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Crosscutters clinch title spot with 8-3 win over Scrappers

NILES — The Williamsport Crosscutters will host the 2024 MLB Draft League championship game, and their success against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers helped pave the way.

On Sunday, Williamsport defeated the Scrappers 8-3 in front of 1,472 fans at Eastwood Field, securing the MLB Draft League first-half title. The Crosscutters lifted their record to 19-7. They entered the day with a five-game lead over State College with just five games remaining in the first half of the season.

Williamsport will host the league’s second-half champion on Sept. 5 to decide the league championship.

The Crosscutters’ impressive first-half performance can be credited in large part to an 8-1 record against the Scrappers (13-16).

On Sunday it was the duo of Jackson Mayo and Anthony Stephan who paved the way for Williamsport. Mayo went 3-for-5 with a home run, a pair of RBIs and three runs scored. Stephan also went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs.

The Scrappers collected just three hits. Jared Quandt had a two-hit game, including a triple. Beau Ankeney singled in the first to knock in the Scrappers’ first run.

Ankeney capped the scoring in the third with an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Scrappers return to action Tuesday with the start of a five-game road trip which will take them to State College and Frederick.

The Scrappers return home July 18 for a four-game series against the Spikes.

BORN CATCHER

Mahoning Valley Scrappers catcher Alton Gyselman is quick to acknowledge that the position he plays on the baseball diamond “isn’t for everyone.”

Squatting behind home plate while wearing head-to-toe protective gear in the hot summer sun can take its toll on the body. Then there’s the mental strain of calling pitches while working with a roster full of pitchers — all with various throwing styles and unique personalities.

Still, Gyselman wouldn’t have it any other way.

You might say that catching is in Gyselman’s blood.

Gyselman’s father, Jeff, was a catcher at Portland State in the early 1990s. He was drafted three times and ultimately signed after being picked in the 1993 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 19th round. Jeff went on to play four years of professional ball, retiring in 1996.

“I guess I was just born to catch,” Gyselman said. “My dad was my coach my entire life, up until college. He coached me in Little League, in elementary school, in junior high and in high school. He kind of taught me the ins and outs of catching at an early age and I fell in love with it.

“It can be grueling at times. I think more than any other position, a catcher has to worry about physically being ready for a game. I take a lot of time before each game going through a routine that helps prepare me for those couple of hours on the field.”

While much of Gyselman’s pregame routine might focus on the physical aspect of the game, Gyselman also has to do homework on his battery mate. Each pitcher Gyselman works with offers up a different challenge.

“Some pitchers might be more mellow than others, so you have to know how to approach each pitcher, say when you go out for a mound visit,” Gyselman said. “You have to know the personalities to make things click.

“Honestly, I’ve had nothing but great teammates my entire baseball career. If you ask me to highlight my greatest baseball memory, it’s not a specific game or season. It’s all the friends I’ve made over the years — all the connections. It’s been great just to meet so many new faces and hear their stories.”

Gyselman is a graduate of Bozeman (Montana) High School, where he earned All-State honors as both a junior and senior. His high school career was capped in 2020 when he was named the state’s MVP.

Gyselman played two years at Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) before transferring to the University of Hawaii in 2023. This past spring, Gyselman played at Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) where he also earned his degree in Economics and Finance.

At Grand Canyon, Gyselman played in 55 games, including 47 starts. He batted .261 with four home runs and 29 RBI. Defensively, he posted a .996 fielding percentage.

“Making all of those moves could have been tough under different circumstances, but it all worked out for the best,” Gyselman said. “Every place I’ve played, whether it was college or summer ball, my new teammates have been so welcoming.

“I mean, here with the Scrappers just a month ago, we all came here from different parts of the country and there’s already a bond. That’s a pretty special thing about baseball, how it can bring people together.”

With a degree in hand, Gyselman knows that his future looks bright beyond baseball. Still, he acknowledges that he views his time in the MLB Draft League as an opportunity to showcase his talents ahead of the upcoming MLB Draft.

Gyselman hopes to hear his name called on draft day, or perhaps sign on with an organization following the draft as a free agent. He also has the option of returning to the college ranks for another year. He has one remaining year of athletic eligibility at the Division II level.

“Everyone who ever plays this game has that dream of one day getting the call,” Gyselman said. “We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks, then go from there. Whatever happens, baseball has been good to me.”

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