NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

Published on July 13, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


SPIKES STARTER: LHP Tony Watson will make his fifth start of the season when he takes the mound for the Spikes this evening. He enters the game fifth in the NYPL with a 1.19 ERA. The left-hander was a pre-season All-American heading into his junior season at Nebraska. Tony compiled a 6-4 record with a 4.02 ERA and led his team with 81 strikeouts. During the ‘07 campaign he was named the Big 12 Player of the Week three-times, and was named to the second-team all Big 12 following the year. He had his best start of the year against the #4 ranked Texas Longhorns, tossing a complete game, shutout, striking out six and allowing two hits. In 2006, he earned All American and All Big 12 status going 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA. During the summer of 2006, he made his presence felt in the prestigious Cape Cod League by posting a 5-2 record with a 2.44 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 48 innings. He has previously been drafted twice, once by the Florida Marlins in the 23rd round of the 2003 draft and the other by the Orioles in the 17th round of the 2006 draft.

ONEONTA STARTER: Sendy Vasquez is in his third year in the Detroit Tigers organization. Vasquez spent the 2005 season with the Oneonta Tigers and had an outstanding year going 7-0 with a 3.68 ERA. In 2006, he spent the entire year with the full-season Western Michigan Whitecaps, going 13-6 with a 2.97 ERA. Vasquez finished the year strong, after stumbling to an early 3-6 start, Vasquez went 10-0 to finish the year. He is rated the 12th best prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization by Baseball America. In his three-year pro career, Vasquez has 230 strikeouts in 267 innings pitched.

WALKER AT HOME: Spikes' catcher Andrew Walker is currently riding a seven game home hitting streak. The streak started on July 1 and is still going. Since the streak started, Walker is hitting .333 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park (9-for-27) with three runs scored. Walker has established himself as the Spikes' everyday catcher, wrestling the job away from Nick Stillwagon, as Walker has started the last

SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS: Much like Walker enjoys home cookin', Oneonta outfielder Michael Sullivan has enjoyed time away from Damaschke Field. In every game on the road since June 27, Sullivan has gotten at least one hit. His average on the road during this span is currently .393 (11-for-28).

AMBROSE IS ON: Michael Ambrose has been on base in every game that he has played in at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this year. Though Ambrose hasn't gotten a hit in every home game this year, Ambrose's average is .419 at home (13-for31) this year with one home run and six RBIs, as opposed to .217 (5-for-23) away from his home surroundings. Ambrose is also swinging the bat at a .452 clip in July.

SIMON SAYS TAKE YOUR BASE: Spikes outfielder Keanon Simon has drawn seven walks in the month of July. He has walked in four out of his last eight games. OF Marcus Davis leads the team with nine base-on-balls.

RUNNIN' AWAY: Even though the Spikes' defense has committed the fewest errors in the NYPL, and leads the league in fielding percentage, Spikes' catchers have had a difficult time shutting down the running game of the opposition. Between Matt Clarkson (3-of-10), Nick Stillwagon (1-of-14), and Andrew Walker (1-of-8), the trio has only thrown out 5-of-32 runners attempting to steal against them (15.6%). The NYPL average is 29%. The Tigers have swiped four bags in four opportunities from State College this year.

DON'T GO THERE: Should the Spikes lose tonight, they would match their longest losing streak (five games) in franchise history. The Spikes dropped five in a row last year from July 28 through August 1. The last time the State College Spikes were swept in a three game series was also during that five game losing streak last year, when they were swept at home versus the Auburn Doubledays from 7/28 - 7/30

TONY ON TV: Tonight's starting pitcher Tony Watson will be featured on the weekly TV show "Around the Curve" on Fox 8, WWCP-TV. The program will air Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Watson was interviewed by Fox 8 sports anchor Greg Whitmer.

IN THIS SERIES: Oneonta through the first two games is hitting .306 off Spikes pitching. Justin Henry is 5-for-8 (.625), Chris Carlson is 3-for-7 (.429) with two home runs and three RBIs, while Michael Sullivan is 5-for-8 (.625) with two RBIs in the series. The Spikes, conversely are hitting .250 in the series, with Michael Ambrose (3-for-7, .429) setting the pace for the State College offense.

JULY 12, DAY OF THE NO-NO: Yesterday was a memorable day in Pittsburgh Pirates' history, as it marked the 10 year anniversary of the combined no-hitter thrown by Fransico Cordova and Ricardo Rincon. The game ended dramatically on a pinch-hit walk off three-run home run in the bottom of the 10 tinning by Mark Smith, and is widely considered one of the greatest games in Three Rivers Stadium history. Spikes manager Turner Ward played in that game for the Pirates, and was on base when Smith hit the home run. Ironically, 10 years later, two more no-hitters were thrown in professional baseball. In the NYPL, the Vermont LakeMonsters were no-hit by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the first game of a double-header last night at Centennial Field. Vermont, actually grabbed a 1-0 lead in the game in the third before Mahoning Valley scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead and eventually win the game. Also in the minors, another near no-no was thrown. The Gulf Coast League Mets held the GCL Cardinals without a hit through 14 innings, but ended up losing 1-0 in 17 innings.

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