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NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Black Bears Notch First Victory of the Season

June 16, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, WV - A series of well-executed plays and hard hits propelled the Black Bears to victory Saturday night as they defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 6-3. In front a crowd of 2,113 people, the Black Bears nabbed the win in their special superhero-inspired alternate jerseys on Super Hero Night at Monongalia County Ballpark.

The victory gives the Black Bears their first win of the season after they dropped the first game of the two-game series against the Scrappers on Friday night.

"It's an incredible feeling," said manager Drew Saylor. "I think that really it's just an opportunity for us to see all the hard work we've done from spring training all the way up until now, and to see the guys go out and play that brand of baseball we've talked about since we got here to Morgantown. We're going to play fast and free."

West Virginia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning when catcher Elys Escobar scored from third on a passed ball by catcher Bryan Lavastida. The Scrappers answered with two solo homeruns off right-handed pitcher Jesus Valles to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

The Black Bears tied the game up in the sixth inning when right fielder Juan Pie came through with a two out RBI single that scored left fielder Jonah Davis from second base. West Virginia added to its lead in the seventh inning with an RBI single from third baseman Dean Lockery, and were gifted an additional run on another wild pitch off Luis Valdez that scored Davis.

After the Scrappers clawed their way back into the game in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI groundout that cut the lead to 4-3, the Black Bears added two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, one of which was a sacrifice fly by first baseman Nick Patten to bring home Kyle Mottice. The other came when centerfielder Brett Kinneman hit a ball into the right field corner. After being bobbled by first baseman Jonathan Engelmann, another fielding error committed by right fielder George Valera allowed Kinneman to score, and the Black Bears took a commanding 6-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Pitcher Mike LoPresti took the mound with two outs in the top of the eighth and was able to record the last out of the inning and retired four batters to close out the win.

"At the end of the day, it goes back to controlling what we can control. We've got to be able to swing at good pitches," said Saylor. "For me, that's really where I hope the guys are seeing that when they devote themselves to what they can control, the rest of the results tend to take care of themselves."

The Black Bears (1-1) will hit the road Sunday for their first away series when they head to Williamsport to take on the Crosscutters in a two-game set. First pitch from Williamsport on Sunday is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

The Black Bears will return home for a six-game home stand against the Scrappers and the State College Spikes beginning on Tuesday, June 18.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (304) 293-7653 or visit www.westvirginiablackbears.com.

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