Staff photo / Brian Yauger. Scrappers pitcher Frank Eliasalt delivers a ball early on in Wednesday night’s game against the Spikes

NILES – After spending the first 18 days of the season atop the MLB Draft League standings, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Wednesday were on the verge of going from first to worst in just 17 days.

Instead, the Scrappers rallied to defeat State College 3-1 and in the process avoided slipping into last place in the MLB Draft League standings.

One night after the Scrappers and Spikes combined to score 25 runs, offense was at a premium Wednesday at Eastwood Field. Both teams collected just three hits apiece. There were 28 strikeouts in the contest – 15 recorded by Scrappers pitchers.

State College scored its lone run in the top of the first inning when Lyndon Weaver tripled, then scored on a double steal.

From that point on, the Scrappers (14-16) slammed the door. Starter Frank Elissalt worked five innings, giving up just two hits while recording seven strikeouts. Four Scrappers relievers each worked one inning, giving up just one hit. Each of the four relievers recorded a pair of strikeouts.

For a second straight night the Scrappers didn’t collect a base hit until the fifth inning. In the sixth, the Scrappers finally broke through with three runs. Alliance native and Ohio State product Zach Dezenzo knocked in a pair of runs with a triple. Dezenzo then scored on a wild pitch.

State College (12-17) loaded the bases in the ninth on three walks, but Ben Thompson picked up his first save of the season with a game-ending strikeout.

The Scrappers begin a three-game home series Friday against West Virginia.

LEARNING CURVE

The rigors of travel and every day baseball – and the level of competition – may be beginning to take its toll on a large majority of first-year MLB Draft League players.

The Draft League season began June 2. Since then, most teams in the league have played 31 games in 35 days. On one of the off days, players took part in a day-long draft combine which was held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The following day, the Scrappers were on the road to Trenton, their longest road trip of the season.

Most players had little to no time off between the end of their college season and the start of the Draft League campaign.

“I think more than just the games themselves, the whole process has been a major adjustment for these players,” said Scrappers manager Homer Bush. “They arrive at the ballpark around 1:30 in the afternoon and on most nights they are here until close to midnight.”

“I love this part of the game, it gives you structure and that’s what I like about the everyday routine, but no doubt it can be a challenge.”

Bush believes the biggest obstacle facing the players is the league-wide level of competition.

“In most cases these pitchers, at their respective schools and in their conferences, if they get by the fifth guy in the order they could get a breather or two,” Bush said. “In this league, you have dangerous hitters up and down the lineup. Some nights you’re facing a lineup of six to eight draftable players.”

“Same thing on the other side of the ball. The velocity, the breaking pitches, the spin rate we’re seeing from some of these pitchers is off the charts. The competition every inning and every at-bat is strong. It’s not just a few strong players in the lineup or in the rotation.”

The Scrappers will enjoy a day of rest today before beginning a stretch of nine games in nine days, including six road games. The nine day stretch will conclude the end of the first half of the season, marking the end of the season for the vast majority of the roster.

“A day off, and hopefully these players will come back starting Friday and finish strong,” Bush said.