(26-52 RECORD)
FRONTIER LEAGUE STANDINGS
SECOND HALF
WESTERN DIVISION Games Back
Springfield Capitals 27-13
Richmond Rooster 26-14
Evansville Otters 20-20
Kalamazoo Kodiaks 14-26
EASTERN DIVISION
Chillicothe Paints 25-13
Canton Crocodiles 19-20
Johnstown Johnnies 16-23
Ohio Valley 11-28
WESTERN DIVISION
23-16 .590
Richmond Roosters 23-17 .575 .5
Springfield Capitals 21-16 .568
1.0
Kalamazoo Kodiaks 11-28 .282
12
EASTERN DIVISION Games Back
23-17 .575
Canton Crocodiles 22-18 .550
1.0
Johnstown Johnnies 18-20 .474
4.0
Ohio Valley Redcoats 15-24 .385 7.5
Canton defeat Ohio Valley 12-9.Bobby Brown hit two home runs, including a
grand slam, and drove in five runs as the Canton Crocodiles beat the Ohio
Valley Redcoats 12-9 Thursday night in the Frontier League season opener.
Redcoats beats Canton 8-3 :Brian Droptini led off the game with a home run
for Canton as the Crocodiles jumped out to a 3-2 lead against Ohio Valley,
but the Redcoats railed to score four times in the sixth and handed the
Crocs an 8-3 loss Fridat at Bennet Stump Field. Carlos Rose and Tyrone
Gracia hit solo home runs in the second innings to account for the rest of
Canton's scoring. Droptini's homer was his second in as many nights.
The Crocodiles have hit six home runs after just two games of the 1998
Frontier Season.
Josh Herman's two-run homer in the second pulled the Redcoats withing one at
3-2 and Ohio Valley took the lead off Canton starting pitcher Shaun Alazaus
in the sixth on Rob Mc Iver's RBI single.
Robert Boggs pitched seven innings and picked up his first win for Ohio
Valley. Boggs limited the Crocs to seven hits and struck out six after
Canton scored 12 runs on Thursday.
Canton 12- Ohio Valley 4
The Redcoats despite giving up 9 Home Runs to Canton in four games split the
series with 1997 Frontier League Champion. Redcoats have been crushing the
ball and gave Canton pitchers a 7.41 ERA after 4 games. Josh Herman is
banged up and is just DH now. Sean Economo is on the disabled list with a
sore arm.
Ohio Valley 6 Chillicothe 5 (11 innings)
Ohio Valley 5 Chillicothe 4 (10 innings)
Ohio Valley 8 Chillicothe 5
Evansville Otters 11 Ohio Valley 6
Ohio Valley 7 Evansville Otters 2
Evansville Otters 10 Ohio Valley 3, Redcoats have dropped 5 out of the last
6 games.
Ohio Valley 5 Springfield 1
Springfield 2 Ohio Valley 0, The Redcoats are 3-7 in the last ten games.
Springfield 6 Ohio Valley 2
Ohio Valley 3 Springfield 2
Ohio Valley 9 Kalamazoo 6
Ohio Valley 6 Kalamazoo 2
Kalamazoo 10 Ohio Valley 8
Richmond 4 Ohio Valley 3
Ohio Valley 8 Richmond 1
Ohio Valley 4 Richmond 1, Joe McNamee wacked a home run and Keith Bryant
turned in a strong pitching performance.
Richmond 9 Ohio Valley 7
Johnstown 5 Ohio Valley 1
Chillicothe 12 Ohio Valley 4
Ohio Valley 10 Chillicothe 4
Chillicothe 7 Ohio Valley 4
Chillicothe 8 Ohio Valley 3
(Kirk Taylor, Jason Frushour, Mike English and
Keith Bryant) will represent the Redcoats at the Frontier league All Star
Game in Richmond,IN.
