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
 
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