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NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Black Bears Silence Scrappers in Return Home

August 11, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, W. Va. - On Military Appreciation Night at Monongalia County Ballpark, the West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 9-3.

West Virginia wore alternate camo uniforms to open up the two-game series with Mahoning Valley. The home team auctioned off the jerseys after the game, with the proceeds going to Operation Welcome Home.

The Scrappers started things off in the top of the first inning. An RBI single gave the visitors a one-run lead to start the evening.

From there on out, Black Bears' starting pitcher Zach Spears didn't allow another hit. The lefty had his best outing of the season, going five innings while allowing one hit and one run, striking out six batters and walking two others.

With Spears dominating on the mound, the West Virginia offense found its spark. SS Connor Kaiser tied the game in the bottom of the second inning with his first professional home run, knotting things up at 1-1.

The Black Bears took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a fielding error brought a run around to score, LF Daniel Amaral cracked a two-RBI single to left field to put his team on top 4-1.

Mahoning Valley scored a run in the top of the sixth inning, but West Virginia fired right back with four runs of its own. RF Brett Kinneman opened the onslaught with a sac-fly and his 29th RBI of the season to extend the lead.

A pair of New York-Penn League All-Stars followed up Kinneman with a pair of RBI singles. CF Travis Swaggerty brought a run around with his liner to left field, and 3B Mike Gretler drove in two more to put the score at 8-2.

The Scrappers mustered up a run in the top of the eighth inning, but the away team couldn't chain hits together to make a comeback. The Black Bears' pitching staff had a solid game, holding the Pinckney Division leaders to only five hits.

Swaggerty picked up his second RBI of the night on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth, putting his team up 9-3 with three outs left to lock up a win.

P Miguel Hernandez closed things out in the ninth with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout, securing West Virginia's 20th victory of the season.

The Black Bears play their final game before the All-Star Break tomorrow night against Mahoning Valley, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 11, 2018


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