Friday, June 30, 2017

Strong pitching makes up for weak West Virginia Black Bears hitting

Despite a team batting average of .193, the West Virginia Black Bears find themselves in a three way tie for first place in the Pinckney Division with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the State College Spikes with a 6-4 record.

Pitching is the bright spot thus far for the Black Bears with Scooter Hightower, Yoandy Fernandez, and Sergio Cubilete leading the way.

Scooter Hightower
Scooter Hightower has appeared in three games (two starts) this season and has a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings. He has 15 strikeouts and 0 walks, yielded four hits and has a WHIP of 0.36. The Clarksville, Tennessee native was drafted in the 15th round of the 2015 draft by the Pirates out of Columbia State Community College and was assigned to the Bristol Pirates in the Appalachian League (Rookie). He began the 2016 season with the Black Bears (38.1 IP, 2-5, 2.38 ERA, 37 SO, 7 BB, 1.38 WHIP) and was promoted to the West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League) on August 30, appearing in two games (7 IP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP).


Yoandy Fernandez is 2-0, appearing in three games in relief this season. In seven innings of work he has a 0.00 ERA, 12 strikeouts, 0 walks and a WHIP of 0.57. The 29 year old was signed to a minor league contract as a free agent by the Pirates on April 11, 2017. Fernandez pitched in Cuba from 2007 until 2013, before defecting from Cuba to Mexico in 2014. He was eligible for the 2015 draft, but went undrafted.

Yoandy Fernandez
Sergio Cubilete
 

















Sergio Cubilete is 1-0 in two starts this season for the Black Bears. He has pitched a total of 11 innings and has a 1.64 ERA, 5 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.09. A native of the Dominican Republic, Cubilete was signed as a free agent by the Pirates February 16, 2016. He appeared in 15 games for the Dominican Summer League Pirates in 2016.

The Black Bears are back in action tonight at Monongalia County Ballpark against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers starting at 7:05pm. Ticket information at westvirginiablackbears.com.

Photo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Sunday, June 25, 2017

By the Numbers: Scores, Standings, Attendance, and Transactions for June 24, 2017

 
Scores for June 24, 2017

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 9 - State College Spikes 2
Batavia Muckdogs 0 - West Virginia Black Bears 0 (suspended in 3rd)
Vermont Lake Monsters 4  - Tri-City ValleyCats 2
Staten Island Yankee 4 - Aberdeen IronBirds 3
Auburn Doubledays 7 - Williampsort Crosscutters 6 (11 innings)
Hudson Valley Renegades 10 - Brooklyn Cyclones 4
Connecticut 9 - Lowell Spinners 2

Standings after June 24 games

 
Stedler

CLUBWLPCT






Connecticut Tigers (DET)32







Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)33







Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)23







Lowell Spinners (BOS)24








Attendance Figures thru June 24

TeamYesterdayTotalOpeningsAverage
Brooklyn Cyclones7,01614,28727,144
Hudson Valley Renegades012,84934,283
Lowell Spinners5,03012,77034,257
Aberdeen IronBirds04,09914,099
Staten Island Yankees4,0314,03114,031
Tri-City ValleyCats4,01115,24443,811
Mahoning Valley Scrappers3,02214,69243,673
State College Spikes012,46343,116
West Virginia Black Bears05,26122,631
Connecticut Tigers09,17942,295
Vermont Lake Monsters06,78932,263
Auburn Doubledays1,5764,20022,100
Williamsport Crosscutters06,83641,709
Batavia Muckdogs01,52711,527
 
Transactions on June 24, 2017

West Virginia Black Bears activated LF Jared Oliva.

OF Reid Russell assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

2B Tristan Gray assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

RF Bligh Madris assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

SS Kevin Merrell assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

2B Ryan Gridley assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

OF Jack Meggs assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

3B Will Toffey assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

2B Payton Squier assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

RHP Alex House assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

RHP Hunter Martin assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

1B Aaron Arruda assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

3B Carl Stajduhar assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.

RHP Andrew Potter assigned to West Virginia Power from West Virginia Black Bears.

DH Deon Stafford assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.
 


Source: MiLB.com

Note: I will be traveling the next few days and will have limited Internet access. Please follow me on Twitter @1blackbear53 (NY-Penn League News). I will be following league news on Twitter and get back to blogging in a few days. Thanks. 

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Who's Hot; Results and Standings from June 23

 

Who's hot: The West Virginia Black Bears have won three in a row and lead the McNamara Division.

