Scrappers-Auburn rivalry becoming a hit

Scott Roehl led Mahoning Valley to a 9-3 victory over the Doubledays.

July 1, 2003

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

NILES - The Mahoning Valley Scrappers' rivalry with Auburn runs deeper than a 15-game season series and numerous exchanged beanballs between the teams.
"There was a rivalry years ago when I was in Watertown, because Houston [the Astros] had good clubs in Auburn," Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak said. "We always seem to battle Auburn."
Watertown was the Cleveland Indians' Class-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League before Mahoning Valley stepped into the picture. Kubiak managed the Watertown Indians from 1996-98.
Although Auburn has been a Toronto Blue Jays affiliate for the past three seasons, nothing has changed on the field when it faces Indians farm teams.
"Now Toronto's in there, and they have good players, too," Kubiak said. "I don't know whether it's a regional thing or a location thing. When good clubs play each other, rivalries occur."
Heating it up
So do heated exchanges on the field, and they continued Monday in the Scrappers' 9-3 victory at Cafaro Field.
In their game June 22, Scrappers batter Eric Johnson was hit in his first two plate appearances. Monday, he got hit again, this time by Auburn's Charles Talanoa, in the third inning.

"Eric's been hit six, seven, eight times already this year," Kubiak said. "I question what that's all about."
With one out in the fourth, Scrappers pitcher Scott Roehl hit Aaron Hill, Toronto's first-round draft choice, in the legs, knocking him out of the game.
"There was no intent there," Roehl said. "The fastball inside just got away from me. It just happens sometimes. The umpire blew it out of proportion."
After Hill was helped off the field, home plate umpire Bill Sorochan stepped in, warning both benches and then Roehl.
"He told me that the president of the league didn't want anything to start," Kubiak said of his discussion with Sorochan after the warning.
"You never know. That's the hardest thing," Kubiak added. "You'd like to think they're not throwing at guys."
Winning No. 1
Roehl, a native of Somers, Wis., made his third start of the season, allowing one earned run on three hits through 51/3 innings to capture his first professional victory.
"I went with my strong point, which is fastballs away," Roehl said. "My slider was working well. It kept them off-balance. I went and got outs, and I had a good defense behind me."
The right-handed Roehl was a reliever at the University of Arkansas, but the Indians have turned him into a starter. He threw 65 pitches against the Doubledays (11-3).
"My arm's not used to throwing that many pitches," Roehl said. "I've made the adjustment well. Hibby [pitching coach Greg Hibbard] has been helping out a lot, keeping my pitch count down and teaching me a lot."
With Roehl and relievers Honeudis Pereyra and Roger Lincoln slowing the league's top offense, Mahoning Valley (8-6) batters broke out for the second straight game.
"We continued what we did last night against them," Kubiak said. "I liked the way they handled themselves, more than anything, tonight. They were well-focused in the game and they did their jobs."
Javier Herrera went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Mike Conroy added two hits with three RBIs in the Scrappers' 14-hit attack. Conroy took over the team lead with 13 RBIs.
"Once you get into a groove and your confidence goes up, you feel like you can hit anything," Conroy said.

Page Created: 7-1-03

Page Last Updated: 7-1-03