NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

Published on July 8, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (12-6) @ VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS (10-8)

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Centennial Field

Burlington, VT

Games #19 & 20 / Road Game #10 & 11

Game #1 - RHP Matt Foust (0-1, 3.18) vs. RHP Glenn Gibson (1-0, 1.13)

Game #2 - RHP Dionis Rodriguez (1-0, 3.39) vs. RHP Colton Willems (1-0, 1.98)

SPIKES STARTER #1: RHP Matt Foust will make the start for the Spikes this evening, looking to build on his best performance of the season when he took the mound for his last start. On July 2nd against Batavia, Foust tosses six innings, allowing only one hit while walking one and striking out eight. Foust received a no-decision in the game that was eventually won by the Spikes 1-0. The eight strikeouts was the most punch-outs in a single game since Foust's high school career. Foust enters tonight's game 0-1, with a 3.18 ERA but has allowed only one run over his last 9.1 innings of work. Foust was the Pirates' 6th round selection in the 2007 MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska where he split time as a starter and closer. Foust was also a college teammate of Spikes' ace, Tony Watson. Foust went 2-4 with seven saves during his junior season with the Cornhuskers. In 65.0 innings of work, he allowed 61 hits and struck out 53.

VERMONT STARTER #1: RHP Glenn Gibson will toe the rubber for the Vermont LakeMonsters this evening in Burlington. Gibson was rated the seventh best prospect in the Nationals' organization by Baseball America and was given the distinction of having the best curveball and best control in the Nationals' system. The right-hander was Washington's 4th round selection in the 2006 MLB Draft out of Center Moriches HS in New York. In three games this season, Gibson is 1-0 and has allowed only 10 hits over 16.0 innings of work while walking only two and striking out 18. The opposition is hitting only .175 against him. In 2006, Gibson appeared in only three games with the LakeMonsters after signing late in the season.

SPIKES STARTER #2: RHP Dionis Rodriguez will make his fourth start of the season in the nightcap of two. Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA in three starts for the Spikes. Rodriguez hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his starts, but has pitched over 4.1 innings of work more than once. Coming into this season, Dionis' sixth in the Pirates system, he struck out 246 and had walked only 46. Rodriguez was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2001.

VERMONT STARTER #2: RHP Colton Willems will toe the rubber for the LakeMonsters in the second game. Willems has the Nationals' first round selection in the 2006 MLB Draft, 22nd overall, out of John Carroll HS in Florida. Coming into tonight, Willems is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in three starts. In his three outings, all ranging from 4.0 innings to 5.0 innings he has only allowed three earned runs. Willems has struggled with his control early on, walking nine and striking out five. In 2006, his first as a pro, he went 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts for the GCL Nationals. In high school, Willems was named to the Aflac All-American game after going 6-2 with a 1.68 ERA in 61.0 innings of work, he struck out a whopping 99 batters.

LAST NIGHT: The State College Spikes and the Vermont Lake Monsters were rained out in Burlington. Today's game will be the first true double-header of the season for either team. The Spikes and Crosscutters split a makeshift double dip earlier this season when game one was a completion of a suspended game.

DOUBLE-YOUR-PLEASURE: The Spikes went 4-6 in doubleheaders last season. In the last twin bill of the year, September 4th, the Spikes took on Batavia at Dwyer Stadium. The odd part of the pair was that in game one, the Spikes were the "home team" on the road and Jose Salazar's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth gave the Spikes a 1-0 victory in extra frames.

RUN, RUN RODRIGUEZ: RHP Dionis Rodriguez (1-0) has been successful on the mound this season, but some of his success can be attributed to the Spikes bats. In his three starts, the Spikes have scored 28 runs. Conversely, RHP Moises Robles (1-3) hasn't been as lucky, in his four starts the Spikes have scored only seven runs.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Spikes are 6-3 on the road this season, and the offense has been the main reason. In nine games on the road, they have scored 44 runs and are hitting .303 as a team. 1B Justin Byler is hitting .483 (14-for-29) with five RBI on the road, and OF Keanon Simon is hitting .417 (5-for-12) in only four games on the road, including a game-winning home run in Jamestown.

SOMETHING OLD: Centennial Field, home of the Vermont Lake Monsters, is the second oldest baseball field still in use in minor-league baseball. The stadium was built in 1922 and is the home of New York-Penn League Baseball and the University of Vermont baseball. The oldest ballpark in the minors is Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Cubs, which was built in 1914.

SOMETHING NEW: RHP Duke Welker flew from Bradenton, FL to State College, PA Friday morning. The 2nd round selection in 2007 out of Arkansas then watched from the bench as the Spikes beat Williamsport before getting on the bus for a 481 mile trip to Burlington, Vermont. The former Razorback traveled nearly 1500 miles in one day.

WHO'S HOT: OF Austin McClune is hitting .571 (8-for-14) over the last five games and .500 (13-for-26) over the team's last 10. SS Michael Ambrose is hitting .440 (11-for-25) over the last ten games and 1B Justin Byler is hitting .429 (12-for-28) over the same stretch.

WHO'S NOT: 2B Matt Cavagnaro is hitting only .150 (3-for-20) over his last five games. The former Penn Stater had his 10-game hitting streak snapped on July 4th, and since then has gone 0-for-11.

MEN OF STEAL: After struggling on the base paths earlier this season, the Spikes have picked up the pace of late. In the first eight games of the year, the Spikes stole only one base, but in the last 10 games the Spikes have swiped 19 bags to give them a total of 20 on the year, which is tied for third most in the league.

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: The State College Spikes (3.00) and Vermont LakeMonsters (3.24) are second and fourth in the NYPL in team ERA. Vermont's numbers are even more impressive when to consider that they have walked a league-high 86 batters, ten more than Jamestown who is second in the league with 76.

BULLS IN THE PEN: The State College Spikes bullpen has been the backbone of the team's success over the last ten games. Dating back to June 29th, they have allowed only one run over the past 26.1 innings of work for a 0.34 ERA over that stretch. The bullpen has allowed only 16 hits over that span as well.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 8, 2007


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