Results from Friday, June 23, 2017

West Virginia Black Bears 5 - Williamsport Crosscutters 3
Staten Island Yankees 8 - Hudson Valley Renegades 6
Vermont Lake Monsters 5 - Brooklyn Cyclones 4
State College Spikes 13 - Batavia Muckdogs 7
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 5 - Auburn Doubledays 4
Aberdeen IronBirds 7 - Connecticut Tigers 2
Lowell Spinners 7 - Tri-City ValleyCats 2

Standings thru games played on Friday, June 23, 2017

McNamara Division

CLUBWLPCTGB





 Staten Island Yankees (NYY)31.750-





 Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)22.5001.0





 Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)22.5001.0





 Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)22.5001.0





 
Stedler Division

CLUBWLPCTGB





 Connecticut Tigers (DET)22.500-





 Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)22.500-





 Lowell Spinners (BOS)23.4000.5





 Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)23.4000.5






Source: MiLB.com

Note: I will be traveling the next few days and will have limited Internet access. Please follow me on Twitter @1blackbear53 (NY-Penn League News). I will be following league news on Twitter and get back to blogging in a few days. Thanks. 
 
Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Friday, June 23, 2017

New York-Penn League Transactions for June 23, 2017


RHP Luis Araujo assigned to AZL Indians from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RF Teddy Hoffman assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

RHP Jean Carlos Mejia assigned to AZL Indians from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

1B Bryan Tejeda assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

RF Julio Martinez assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

SS Isrrael De La Cruz assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

RHP Eli Morgan assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

2B Ernie Clement assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RHP James Karinchak assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

SS Jesse Berardi assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

OF Garrett McCain assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

C Joey Morgan assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

SS Cole Peterson assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

CF Luke Burch assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

CF Ariel Serrano assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

Source: MiLB.com

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

New York-Penn League Attendance Figures thru June 22



Here are the attendance figures for New York-Penn League teams, including last night's games. Staten Island's home opener on June 19, was postponed due to rain. They will play their first home game on Saturday, June 24, against the Aberdeen IronBirds.

TeamYesterdayTotalOpeningsAverage
Brooklyn Cyclones07,27117,271
Hudson Valley Renegades3,8338,60324,302

Mahoning Valley Scrappers3,2878,50324,252
Aberdeen IronBirds04,09914,099
Lowell Spinners07,74023,870
Tri-City ValleyCats2,7587,40623,703
State College Spikes3,1949,44533,148
West Virginia Black Bears05,26122,631
Auburn Doubledays02,62412,624
Vermont Lake Monsters2,4414,95222,476
Williamsport Crosscutters1,6765,21231,737
Connecticut Tigers1,3024,91731,639
Batavia Muckdogs01,52711,527
Staten Island Yankees0000
Source: MiLB.com

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Thursday, June 22, 2017

New York-Penn League Standings including games played on June 22


McNamara Division

CLUBWLPCTGB





Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)21.667-





Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)21.667-





Staten Island Yankees (NYY)21.667-





Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)12.3331.0





 
Stedler Division

CLUBWLPCTGB





Connecticut Tigers (DET)21.667-





Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)21.667-





Lowell Spinners (BOS)13.2501.5





Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)13.2501.5






Source: MiLB.com

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Recap for June 22 - Tonight's Winners: Scrappers, Cyclones, ValleyCats, IronBirds, Spikes, Renegades, Black Bears

Auburn 4 at Mahoning Valley 5 (10 innings) Box Score
Attendance: 3,287

Brooklyn 5 at Vermont 3 Box Score
Attendance: 2,441

Lowell 0 at Tri-City 1 Box Score
Attendance: 2,758

Aberdeen 3 at Connecticut 0 Box Score
Attendance: 1,302


Batavia 1 at State College 9 Box Score
Attendance: 3,194

Staten Island 1 at Hudson Valley 6 Box Score
Attendance: 3,833

West Virginia 3 at Williamsport 1 Box Score
Attendance: 1,676
   
Source: MiLB.com

Photo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Transactions for June 22, 2017 (updated as of 10:05pm)

1B Jake Adams assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

IF Frankie Rios assigned to Lowell Spinners.

3B Garrett Benge assigned to Lowell Spinners.

RHP Kutter Crawford assigned to Lowell Spinners.

C Charlie Madden assigned to Lowell Spinners.

Pawtucket Red Sox sent OF Aneury Tavarez on a rehab assignment to Lowell Spinners.