July
11 Johnstown 5 Ohio Valley 4
Ohio Valley 4 Johnstown 3
Canton 8 Ohio Valley 4
Canton 9 Ohio Valley 7
Rally sparks Crocs
Repository sports staff report
CANTON -- Chance Reynolds' two-run double sparked a four-run rally in
the fifth inning that led the Canton Crocodiles to a 9-7 victory over
the Ohio Valley Redcoats in Frontier League action Tuesday at Thurman
Munson Memorial Stadium.
It was Canton's ninth consecutive victory and pulled them to within
one game of first-place Chillicothe in the Eastern Division. The
Paints lost 4-1 to Johnstown on Tuesday.
Ohio Valley scored five runs in the first inning, but Canton came
back with three of its own in the bottom half.
Brian Droptini was 4-for-5 with a stolen base to lead the Crocs.
Reynolds and Jermaine Swinton each went 3-for-4 for Canton.
Gregg Prenzlin (4-2) overcame a shaky start to pick up the win for
the Crocs, now 21-17.
David Henderson (0-2) took the loss for the Redcoats (14-23).
The two teams meet again tonight at 7:05 at Thurman Munson Memorial
Stadium.
Ohio Valley 8 Canton 7
Crocodiles eliminated from first half title with loss
By MARK CRAIG Repository sports writer
CANTON -- The Canton Crocodiles will have to wait until "next season"
after three errors Wednesday cost them a nine-game win streak, an
8-7, 11-inning loss to Ohio Valley and a chance to catch Chillicothe
in the Eastern Division.
Fortunately for Canton, "next season" begins Friday when Johnstown
visits Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium for the start of the Frontier
League's second half.
"There is a lot to look forward to," said Crocodiles first-year
manager Theron Todd. "Anytime you run off nine straight after losing
eight straight, you look forward to the next day."
The defending league champion Crocs were six games behind at 12-17
before starting a streak that moved them within one game of
Chillicothe with two games to play in the first half.
It looked like the first half title would come down to the last day
today when a Canton jumped on Ohio Valley 5-0 with a five-run second
inning and Johnstown took an early 4-0 lead on Chillicothe.
But as Canton faltered and fell to 21-18 in front of 1,444 fans at
Munson Stadium, Chillicothe rebounded for an 8-4 win to raise its
record to 23-16.
Ohio Valley took its first lead of the game, 6-5, when Jason Frushour
smashed a two-out grounder between first baseman Justin Hemme's legs
for an error that scored John Tavares in the top of the ninth.
An error by Canton left fielder Bobby Brown with two outs in the top
of the 10th allowed another run to score as Ohio Valley took its
second lead, 7-6.
Then Bart Close hit the game-winner, a two-out triple in the top of
the 11th to score Matt Dettman from second. Center fielder Steven
Lewis got to Close's smash in the gap, but couldn't hold onto the
ball after a long run.
Canton's other costly error came in the fourth inning when right
fielder Jermaine Swinton misplayed a bases-loaded, one-out single
into a two-run error.
"Our defense has been so-so this season," Todd said. "We thought we'd
be a little better defensively, but that hasn't been the case. But
we'll hang with these guys. They've shown over the last nine or 10
games they have the confidence to play."
Ohio Valley reliever Carlos Simmons (1-2) picked up his first win of
the season despite letting in the tying run in the 10th on a single
and three straight walks. He pitched a 1-2-3 11th inning.
Canton reliever Brian Filson (2-4) pitched the 11th and got the loss,
giving up a leadoff walk, an infield hit and the RBI triple to Close.
Bryan Droptini had Canton's big hit in the second inning, driving in
two with a triple to right. Darren Doskocil had three hits and two
RBIs, one of them off a bloop single to tie the game and send it into
extra innings a 6-6.
Ohio Valley had 15 hits, one of them a solo homer by Tavares that
closed the gap to 5-4 in the seventh. Eric Heise and Close each
tripled and had three hits.
