match” between Barker and Carey to assist Carey.  When no one is looking, Conan emerges through the floor of the ring and hits Barker with one of those thin foot long microphones.  He then throws the microphone to the announce table where Andy Richter and LaBamba catch and hide the evidence.  Conan than reaches into his trousers, and like Mick Foley had a sock, O’Brien has a Triumph The Insult Comic Dog hand puppet that he uses to help Carey choke Barker out with.

 

 

 Youngstown area night life is about to get a big shot in the arm.  Eric Ryan has teamed with Kelly Pavlik to bring Kelly Pavlik’s 13th Round  to downtown Struthers.  This is not a normal mom and pop neighborhood bar, but more an event. 

Formerly known as South Bridge, a place where people went to play pool, hear some live music, or eat a decent meal upstairs at Fat E’s, the conversion to Kelly Pavlik’s 13th Round is nearly complete and the doors to a whole new nightlife experience open to the public on September 11. 

The only thing that will stay the same is the lower level, aka The Cellar.  Eric Ryan and staff will continue to feature the best local and national musical talent to this exclusive venue.  Anyone who has been to The Cellar for a Disco Inferno night understands the level of entertainment you can still get for a few bucks.

The mid-level, formerly South Bridge, a pool hall and bar is undergoing the biggest makeover.  There will be a boxing ring right in the bar.  The bar itself will be huge and there will be a kitchen open to serve food to the patrons in the form of hamburgers, wings, fries, and many other menu items.  The big menu item will be called “The Knockout”.  The Knockout sandwich weighs three pounds and is basically the size of a loaf of bread.  Anyone who purchases the sandwich will also receive a T-shirt.  Kelly Pavlik was even contacted by the popular show Man vs Food to showcase the new sandwich. The customer can order food and will be given a blinking light box that will activate once an order is prepared and ready for consumption.  The bar itself will also feature 13 flat screen TV’s and will carry mostly any sport on any day.  My personal favorite feature will be something I cannot really comment about until the bar opens, but I will give you a hint in that I am a sports memorabilia fanatic.  If you even remotely care about sports this is your place. 

The top level has also undergone many upgrades both in appearance and class.  Chef Jeff Chrystal of Chrystal Catering notoriety will be in charge of the top level food.  Alligator is an appetizer choice, duck is also an option, but the menu will have several other “normal” selections such as steaks.  The picture above denotes one of the cool ideas incorporated into the new establishment.  A designer has painted, in different colors and fonts on the wall, quotes from several notable boxing legends.  There is a similar project associated with this concept downstairs which I will save as a surprise to the clients. 

Alan Drennen is the general manager for the entire complex and talked about what a great menu Jeff Chrystal is going to provide.  “It’s going to be a well-rounded unique menu.  There are unbelievable pasta dishes, steaks, steakburgers that are hand-pattied not bought processed.  It’s going to be really good food yet still be affordable.”

Ryan is pumped about the new establishment and said that Kelly Pavlik is more involved than people may think from an insider standpoint.  “It’s something Kelly and I have been talking about for a long time.  It is a way for him to generate some income without getting punched in the face.  We have business meetings and when he is in attendance, he certainly is no dummy.  I’m the manager of the place, but Kelly has had input on the menu, he has had input on the look of the place.  We have transformed the billiards room in to the most incredible sports bar you are ever going to see.”

I am really excited for the premier of this establishment.  Eric Ryan brings a spotless track record and a resume filled only with success to a higher level yet again.  The Covelli Centre is hot right now, don’t think it’s because Ryan didn’t have anything to do with it.  This guy does not hide in his office.  He has a knack of putting the right people in place to oversee facets of every project he attempts.  More importantly, the guy follows through on everything.  Kelly Pavlik’s 13th Round is going to be special. 

Thank’s Kelly and Eric for giving the valley another shot in the arm!

With tonight’s win, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The playoffs will start on Tuesday as Mahoning Valley will either travel to Brooklyn or Staten Island to play Game 1 of a Best of 3 Semi-Final Series.  The Scrappers will return home to play Game 2 on Wednesday regardless of who the opponent is with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.  If necessary, Game 3 will be played at Eastwood Field on Wednesday at 7:05. 