LHP Dominic LoBrutto assigned to Lowell Spinners.

OF Zach Jarrett assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.

OF T.J. Nichting assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.

SS Paul Panaccione assigned to Auburn Doubledays from Hagerstown Suns.

RHP Durin O'Linger assigned to Lowell Spinners.

RHP Matt Seelinger assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

SS Brett Pope assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

3B Kyle Davis assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

C Brian Reyes assigned to Staten Island Yankees from Pulaski Yankees.

2B Chris Hess assigned to Staten Island Yankees.

SS Robbie Glendinning assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

1B Troy Sieber assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Tri-City ValleyCats.

SS Tyler Beckwith assigned to Hagerstown Suns from Auburn Doubledays.

RHP Harrison Cooney assigned to Greenville Drive from Lowell Spinners.

C Austin Afenir assigned to Tampa Yankees from Staten Island Yankees.

C Keith Skinner assigned to Charleston RiverDogs from Staten Island Yankees.

CF Sam Machonis assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Connecticut Tigers.

RHP Tom De Blok assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Connecticut Tigers.

OF Lucas Tancas assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

Source: MiLB.com

Photo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Morning Report - Scores, Standings, Transactions for June 21, 2017

Scores from Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Auburn 3 at Mahoning Valley 2   
Box Score
Attendance: 5,216

Brooklyn 6 at Vermont 1   
Box Score
Attendance: 2,511

Lowell 4 at Tri-City 5  
Box Score
Attendance: 4,648

Aberdeen 3 at Connecticut 6  
Box Score
Attendance: 1,273

Batavia 9 at State College 4   
Box Score
Attendance: 2,217

Staten Island 3 at Hudson Valley 2   
Box Score
Attendance: 4,770

West Virginia 7 at Williamsport 2    
Box Score
Attendance: 1,110

Standings thru June 21, 2017

McNamara Division

CLUBWLPCTGB






Staten Island Yankees (NYY)201.000-






Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)11.5001.0






Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)11.5001.0






Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)02.0002.0





 
Stedler Division

CLUBWLPCT







Connecticut Tigers (DET)201.000







Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)11.500







Lowell Spinners (BOS)12.333







Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)12.333







Transactions for Wednesday, June 21, 2017

3B Danny Hudzina assigned to Peoria Chiefs from State College Spikes.

LF Matt Fiedler assigned to Peoria Chiefs from State College Spikes.

OF Jonathan Schwind assigned to Altoona Curve from West Virginia Black Bears.

2B Zach Kirtley assigned to State College Spikes

RHP Seth Martinez assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters from Beloit Snappers.

RHP Yeizo Campos assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.

SS Mason McCoy assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.

2B Tyler Friis assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RHP Riley Echols assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RHP Jonathan Teaney assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

OF Clark Scolamiero assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

LHP Yonathan Ramirez assigned to Auburn Doubledays from Hagerstown Suns.

RHP Tanner Houck assigned to Lowell Spinners.

C Ben Breazeale assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.

Source: MiLB.com

Photo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.

New York-Penn League Transactions for June 21, 2017

Danny Hudzina
3B Danny Hudzina assigned to Peoria Chiefs from State College Spikes.

LF Matt Fiedler assigned to Peoria Chiefs from State College Spikes.

OF Jonathan Schwind assigned to Altoona Curve from West Virginia Black Bears.

2B Zach Kirtley assigned to State College Spikes.

RHP Seth Martinez assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters from Beloit Snappers.

RHP Yeizo Campos assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.

SS Mason McCoy assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.

2B Tyler Friis assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RHP Riley Echols assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RHP Jonathan Teaney assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

OF Clark Scolamiero assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

LHP Yonathan Ramirez assigned to Auburn Doubledays from Hagerstown Suns.

RHP Tanner Houck assigned to Lowell Spinners.

C Ben Breazeale assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.

Source: New York-Penn League website

Photo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.

Morning Report - Complete Results of games played June 20


Birthday Balloons released at Mon County Ballpark
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers spoiled the Black Bears' West Virginia Day Celebration (West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863), defeating the Black Bears 3-1 at Monongalia County Ballpark before 2,511 fans.

Elvis Perez doubled and singled twice for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Cameron Mingo (1-0) got the win with two scoreless innings in relief while Black Bears starter Ike Schlabach (0-1) took the loss (5 SO, 0 BB in 4 IP.

