NYPL State College Spikes

Woodall's Blast, Crosscutters' Miscues Help Spikes to 4-3 Win to Open Year

June 14, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Kevin Woodall, Jr. smashed the first homer of the 2019 State College Spikes season and seven Williamsport Crosscutters errors helped the Spikes' winning cause in a 4-3 season-opening victory on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

Woodall led off the fifth inning by launching a 2-2 pitch from Junior Tejada over the right-center field wall to extend the State College (1-0) lead to 4-2. The Coastal Carolina returned to the Spikes in 2019 after spending the last month of the 2018 NYPL season with the Spikes.

Williamsport's (0-1) mistakes also helped the Spikes take control of the game. In the third, State College tied the score up at 1-1 after Moises Castillo scored on an errant throw by Crosscutters catcher Logan O'Hoppe.

In the fourth, trailing 2-1, the Spikes surged forward for a pair of runs to take the lead for good. Donivan Williams led off the frame with a single, then moved to second when Matt Duce reached on catcher's interference call that resulted in another error on O'Hoppe. Williams then hustled home from there on an error by Williamsport first baseman Connor Litton that put Dariel Gomez on base. Duce crossed the plate two batters later thanks to Andres Luna's double.

After Woodall's home run, State College's bullpen nailed down the victory. Michael Baird (1-0) took over for starter Inohan Paniagua in the fifth and delivered 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Baird allowed two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts in the win.

Fabian Blanco (1) then closed out the game with a six-out save. The right-hander had to work around a leadoff double by Keudy Bocio and an ensuing sacrifice bunt that put the tying run on third base with one out. Blanco bounced back to retire Nicolas Torres with his second strikeout of the outing and elicit a grounder back to the mound from Julio Francisco to finish off the Spikes' victory.

Paniagua, who became the first player born in the 2000's to officially appear in a game for the Spikes, yielded three runs over five hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. The 19-year-old Dominican righty, born on Feburary 6, 2000, also notched one strikeout.

Crosscutters starter Gustavo Armas (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs, one of them earned, on four hits and a walk while striking out one batter over three-plus innings.

Logan Simmons staked Williamsport to early leads with a first-inning sacrifice fly and an RBI double in the third. Francisco knocked in the third Crosscutters run with his single in the fifth.

Luna compiled the Spikes' lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. State College's seven hits as a team matched Williamsport's error total for the game.

Saturday, the Spikes begin the 2019 home schedule on Opening Night, presented by PSECU and NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, with a 7:05 p.m. game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against the Crosscutters. Right-hander Francis Ventura is set to head to the mound for State College, with right-hander Carlos Francisco.

Fans can join the Spikes and celebrate the enduring spirit of one of the most inspirational individuals the world of baseball has ever known on Saturday with Josiah Viera Night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

During pre-game ceremonies, Josiah's number 10 jersey will be formally retired by the Spikes, making him the first person so honored in franchise history. In addition, Josiah's grandfather, Dave Bohner, and sister, Daisha Viera, will throw out ceremonial first pitches for the season, fulfilling a role that Josiah frequently served in during his time with the Spikes.

The skies over Central PA will light up after the game as PSECU presents the first of 12 FIREWORKS shows on the 2019 home slate.

Fans at the game can also enter LuCKy's Kia Lease Giveaway at the Lion Country Kia table on the concourse throughout the night, as well at the Spikes Ticket Office. No purchase is necessary, and one "LuCKy" fan will be chosen to drive away from the ballpark with a lease on a brand new Kia from Lion Country Kia. Although only one fan is guaranteed to win on Opening Night, everyone will have another opportunity when Lion Country Kia presents the second edition of LuCKy's Kia Giveaway at the regular season home finale on Sunday, September 1 as part of Fan Appreciation Night.

The ballpark fun will begin early on Opening Night in State College as gates open at the special time of 5 p.m. for the Opening Night Happy Hour. Fans of age can enjoy 12 oz. domestic draft beers available for just $1 apiece from 5-6 p.m.

In addition, the first 500 fans will receive a Schedule T-Shirt Giveaway and Schedule Magnet Giveaway, each presented by PSECU, so as not to miss any of the action on the Spikes' 2019 home schedule.

Plus, it's the first Super Saturday of the season, presented by the PA Lottery, with great chances to win big throughout the night.

The Opening Night fun finishes with the opportunity for kids 12 and under to run the bases.

Saturday's Opening Night game will also be carried live on WHVL-TV, the first of four live TV broadcasts at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this season.

Tickets for Saturday's Opening Night game, as well every game on the 2019 Spikes 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 10 a.m. to the end of the game on Saturday. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, at 6:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from June 14, 2019


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.

OurSports Central