All fans who already bought playoff ticket packages should use Semi-Finals-Game A tickets for Wednesday and if there is a game on Thursday should use Semi-Finals-Game B tickets.

Ticket packages for the entire playoffs are still available.  With a maximum of four home games possible, each box seat playoff package costs $28, an $8 savings off of individual game ticket prices when purchased in advance.  Fans will receive a refund or a 2010 credit for any unused playoff game tickets.

Individual tickets are now on sale for Wednesday’s Game 2.  Individual ticket prices are $9 for box seats and $7 for general admission.

Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Eastwood Field box office or by calling 330-505-0000.  The box office will be open at 12:00 noon on Sunday as well as Labor Day from 8:30-5:30.  Tickets can also be purchased online by clicking here.

These are the games that Division 1-AA players have dreamt of playing for years.  They are David’s shot at Goliath and they are taking place in many stadiums this week.  For Youngstown State, it is their fifth chance at an FBS school in the past five seasons.  The past four efforts have not yielded a touchdown, a monkey the Penguins hoped to get off of their backs this year.

Unfortunately, YSU failed to score a touchdown against a very talented defense in losing to Pitt, 38-3.  At times, YSU showed their potential, and even won the time of possession battle for the game.  Sadly, the winner of a football game doesn’t always have the ball the longest. 

Don’t think less of Youngstown State because of this score.  I can almost guarantee Pitt will beat at least one Big East opponent worse than they did YSU.  The showing for Youngstown State was gutty and heartfelt, but was marred with mistakes and penalties at the most inopportune times.  This team from Youngstown showed alot of fight against a Division-1 favorite to win a conference and perhaps compete in a BCS game.

YSU had the ball first and went three and out.  Pitt took the ball, got a first down, and then was forced to punt.  A good Pitt punt pinned the Penguins on their own 10-yard line where they started their second possession.  The Pitt defense stiffened up and drove YSU back four yards before they were forced to punt.

With great field position on the YSU 41-yard line, Pitt went on the attack with 9:17 remaining in the 1st quarter.  In four plays, Pitt got on the scoreboard when true Freshman Dion Lewis scampered 16 yards for a Pitt score to make it 7-0. 

YSU showed some offensive prowess and ate up the rest of the first quarter with the drive yielding a 48-yard Stephen Blose field goal to make it 7-3 in favor of Pitt with 14:04 left in the second quarter.

Pitt wasted no time responding as Dion Lewis had four carries for 58 yards in a five-play drive accented by his 1-yard TD run with 11:23 left in the half to make the score Pitt 14, YSU 3. 

Pitt went up 21-3 with 1:05 left in the half.  The 8-play, 61-yard drive took 3:08 and ended with Lewis catching a flare pass from QB Bill Stull for a three-yard touchdown.  On the drive, Lewis carried the ball 6 times for 42 more yards.  Lewis carried the ball 15 times for 135 yards in the first half.

Pitt got the ball to start the second half.  QB Bill Stull was picked off by YSU’s Brandon Ross.  After an illegal block on the return, YSU took the ball on their own 39 but could not move the ball and was forced to punt.

After an exchange of punts, Tino Sunseri entered the game as Pitt’s QB.  Sunseri hooked up with Jonathan Baldwin for a 42-yard completion giving Pitt a first-and-goal at the YSU 9-yard line.  The YSU defense held Pitt out of the end zone and forced the Panthers to settle on a 26-yard field goal by Dan Hutchens to extend the Pitt lead to 24-3.

With 24 seconds left in the third quarter, Stull found Dorin Dickerson for a 13-yard TD pass to bolster the Pitt lead to 31-3.  The score capped off a 63-yard drive.  On the first play after the kickoff, YSU QB Brandon Summers was intercepted giving Pitt the ball on YSU’s 35-yard line.  The third quarter came to a close with Pitt ahead by 28 points and threatening to increase the margin with the ball on YSU’s 33.

