MLBDL State College Spikes

Well-Armed Spikes Edge Scrappers in Shutout Fashion, 1-0

Published on June 23, 2021 under Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
State College Spikes News Release


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Kenny Piper's arm from behind the plate kept the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' running game in check, and a quartet of State College Spikes mound arms combined for a three-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over the Scrappers on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Griffin Miller (1-2), Christian Wall, Mason Mellott and Drew Garrett (1) were the Spikes (11-13) pitchers who held Mahoning Valley (15-9) bats at bay. Miller, who is committed to continue his college career at Oklahoma, yielded two hits and three walks but faced just two batters over the minimum while striking out seven batters.

Wall then gave up one hit and three walks while whiffing four batters over two innings before Mellott, the Penn Stater and State College native, threw a perfect eighth inning. Garrett then walked one batter but forced a game-ending double play due to runner interference for the save.

Piper, a product of Columbia College in Missouri, threw out three would-be basestealers, including two the in the first inning. The Spikes (11-13) catcher first eliminated Mahoning Valley (15-9) speedster Mathieu Vallee, who had been successful on 17 of his first 19 steal attempts to lead the league, before erasing Bobby Sparling and Jalen Jones in the first and sixth, respectively.

Curtis Washington Jr. scored the only run of the game in the first inning after tripling and crossing the plate on Hylan Hall's sacrifice fly. Washington and Hall have combined to produce the game-winning run for the Spikes in each of their last two victories.

Scrappers reliever Deylen Miley (2-1) took the loss after allowing the game's lone run on a total of three hits and two walks. Miley struck out nine batters in the effort.

Thursday, the Spikes and Scrappers finish their three-game series with a 6:35 p.m. rubber match at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Joe Miceli (0-2) will get the ball for State College, while left-hander Jimmy Burnette (0-1) heads to the mound for Mahoning Valley.

It will be a very special night at the ballpark as Bob the Baseball Dog, the Spikes' canine mascot, steps down from his official duties and takes a bow during Bob the Baseball Dog's Retirement Pawty at the second Bark in the Park Night of the year, presented by the Centre Daily Times.

Fans can bring their pups out to meet up with Bob for the last time in an official role, with plenty of memories to be shared from his time delighting the members of the Spikes family. Dogs can also encourage their humans to purchase $1 "Puppacinos" from the Sweet concession stand, and both dogs and humans will be able to pick up great treats at the ballpark gates and doggie doors, which open at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday will also mark the last occasion for Put vs. Mutt, a Bark in the Park tradition pitting Spikes Director of Communications Joe Putnam against Bob in a variety of fun on-field contests, with a cake-eating contest to celebrate the final edition.

Tickets for Thursday's game, as well as every game remaining on the 2021 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-gamedays Monday through Friday.

Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action Thursday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, starting with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The game can be viewed worldwide on the MLB Draft League streaming platform at MLBDraftLeague.com/streaming, along with the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.

Time of Game: 2:32

Attendance: 2,088

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics

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Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from June 23, 2021


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