The teams conclude their series at 7:05 tonight at Munson Stadium.
Chillicothe will meet the winner of the second half in the first
round of the playoffs.
Canton 9 Ohio Valley 5
Canton's
winning pitcher Shawn Alazaus (3-4) had one of his more
promising outings. The former Carrollton High School standout gave up
two runs in the first inning, then allowed only one hit over the next
five innings.
Chillicothe 5 Ohio Valley 4
Chillicothe 4 Ohio Valley 3
Johnstown 8 Ohio Valley 7
Johnstown 3 Ohio Valley 2 (5)
Ohio Valley 12 Johnstown 2
Johnstown 6 Ohio Valley 2
Canton 13 Ohio Valley 10
Evans ties record for saves as Crocodiles rally past Redcoats
Repository sports staff report
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- Mike Evans tied a single-season team record for
saves as the Canton Crocodiles came from behind to beat the Ohio Valley
Redcoats 13-10 in Frontier League action Monday night.
Evans registered his eighth save of the season, equalling the mark set
by Chris Hill during the team's inaugural season last year.
Gregg Prenzlin (5-2) picked up the win in relief for the Crocodiles,
who won their third straight game. Canton (5-2) came back from an 8-2
deficit and broke a 10-10 tie in the eighth inning when Tyrone Gracia
drove in the game-winning run with an RBI double.
Ohio Valley 11 Canton 10
Repository sports staff report
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. --The Ohio Valley Redcoats scored four runs in the
bottom of the eighth inning to cap a come-from-behind 11-10 victory
over the Canton Crocodiles in Frontier League action Wednesday night.
The Redcoats trailed 8-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but
came back with a run in the sixth, five more in the seventh and four in
the eighth.
The Crocodiles committed five errors. Eight of the 11 runs scored by
Ohio Valley were unearned.
Darren Doskocil had three hits, including a home run, for the Crocs
(5-3). Bobby Brown and Chance Reynolds both had three hits and two
RBIs. Charan Girard also had three hits for Canton.
Canton ( Rain out)
Canton ( Rain Out) Greg Lemaster has resigned as Redcoats manager.
Ohio Valley 10 Richmond 9 (10)
August
Richmond 5 Ohio Valley 4
Richmond 15 Ohio Valley 9
Morgan Burkhart had three home runs as Richmond defeated the Redcoats 15-9.
Josh Herman and Gary Mumin homered for the Redcoats in a losing cause.
Richmond 9 Ohio Valley 8
Tory Tarleton's pinch hit grand slam highlights a 5 run eight inning
that lifted the Roosters to a 9-8 victory. Tom Kuempel was the hitting star
For the Redcoats with two home runs and 3 RBI's. The Redcoats drop to 3-9 in the second half.
Ohio Valley 13 Evansville 7
Kirk Taylor and Matt Dettman hit back to back home runs in a 20 hit attack over Evansville. Keith Bryant held the Otters to 3 hits and one run over 6 innings
Evansville 6 Ohio Valley 5
Evansville Courier
Kyle May
pitched a scoreless and hitless ninth to
earn his fifth save in a 6-5 Frontier League
victory over the Redcoats at Bosse Field.
3You have to treat it like a new day,11 said
May, who walked none and struck out one.
3You1ve got to have a short memory as a
reliever.11
Matt Cano misplayed a foul pop for the Otters1
season-high sixth error on May1s first pitch
of the ninth. But May said he wasn1t thinking
3here we go again.11 He went on to retire John
Tavares on a grounder to short.
3You1ve got to stay focused,11 May said.
3You1ve got to get in and do the job and try
to get ahead (on the count).11
Evansville manager Greg Tagert said the Otters
didn1t win ugly; he preferred to de
describe it
as 3winning lucky.2
3Fortunately, we got some timely hits and we
needed it. We were aggressive on the bases. I
don1t think we relaxed because we won the
first half (title of the Frontier League1s
Western Division),11 he said.