On third down and 5 yards to go at the YSU 6-yard line, Sunseri found Andre Wright for a touchdown pushing the Pitt lead to 38-3 with 12:05 remaining in the game. 

YSU drove and had the ball for 8:31 but failed to convert the effort into any points as Summers was picked off in the end zone.  Pitt took the ball and basically ran out the clock to end the contest at 38-3.

After the game, Coach Heacock gave his impressions of his teams efforts.  “That team [Pitt] is pretty good and there is a reason they are picked to win the Big East Championship.  I don’t know if we did enough good things to win a game.   We have got to do things to win football games, and I’m not just talking about Pitt.  You have to line up right and do the little things.”

YSU was flagged for nine penalties, to which Heacock referred to as “ridiculous”, stressing how dificult it is to win when you keep digging holes to fall into.

For the Penguins, Kevin Smith carried the ball 17 times for 52 yards.  QB Brandon Summers finished 11 for 22 passing for 113 yards and was sacked six times.  Donald Jones led Penguin receivers with 4 catches for 34 yards.  Sir Demarco Bledsoe recorded 9 tackles, one for a loss.

Pitt Freshman Dion Lewis had 20 carries for 137 yards and 2 TD’s.  QB Bill Stull was 11-16 for 123 yards with 2 TD’s and an interception.  Dorin Dickerson caught 4 passes for 26 yards and had one TD.

YSU will try to regroup and set their attention to Austin Peay in next week’s home opener.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers set a new standard for wins in a season with their 49th, the old record was 48.  With their 3-0 victory over State College, the Scrappers clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs.   The Scrappers got outstanding pitching from Brett Brach and Tyler Sturdevant and put up enough offense to claim the win.  

The Scrappers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard and for the second consecutive night tallied in the first inning.  Casey Frawley (pictured, on left) walked with two outs.  Frawley would later score on a Jesus Brito RBI single to give Mahoning Valley a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ben Carlson (pictured, on right) singled and Chun Chen walked.  Rafael Vera then bunted the two Scrappers into scoring position.  Carlson scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0.  Argenis Martinez then bunted for a single with two outs knocking in Chen to cap the scoring at 3-0.

Brett Brach had a good start for Mahoning Valley.  Brach went six innings giving up three hits and walking none.  He also struck out six Spikes batters in lowering his ERA to 2.19 and boosting his record to 5-2 for the season.  Tyler Sturdevant pitched the last three innings and didn’t surrender a hit or a walk in picking up his third save of the year. 

Casey Frawley, who was the designated hitter Saturday,  talked about the importance of going after 50 wins for the year.  “We want to go hard and get this ring.  Tomorrow is a big game, we set a goal as a team to win 50 games at the beginning of the year.  It’s what I heard when I came up here, and it has been stressed more and more as we get closer.”

Travis Fryman commented on the potential to win 50 games also.  “This is something the players really want, 50 is a nice round number and sounds better than 49 to me.  It’s something to shoot for and a great accomplishment for a 76 game season.  I think they really want that, and they have earned it.”  Fryman also confirmed a possible return for Greg Folgia if he can hit and run the bases without pain during batting practice.

The Scrappers wrap up their regular season with their final game scheduled for Sunday at 5:05 against State College.  I will post the playoff schedule and ticket options in a seperate article tomorrow.

On Browns-Steelers promo night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers played the role of Pittsburgh, and Jamestown got to be Cleveland (at least thats how its been for a few years now).  The Scrappers were not at their sharpest, but were able to come away with a 7-5 victory and tie a franchise record for victories in a season (48).

Greg Pruitt was at Eastwood Field representing the Browns, and Robin Cole was also on hand to represent the Steelers in front of 2,969 fans.  Browns and Steelers highlights were shown on the scoreboard and plenty of fans wore team jerseys of their choosing.  I would guess the crowd was 60-40 Pittsburgh.

                      

The Scrappers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Argenis Martinez walked, stole third, and scored on a Chun Chen single to put the Scrappers ahead 1-0.