Box Score


In other action last night in the New York-Penn League:

Batavia 19 at Auburn 18 (11 innings)  Box Score
Attendance: 2,624

Terry Bennett homered and singled, and had six RBI and scored four times for Batavia. Lazaro Alonso doubled and had two RBIs for the Muckdogs. Conner Simonetti had a three run home run, Oliver Ortiz homered, doubled and singled twice and had seven RBIs for Auburn.

Vermont 6 at Lowell 5 (suspended on June 19)  Box Score
Vermont 2 at Lowell 4  Box Score
Attendance: 4,235

Javier Godard had a triple and three RBIs in Vermont’s win in the game that was suspended on Monday due to rain. Juan Barriento hit a two-run homer in Lowell’s victory in the seven inning nightcap.

Staten Island 7 at BrooklynBox Score
Attendance: 7,271
Dom Thompson-Williams hit a run-scoring double and Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run single for Staten Island. Starter Jorge Guzman (1-0) got the win and Joe Napolitano (0-1) took the loss in relief for Brooklyn.

Hudson Valley 11 at AberdeenBox Score
Attendance: 4,099
Angel Perez had three hits including a two-run home run and three RBI, and Austin Franklin struck out nine hitters over five innings for the win. Losing pitcher Nick Gruener (0-1) went one inning, allowing seven runs on nine hits.

State College 5 at WilliamsportBox Score
Attendance: 2426
Edwin Figuera had three hits and two RBI and Daniel Castano (1-0) allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings for the State College Spikes. Gustavo Armas (0-1) took the loss, giving up three runs and six hits over four innings.

Tri-City 0 at ConnecticutBox Score
Attendance: 2,342
Hector Martinez homered and singled for the Connecticut Tigers. Daniel Gonzalez (1-0) got the win with two innings of scoreless relief while ValleyCats starter Carlos Hiraldo (0-1) took the loss.

Transactions on June 20
Carlos Tovar assigned to Greenville Drive from Lowell Spinners.
Lukas Young assigned to Lowell Spinners.
Gunnar Kines assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.
Silento Sayles assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Lynchburg Hillcats.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders sent Branden Pinder on a rehab assignment to Staten Island Yankees.
Pawtucket Red Sox sent Ben Taylor on a rehab assignment to Lowell Spinners.

Todays's Schedule (June 21)
Auburn at Mahoning Valley
Brooklyn at Vermont
Lowell at Tri-City
Aberdeen at Connecticut
Batavia at State College
Staten Island at Hudson Valley
West Virginia at Williamsport

Photo Credits: The Stedler Report
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Morning Report - Lots of rain; Black Bears defeat Scrappers

Sandy Santos
The weather didn’t cooperate in the New York-Penn League last night, as three games were rained out and one was suspended in the third inning (and the West Virginia-Mahoning Valley game was rain delayed after the 6th inning).

It is always good to win the first game of the year. The West Virginia Black Bears did that last night, defeating the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 3-0, before a crowd of 2,750.

Cooper is still the team mascot and the Pepperoni Rolls are back for their third season of racing between innings. Double Stuffed Dave is still winless after last night’s race.

Sandy Santos is back for a second year in Granville after struggling this spring with the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League (.181/.301/.319 in 40 games). He made a nice diving catch and a hit a double to the gap in left-center, but still shows a lack of discipline at the plate, striking out twice.

Garrett Brown
Garrett Brown led the way with a two-run single in the seventh inning. Brown was drafted in the 23rd round in the 2016 draft out of Western Carolina and spent the 2016 season with Bristol in the Appalachian League (.259/.303/.327).

Pitching dominated last night’s action; there were 27 strikeouts (17 by Black Bears pitchers). Mitch Keller, on a rehab assignment from Bradenton (Florida State League), looked sharp in two innings of work, giving up one hit and striking out four.  
Yoandy Fernandez had seven strikeouts in three innings of relief. The 29 year-old Cuban right-hander was signed by the Pirates earlier this spring.

Francisco Perez pitched five scoreless innings for the Scrappers, striking out four.

Other item of note: You can get Labatt Blue on draft at the concession stands at Monongalia County Ballpark this year.

In other NYPL games completed, Williamsport defeated the Spikes 9-2 in State College and Batavia topped Auburn 8-2 at home.

The Black Bears and the Scrappers do it again tonight at 7:05pm. Fireworks after the game. Ticket information at westvirginiablackbears.com

Photo Credits: MLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.