Evansville timely hitting overcame some
shoddy defense.
3I wouldn1t bet on us winning too many games
with six errors,11 Tagert said.
Otters catcher Scott Cooper made two errors as
Ohio Valley stole four bases. He threw out one
would-be thief.
In the fifth, Evansville1s Brooks Bryan drove
in the tying run. The Otters added two runs in
the sixth.
Jim Cueto singled to left to open the fifth
and was sacrificed to second base by L.A.
Bowman. Bryan later delivered a two-out
RBI-single to tie the score, 4-4.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Brian
Foster lined a single and raced to second as
right fielder Ed Farris let the ball evade
him. Cooper lined a single past diving
shortstop Bert Higgins, scoring Foster and
giving the Otters a one-run lead. Cooper
advanced to third on Cueto1s line single to
center, then scored on a wild pitch, boosting
the advantage to 6-4.
The whole year weve battled, May said.
Ohio Valley scored once off reliever Rob
Murphy in the seventh.
Reliever Eric Rogow made his Otters1 debut in
the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning. He
had an 0-0 record for the New Jersey Jackals
of the independent Northeast League earlier
this season.
Evansville starter Tista Perri went six
innings, allowing four runs in improving to
6-4.
We took the approach that Tista would not
pitch more than 105 pitches,11 Tagert said.
That is a luxury you have when you win the
first-half title.11
Ohio Valley 9 Evansville 1
Tom Kuemple homered and drove in 3 runs as the Redcoats defeated Evansville 9-1 behind
the 5 hit pitching of Kenny Fisher.
Evansville 5 Ohio Valley 4
Chillicothe 4 Ohio Valley 3
Scott Pinoni's solo home run in the eight inning
off Brian Rhodes was the difference.
Ohio Valley 8 Chillicothe 7
Scott Maple two run home run and great defensive play lifted the Redcoats over the first place
Chillicothe 8-7.
Springfield 19 Ohio Valley 8
The balls were flying out of the park as
6 Springfield hitters homered in a 19-8 win over the Redcoats. Ed Farris and Kirk
Taylor homered for Ohio Valley.
Ohio Valley 5 Springfield 4 (13)
Tom Kuemple's solo home run defeated Springfield in the 13 inning. Todd Anderson
picked up the win.
Ohio Valley 11 Springfield 9
Kenny Fisher picked up his third win as Ed Farris homered with 4 RBI's and Matt
Dettman went 4 for 4 in the Redcoats 11-9 win over first place Springfield.
Springfield 9 Ohio Valley 2
Kalamazoo 11 Ohio Valley 5
Josh Herman hit two home runs and raised his batting average to .390 in a lsing cause.
Kalamazoo 4 Ohio Valley 3
Darren Fidge held the Redcoats to 7 hits and 3 runs while striking out 7.
Kalamazoo 14 Ohio Valley 7
Barry Shelton hit two home runs and Kirk Taylor added a solo home run in a losing cause.
Kalamazoo 5 Ohio Valley 1
Jay Hobbs helped complete a sweep of the Redcoats win a 2 run home run in a Kalamazoo 5-1 victory. Kalamazoo pitcher Jerry Walker held the Redcoats to 5 hits.
20 Chillicothe 5 Ohio Valley 4
Kirk Taylor set a Ohio Valley Redcoat single season mark for home runs with his 20th last night.
21 Chillicothe 7 Ohio Valley 2
Chillicothe Paints gave Ohio Valley its seventh
straight loss with a 7-2 win. Svott Pinioni and Ronnie Boggs
each hit three run home runs for the Paints. Bert Higgins was the only bright spot for the Redcoats going 4 for 5 and driving in one run.
Johnstown 14 Ohio Valley 8
Kirk Taylor hit his 21 home run.
Johnstown 8 Ohio Valley 5 (10)
The Redcoats have dropped their ninth straight game.