Jamestown answered in the top of the second scoring a run on a long sac fly from Mark Wyatt to tie the score. The Jammers had the bases loaded with nobody out, but starter Vidal Nuno did well to limit the visiting team to a single run.

In the bottom of the fourth, Chun Chen reached on an error, stole second and would score on a Ben Carlson RBI single to put Mahoning Valley up 2-1. Carlson would later score in the inning on a Moises Montero groundout making it 3-1 in favor of the Scrappers.

With one out in the third, Martinez, Jason Kipnis, and Chen all walked. Martinez scored on a passed ball to push the lead to 4-1.

Jamestown would take a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a three-run homer off of the bat of Jamestown DH Carlos Paulino.

The Scrappers tied the game at 5 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Martinez singled home Tim Palincsar who walked earlier.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Chen led off and was hit by a pitch. He would score as the next batter, Jesus Brito, tripled to deep right center putting Mahoning Valley back on top 6-5. It didn’t take long for Brito to score as the next batter, Carlson, hit a sac fly to deep right center to extend the Scrapper lead to 7-5, where the scoring would end.

Austin Adams picked up the win for the Scrappers, hoisting his record to 3-1.  Adams relieved Scrapper starter Vidal Nuno who lasted 5 1/3 innings.  Guido Fonseca picked up the save, his 5th,  pitching a perfect 9th inning.

For the Scrappers, it was their fifth game in three days.  Jordan Henry (pictured) talked about the rough three days.  “It’s tough.  I’m not used to doing that. It’s a grind and we have played alot of games all season and we are prepared for that.  We know we just have to go out there and play.”

The Scrappers finish up their regular season with a two-game series against State College with games on Saturday and Sunday.

LeGarrette Blount got the NCAA Football’s heavily advertised Sportsmanship Week promo off to a flying start.  Having earlier discipline problems, Blount should just be sent home for acting like an animal in defeat.  Was he provoked? maybe.  That still doesn’t give you a reason to cold-cock your opponent during the postgame handshakes.  The game itself stunk as Boise State beat Oregon in a yawner. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, he swung on his teammates, attempted to go after fans, was unrestrainable despite the efforts of coaches and players, and needed police to prevent him going to jail for attempting to assault some fans. 

Yep, LeGarrette Blount is definitely the posterchild for Sportsmanship Week.  Nice promo NCAA!

 

 

Growing up about five minutes from Pittsburgh in the suburb of Woodland Hills, Luke Matelan can technically call Saturday’s season-opener against Pittsburgh a home game.  Matelan is excited about the chance to play in front of many acquaintances from his recent past.  I recently had a chance to talk with Matelan about YSU, cereal, and civil engineering.  By the way, pronunciation perfectionists, it is (MATT-a-lawn).

Paneech: How does it feel to play against the college you grew up watching on Saturday?

Matelan:  It’s going to be a good homecoming for me.  I get to play in front of my family and friends who don’t always get to make it up here for the games, I’m pretty excited.

Paneech: Why should Penguin fans buy into the notion that things are better this season?

Matelan: It feels like everyone is more together this year.  Last year we had some adversity and people parted ways, but this year I feel like everyone has each other’s backs and we are here for the long haul no matter what happens.

Paneech: Tell me who else recruited you and why you ultimately chose YSU.

Matelan:  Alot of Division 1-AA schools down South were recruiting me.  I chose YSU because I saw winners, and I want to win, so that’s why I came here.  I think we have alot of guys who can do special things here and we just need to put it all together and good things will happen for us.

Paneech: Tell me about your major and what classes you have had that you may have really liked or disliked.

Matelan: I am majoring in Civil Engineering.  I have about a year and a half of schoolwork to complete the requirements to graduate.  The classes are not really that fun, they are alot of work, so you have to make the best of it and enjoy yourself while you can.  Physics is not my favorite subject, but I just deal with it.

Paneech: Does playing football satisfy your phys ed requirements to graduate?

Matelan:  No (laughs), I don’t think so.  We take classes like golf in the offseason to meet the requirements.

Paneech:  How hard is it to keep up with schoolwork during the season?

