8/10 – State College 7 Tri-City 6

	August 10, 2007
	Final    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9      R   H   E   State College   0   0   3   0   0   0   2   1   1      7   15   4   Tri-City   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   6   0      6   12   1  box | log W: R. Uviedo (1-0, 4.24); L: M. Koons (0-1, 6.23) HR: TRI: S. Brown (1).

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SPIKES WIN A WILD ONE IN TRI-CITY, 7-6

TROY, NY – The State College Spikes won a wild one on Friday evening, taking the series opener from the Tri-City ValleyCats by the score of 7-6. State College had a 6-0 lead in the eighth, but the ValleyCats roared back to tie the game before State College won in their final at-bat. Bobby Spain, who went 3-for-5 on the evening with three RBI, drove home the winning run in the top of the ninth. The Spikes win coupled with an Auburn Doubledays loss moves the Spikes within 3.5 games of first place in the race for the Pinckney Division lead. 

 

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Spikes win UGLY…

State College tried its darndest to lose the game but managed to hang on and record a 7-6 victory over last place Tri-City.   The Spikes were sailing along with a 6-0 lead when disaster struck in the eighth.    The inning saw Tri-City bat around, record seven hits, and score six runs to tie the game 6-6.   Brian Tracy, in relief of Jake Cuffman, gave up a one pitch no out grand slam home run – and that was just the start of the ugliness.   Eventually closer Ronald Uviedo came in with the bases loaded and two out with the Spikes still leading by one.   Catcher Nick Stillwagon mishandled one of Uviedo’s pitches (one of four Spike’s errors in the game) and the Tri-City runner scored from third.  On the play at the plate, Stillwagon’s throw was dropped by Uviedo and a second Tri-City runner tried to score.   Fortunately, Uviedo managed to retrieve the ball and tag out the runner.

Fortunately, the Spikes came threw in the ninth with Justin Byler doubling then scoring on a single by Bobby Spain to take a 7-6 lead.  After Spain single’s the Spike’s still had runners on first and third with no outs but failed to score any more runs. 

The fun wasn’t over yet.  Tri-City managed to get a couple of baserunners on in the ninth as the Spikes continued to stumble.   Justin Byler dropped ball on difficult play that could have been an out, then Nick Stillwagon dropped a foul pop-up that would have been the final out of the game.  Fortunately, Uviedo got the final out an a called strike three.

SPIKES LOOK TO RALLY IN THE VALLEY – 7:05 P.M

The Spikes will head into the All-Star break after three games against the Tri-City Valley Cats.  Bobby Spain, who is hitting .333 over the last three weeks will lead the offensive charge tonight. 

SPIKES STARTER: LHP TONY WATSON will make the start for the Spikes this evening, looking to rebound from his lone rough outing of the season in his last start vs. Auburn. In the game on August 4th, Watson allowed six runs on ten hits over his 5.0 innings. Prior that start, the southpaw had never allowed more than two runs in a game and had a miniscule 1.85 ERA. In his previous eight starts, he had allowed only nine runs. On the road, Watson is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA, as opposed to 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA at home.   Watson is one of five Spikes named to the NYPL All-Star team and comes into tonight’s game ninth in the league with a 2.77 ERA and tied for the league lead with six wins. At the University of Nebraska, he was a Preseason All-American heading into his junior season. Tony compiled a 6-4 record with a 4.02 ERA and led his team with 81 strikeouts. During ‘07 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. In 2006, he earned All American and All Big 12 status going 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA. Before being the Pirates 9th round selection in 2007, Watson had been drafted twice – by the Florida Marlins in the 23rd round of the 2003 draft and by the Orioles in the 17th round of the 2006 draft.

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For One Magical Evening, The Great Potato Caper Lives Again

Oh for the innocence of yesteryear, when baseball’s idea of cheating was fooling a baserunner with an errant potato. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since The Great Potato Caper, when Dave Bresnahan of the Williamsport Bills concocted what is probably the best trick play in baseball history. On that glorious day in 1987, Bresnahan — a backup catcher who was hitting .197 — fooled a Reading Phillies baserunner by throwing a potato into left field, and then tagging the runner out at the plate with the real ball. Bresnahan was released from the Cleveland Indians organization following the stunt and fined $50, but quickly ascended to a revered spot in baseball lore that has not diminished to this day. 

The Williamsport Crosscutters (as the team is now known) will mark the 20th anniversary of Bresnahan’s play with Potato Night on Saturday, Aug. 18, when the Class-A New York-Penn League team plays host to the State College Spikes at 7:05 p.m.

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Spikes end series with win

By Guy Cipriano – gciprian@centredaily.com

UNIVERSITY PARK — Some were antsy to sneak in some baseball between pestering rains. Others wanted to leave a favorable impression before boarding another bus.

When their motives collided, the State College Spikes played one of their best games.

The Spikes (24-25) ended a five-game homestand by defeating Lowell 4-1 Thursday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

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State College Spikes’ Justin Byler (22) scores against Lowell Spinners catcher Brett Lewis on a double by Andrew Walker in the 1st inning on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007.

Robles lifts Spikes to victory

By Kate Aras

Collegian Staff Writer

The State College Spikes, who have been shaky as of late, have at least one sure thing – their starting pitching and last night, their bullpen.

For another night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the Spikes starter shut down the opposition and allowed the team score some runs to secure a 4-1 win.

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