Ohio Valley 17 Johnstown 16
The Redcoats stopped a nine game slide at Bennet Stump Field where 33 runs were scored including 11 home runs in a 17-16 win over Johnstown.
Josh Herman belted out two home runs including the game winning
three run shot in the eight inning.
Ohio Valley also got 2 home runs from Gary Muman and solo shots from Barry Shelton and Matt Dettman
Chillicothe 7 Ohio Valley 4
Josh Herman collected a double and 3 RBI's.
Chillicothe 6 Ohio Valley 4
Canton 10 Ohio Valley 7
Ohio Valley 2 Canton 1
Crocodiles take to the road at Munson
By MIKE POPOVICH Repository sports writer
CANTON -- The visiting team on the scoreboard thrilled the fans at
Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader
Friday night.
That's no misprint. The visiting team made a lot of people happy
and
enhanced their postseason plans, too.
Back-to-back rainouts last month have forced the Crocodiles and
Ohio
Valley Redcoats to play a season-ending, six-game series. The
postponed
games were scheduled to be played in Parkersburg, W.Va., so the
Crocs
must be the visiting team in two games at their own stadium this
weekend.
Whether the Crocs were the home or visiting team in their 10-7
victory
over Ohio Valley did not matter, even after Canton dropped a 2-1
decision to the Redcoats in Game 2.
What mattered most was the Crocs were a focused team, a team that
needed to bounce back and play well after back-to-back losses in
Johnstown.
The losses cut their lead over the Johnnies to 3 1/2 games in the
race
for the last playoff spot in the Frontier League's Eastern
Division. Johnstown managed an 11-7 victory over Chillicothe in the first
game of
its doubleheader Friday.
"They know what the situation is," Crocs manager Theron Todd said.
"They read the newspaper and look at the stats. They know where
Johnstown is.
"They're aware of it. It's just a matter of going out there and
playing
hard."
The Crocs hit the ball hard, too, in Game 1.
Jermaine Swinton hit two home runs (his 17th and 18th of the
season)
and drove in five runs. Bryan Droptini finished with three hits,
including a homer, and two RBIs. Charan Girard has three hits,
including a double and one RBI. Chance Reynolds also doubled and
Justin
Hemme tripled.
"Everybody stepped up and played with a lot of enthusiasm," Todd
said.
"We overcame some adversity and hit the ball well. Some calls
didn't go
the way we wanted them to. But we didn't let it affect us."
One of the calls occured in the fourth inning. Crocs left fielder
Bobby
Brown, who leads the Frontier League in hits, had a double taken
away
on a disputed catch in left center by Ohio Valley's Kirk Taylor.
Brown, thinking the ball was not caught, remained on second base.
But
Brown was called out and Todd came out to argue. A five-minute
discussion between Todd, home plate umpire Tom Chernisky and bases
umpire Bill Reuter ensued.
But the call stood, much to the disappointment of Crocs pitching
coach
Mike Arner who also came out to argue. He was thrown out of the
game by
Chernisky.
"No comment on the umpiring," Todd said even before a question
about
the call was asked.
Brown may have lost a hit, but the Crocs did not lose their
composure.
Hemme followed with a walk and came home on Swinton's second home
run
of the game. That increased the Crocs' lead to 8-3. The Crocs added
another run in that inning when Reynolds doubled off Redcoats
reliever
David Baraket and scored on a single by Girard.
Left-hander John Arnold (5-3) pitched a complete game for the Crocs
even though he gave up seven runs, 11 hits and walked three.
"We have six games in four days and our bullpen is pretty much
depleted
right now," Todd said. "Johnny didn't throw the ball the way he
normally can. But he gave us his best effort and got the W."
Canton 6 Ohio Valley 0
Crocs clinch playoff spot behind Marchesano's arm
By MIKE POPOVICH Repository sports writer
CANTON -- The Frontier League playoffs will be upon us in a couple of
days. Soon, Crocodiles manager Theron Todd will have to figure out how
he will set up his pitching rotation for the best-of-three Eastern
Division championship series against Chillicothe.