Matelan:  It gets pretty tough because I am drained when I come back from practice.  I get some food and then I really buckle down and get right to the studies.  It’s tough sometimes, but it is manageable. 

Paneech:  Who is your favorite NFL player and team?

Matelan:  I’ll have to go with the Steelers because I am a hometown guy and I think James Harrison is fantastic coming off of the edge, that guy’s a beast.

Paneech:  Who is your favorite baseball team?

Matelan: I always liked the Seattle Mariners since I was young.

Paneech:  What happened to rooting for hometown teams?  What about the Pirates?

Matelan: We don’t have enough time to talk about the woes of the hometown baseball team right now.

One Word Answers

Favorite Cartoon Character:  I don’t watch cartoons.

Ultimate Vacation Destination: Somewhere in the Carribean on a nice beach.

Favorite Board Game: Scattegories

Favorite Soft Drink: I don’t drink pop.  Just water and milk.

Dream Car To Someday Own:  Some big SUV, like an Excursion.

Greatest Musician of All-Time:  Jimmy Buffet

Best Show On Television:  Burn Notice

One of the best answers I have ever got in my one-word answers follows, I had to print the whole answer.

Favorite Cereal and How Much Do You Eat?  Well, let’s start with the bowl size.  You have probably seen a salad bowl that people get when they eat out somewhere that feeds many people.  I just fill one of those bad boys up with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, it’s always a good pleasure.  I like to snack on that when I get a chance.

In the second game of a Mahoning Valley Scrappers – Jamestown Jammers doubleheader, one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed took place.  In the second inning, an unidentified four-year-old was struck in the head with a line drive foul ball.  The sickening thud quieted everything.  The next thing I saw was a father in a state of panic carrying the child from the first row seat just past the home dugout and frantically screaming for help.  An EMT met the father and the child and guided them into a tunnel leading to the lower-level corridor.

Everything was silent.  The game was halted as everyone held their collective breath for well over a minute.  Once play resumed, I heard the sirens of an ambulance.  I ignored the game for a moment to exit the press room and look over the balcony hoping to get an encouraging glimpse of the young child showing movement or sitting up with an ice pack on his head. 

When the EMT’s got the stretcher up the six steps and the boy was carried and gently laid down, I saw nothing to be hopeful for.  The child was motionless, the family was horrified, and anyone who saw what I saw was scared.

After the game ended, I drifted back to the locker room to get some thoughts from Scrappers Manager Travis Fryman.  Upon getting settled, I overheard Fryman relaying a status update to his team.  I could only get bits and pieces of what he was saying, but knew that it could not be good news.

When Fryman came through the curtain, I asked him to relay any information he had.  “The reports I have have not been optimistic.  A four-year-old boy was hit in the head with a line drive.  There are some cranial issues and some spinal issues that are going on here.  Obviously, the young man will need as much family and prayer support as anyone can give him.  I cringe as a dad and as a coach because I see so much of this, but I have never seen a death as a result.  I probably hurt more as a parent and a father right now as I do a baseball manager.”

The ball came off the bat of Scrapper Ben Carlson.  Fryman commented on Carlson, “Ben is one of the most genuine and sincere and caring young men I have had in two years here.  He is a great teammate, loves his teammates.  This is going to sit really heavy on him through the night tonight.”

It is with a tear in my eye and a prayer in my heart that I can only wish the best for the poor kid who was unintentionally hurt.  I will also pray for Ben Carlson who has to be devastated. 

I will continue to update this story as I receive information.

***Update 9/4/09 @ 1 AM  The boy underwent surgery and has since been transported to an undisclosed children’s hospital where he is said to be in an induced coma.

***Update 9/4/09 @ 12:43 PM  The boy hit by the line drive has been identified as Luke Holko.  Holko has since been moved to Akron Children’s Hospital where he remains in an induced coma.  He has undergone surgery for skull fractures and the next few days are critical. 

