Sports stats

MLBDL West Virginia Black Bears

Black Bears Finish the First Half of the Season with a Series Sweep of the Scrappers

July 16, 2022 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - The West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 6-4, in the last game of the first half of the season at Monongalia County Ballpark on Saturday evening. Following light inclement weather, the Black Bears offense continued their winning ways to sweep the Scrappers for the first time this season.

As in most of the previous games, the opposing team struck first as Mahoning Valley took a two-run lead early in the game. Scrappers SS Alex Ulloa reached base after he was hit by a pitch from West Virginia starter, Thomas Gross. With Ulloa on first, 3B Reed Chumley took a ball deep into right-center field for his second home run this season. Despite the Scrappers' early 2-0 lead, Gross got out of the inning with two strikeouts.

West Virginia took a decisive lead in the bottom of the third thanks to RF Sam Crail. After Scrappers starter Duncan Davitt walked DH Cam Gurney, 3B Ben Greer, and CF Van Gupton Jr. to load the bases, Crail smashed a ball well over the right field wall and into the concourse. The grand slam was Crail's second home run of the season, and the first Black Bears grand slam of 2022 at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Following a rocky first inning, Gross buckled down and gave a solid performance in his fifth start for the Bears. Pitching through six innings, Gross struck out six batters, walked two, and gave up just four hits.

In the seventh inning, West Virginia handed the ball over to Central Oklahoma alum Chase Lorg. After recording two fast outs with the assistance of the Black Bears defense, Lorg gave up a solo homerun to pinch hitter Alex Arauz to cut the deficit to one run. Unrattled, Lorg answered by striking out Zach Storbakken for the third out to maintain the 4-3 West Virginia lead.

Leading off the bottom of the eighth, Greer reached base on balls. Following a successful steal of second, Scrappers reliever Alan Carter threw a pitch that got past C Cooper Foard. After the passed ball, Foard retrieved the pitch and attempted to throw out Greer at third, but the ball sailed into left field and Greer scored on the throwing error. With one insurance run added and Crail and C Hunter May on the corners, LF Marek Chlup ripped a hard-hit ball through the Mahoning Valley defense to score Crail from third. West Virginia ended the inning with a comfortable 6-3 lead.

In the ninth inning, manager Jedd Gyorko turned to WVU alum Chase Smith for the save opportunity. With two runners on first and third, Mahoning Valley's LF Dominick Bucko hit a ball to SS Blaze Brothers who took no time to throw the runner out on first, though RF Xavier Carter scored on the groundout. Smith finished his single-inning appearance with a strikeout to secure the Black Bears' victory.

Heading into the break and the MLB Draft, West Virginia finishes the first half of the season with a 23-15 record after being crowned First-Half Champions of the MLB Draft League. The Black Bears will return to play on the road to take on the Frederick Keys on July 22, before coming home to Monongalia County Ballpark on July 28.

Check out the West Virginia Black Bears Statistics



Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from July 16, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent West Virginia Black Bears Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central