Todd has a number of options. Right-hander Cody Arcement has been the
team's most consistent starter. Lefties like Shawn Alazaus or John
Arnold could start, too.
Mike Marchesano also gave Todd something to think about during the
first game of Saturday night's doubleheader against Ohio Valley. The
6-foot-1 right-hander threw 42/3 innings of no-hit ball in the
seven-inning game and finished with a complete-game three-hitter in the
Crocs' 6-0 victory over the Redcoats. The second game was not completed
at press time.
A bloop single to right center by Ohio Valley's Jason Frushour with two
outs in the fifth inning broke up Marchesano's no-hit bid. The ball
landed just out of the reach of Crocs second baseman Charan Girard's
glove.
It turned out to be a minor setback for Marchesano. He ended the night
with six strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
"I was spotting my fastball pretty well," Marchesano said. "I wasn't
getting the call from my curve ball, so I stayed away from it for the
most part. And I just threw my changeup in spots where they couldn't
hit it toward the end."
Saturday's win ended an excellent week for Marchesano. He allowed only
one run and six hits over eight innings in the Crocs' 5-3 win over
Chillicothe on Monday. Marchesano (2-1) struck out eight as he
outdueled Paints' 10-game winner Bob Spears, a pitcher the Crocs are
expected to face in the playoffs which begin Wednesday night at Thurman
Munson Memorial Stadium.
"Mike is getting a feel for it now," Todd said. "He has opened some
eyes with back-to-back quality starts."
Marchesano was holding a 2-0 lead when Frushour broke up his no-hitter.
Crocs left fielder Bobby Brown almost ended the inning with a great
diving catch on a ball hit by Tom Kuempel. But Kuempel's hit fell for a
single and the Redcoats had the tying runs at first and second.
An inning-ending fly out stranded both Frushour and Kuempel. That ended
the Redcoats' only threat. Ohio Valley's Gary Mumin led off the sixth
with a single. But he was erased on a double play.
"It's nice when you can get a ground ball and you just know (the
defense) will make the play," Marchesano said. "That gives me more
confidence than anything."
A home run to right by Chance Reynolds and an inside-the-park homer by
Steve Mitrovich gave the Crocs a 2-0 lead. Mitrovich's homer was his
first since re-signing with the team earlier this month.
For the second time in as many nights, the Crocs were the visiting team
in their own stadium. The two teams were making up a game that was
rained out last month at Ohio Valley.
So even with a two-run lead, the Crocs were able to bat in the seventh.
And they scored four more times in that inning. Kenny Krey drove in a
pair of runs with a single and Darren Doskocil added an RBI single.
Marchesano retired the Redcoats in order in the bottom of the seventh
to end the game and help the Crocs officially clinch the last playoff
spot in the Eastern Division. They will end the regular season with
single games against Ohio Valley tonight and Monday night before the
playoffs begin Wednesday.
Canton 8 Ohio Valley 3
CANTON --Jermaine Swinton hit his 19th home run of the season
and drove in three runs as the Canton Crocodiles defeated the
Ohio Valley Redcoats 8-3 Sunday night at Thurman Munson Memorial
Stadium.
Kenny Krey, Danny Johnson and Charan Girard all had two hits apiece for
the Crocodiles, who broke a 2-2 tie by scoring six runs in the fourth
inning. Krey drove in two runs and Johnson also had an RBI.
Crocs starter Cody Arcement (7-3) gave up only four hits over seven
innings. Both runs the Redcoats scored against him were unearned.
Canton 12 Ohio Valley 2
John Taveres broke up a no hitter in the ninth inning in a 12-2 loss to Canton,
Josh Herman then hit a two run inside the park home run to end the shut out.
All games are at 7:05 PM except for Sundays at 6:05PM