***Update 9/4/09 @ 10:40 PM  No change on Luke’s status as far as I could find out.  The Youngstown State baseball team is raising money for their own program by doing vending duties since most of the regular vendors have gone back to their colleges.  Every cent they made at tonight’s Scrappers game was donated to Luke’s cause.  It was great to see these young men working hard to raise money.  There is a benefit cookout scheduled to take place at Sam’s Club in Warren, Ohio on Monday, September 7 (Labor Day) from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.  The money generated from the cookout will be used to help offset medical expenses to the family of Luke Holko.  Scrappy The Dog will be on hand.  The address for Sam’s Club #6327 is 1040 Niles-Cortland Rd., Warren, OH.  I will continue to pass along updates as I get them.

***Status Update 9-5-09 @ 9 AM  Luke Holko’s condition is listed as critical.  His family held a press conference yesterday at Akron Children’s Hospital in which the boy’s mother, Nicole Holko, said she is happy that the community is flooding the family with e-mails, support, and donations.  The family also thanked EMT’s for their quick response at the game.  Luke underwent surgery in Youngstown to lift the fracture and take pressure off of his brain.  On Thursday, Luke was transported to Akron where doctors are waiting for the pressure to decrease before they can determine what the long-term effects of the injury will be.  It could take up to 5 days for the swelling to go down.  More updates to follow.

***Status Update 9-5-09 11:30 PM  Be sure to click on the comments at the bottom of this story, I recently received a comment from a close friend of the family which includes a direct quote from Luke’s father.  They are reading this blog and appreciate the support.  Travis Fryman and Ben Carlson traveled to Akron Children’s Hospital this morning where they spent time with the Holko family.  I talked with Ben Carlson after the game tonight.  I wish all professional athletes could see how they should have acted when they were 21.  Ben is doing better and thanks everyone for the support.  Travis also remarked at how incredibly grateful the Holko family is for the overwhelming support.  More updates as I get them.  Thanks for caring enough to check back.  Anyone who knows I was asked by the local television news media and only provided audio clips as an anonymous media source can explain that I am not following this story to promote my website.  I am merely trying to relay information to those concerned for the well-being of Luke, his family, and Ben.  Being the only media source reporting on the incident the night it happened has strengthened my own concerns for the above mentioned parties. 

***Update 9-7-09 5:15 PM  I attended the fundraiser held at the Warren, Ohio,  Sam’s Club to raise money for Luke in the theme of a Labor Day cookout (pictured).  Scrappy, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Mascot was on-hand.  Several people were lined up to buy the picnic fare food to which all proceeds were being donated to Luke Holko.  I spoke with event coordinator and Sam’s Club grocery/produce manager Jendi Pregibon.  “The response has been overwhelming.  When we started at ten o’clock we had alot of the family members here.  Luke’s aunt is still here with the others volunteering their time.”

I asked Pregibon how she came to be involved in the project to which she very emotionally replied, “I had my family there [at that particular game] and saw it.  We [Sam’s Club] want to reach out to our community and show them how much we care.

In the first of two games at Eastwood Field, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers cashed in on a decent start by Clayton Cook (pictured) to post a 2-0 victory over the Jamestown Jammers.  Cook worked hard and got himself out of trouble a couple of times during his appearance.

Cook made the most of his start by going 5 innings, while only giving up three hits and a walk. The win improved Cook’s record to 5-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.97. He also struck out six Jammers hitters. Matt Packer pitched the final two innings giving up a hit and striking out two en route to his first save of the year.

Offensively, the Scrappers got an RBI each from Jason Kipnis and Ben Carlson knocking in Tim Palincsar and Jesus Brito respectively.

Both games were shortened to seven innings to make the rare doubleheader fit into a reasonable time frame.

The Scrappers have already clinched the division and are assured a playoff berth for the first time since 2004. The significance of the back-to-back doubleheaders is to jockey for home playoff positioning. The early clinching by the Scrappers was highlighted by a 20-6 August record, best in the league.

Travis Fryman was pleased that Cook was able to get the win despite not having his best stuff.  “Clayton wasn’t sharp today.  His last two or three outings have not been really sharp.  He got out of a jam in the first, he got a double play ball later, he kept us in the ballgame and we got some timely hits and came out okay.”