Reller crushes first Spikes homer in loss to W'port

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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Brock Reller launched a solo homer 434 feet, the third-longest by a State College Spikes player this year, for his first dinger in the Major League Baseball Draft League, but the Williamsport Crosscutters dealt the Spikes a 7-3 defeat on Wednesday night at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

Reller, whose 28 home runs at Northeastern (Okla.) State this spring were the second most in the NCAA Division II ranks, turned on an 0-1 pitch from Williamsport (5-0 2nd half) pitcher Nick Meyer (1-0 2nd half) and sent it flying over the right field wall.

The solo shot trailed only Kevin Karstetter’s 435-foot homer at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against Mahoning Valley on June 7 and Alex Toral’s 462-foot bomb at Eastwood Field against Mahoning Valley on July 5 on the list of the Spikes’ (2-3 2nd half) tape-measure home runs in the MLB Draft League season.

Daniel Harris IV collected three doubles for Williamsport, and scored on a balk after his first for the game’s opening run in the second inning. Bryant Diel’s single and a subsequent error plated another run, with Nemo Wright’s groundout bringing in Jake Ureña to complete the Crosscutters’ three-run second.

E.J. Taylor delivered a two-run single for the Crosscutters in the third before Reller’s majestic homer put the Spikes on the board. Jesse Hall doubled in a pair of runs in the sixth to finish Williamsport’s scoring.

In the ninth, Marques Paige doubled in Rob Morosetti to bring in the second State College run, and a wild pitch sent Paige home three batters later to set the final score.

Spikes starter Brendan Knoll (0-1 2nd half) took the loss after yielding five runs, four of them earned, on seven hits and one walk over 2 1/3 innings. Knoll struck out three batters in the effort.

Meyer allowed the solo homer to Reller, but that was the only run he gave up as he earned the win for the Crosscutters. The right-hander yielded a total of four hits and four walks while striking out seven batters over 5 2/3 innings.

Cristian Lopez (2) came on in the ninth and earned credit for the save as Reller was on deck representing the tying run when Lopez notched a strikeout for the final out.

Thursday, the Spikes begin a huge four-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Right-hander Louis Davenport III (0-0), a returnee from the 2021 Spikes, gets the ball for State College against Mahoning Valley righty Miguel Alba (0-0 2nd half), who allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Spikes last Saturday.

It’s a Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark, with $2 16-oz. select drafts and $4 16-oz. craft drafts available from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Plus, social media superstar and top Happy Valley hooper Anna Camden will appear at the game as part of the festivities celebrating TikTok Night, with games and videos referencing the popular app all night long.

The fun continues with the chance to once again enjoy dazzling FIREWORKS spectaculars from a unique vantage point as FIREWORKS from the Field returns for each of the five remaining shows on the 2022 home schedule.

Starting with a FIREWORKS Weekend that features back-to-back shows on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30, all fans are invited to come down onto the infield at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to see the skies light up with each of these special presentations from the Spikes and their official FIREWORKS provider, Starfire Corporation. Friday’s show after the 6:35 p.m. game against Mahoning Valley is presented by Penn State Health.

Fans will also get the chance to support great causes this coming weekend. Saturday, July 30, join us to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer at the annual Paint the Park Pink Night presented by Mount Nittany Health. The Spikes wear special Pink and Black Jerseys which go up for bids in a Jersey-off-the-Back Auction benefiting the Mount Nittany Health Foundation, available soon on the LiveSource app. The night is capped off with another FIREWORKS from the Field display.

Then on Sunday, July 31, Still Strong Night will take place during the Spikes’ 4:05 p.m. game with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, and feature a special appearance from foundation co-founder, former NFL defensive lineman and proud Blue & White alum Devon Still. In addition to Still throwing out a first pitch and being part of the night’s activities, proceeds from the Spikes’ 50/50 drawing for the night will go to the Still Strong Foundation, and fans will have many ways to find out how to support the foundation and its cause.

Friday will be the first bobblehead giveaway of the season with the Wally Triplett "We Are" Talking Bobblehead presented by Boyles Insurance. The bobblehead, crafted in consultation with Triplett's family, will go to the first 1,000 fans of all ages at Friday's game. In addition to featuring the legendary back in a pose reminiscent of his performance in the 1948 Cotton Bowl, which gave rise to the use of "We Are" as a unifying cry across Nittany Nation, the bobblehead will feature a button that will play "We Are" whenever pressed.

More highlights include Philipsburg-Osceola Community Night on Friday, Scout Night and Penns Valley Community Night on Saturday, and a pair of FREE Geisinger Kids Zone! nights presented by Friends of Jake Corman this weekend.

Tickets for every game in the second half of the Spikes’ biggest regular season home schedule in franchise history are available now. Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the full 2022 promotional schedule, at the only source for authentic Spikes tickets online by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

More ticket packages, including Flex Books and an array of group and hospitality options for the 2022 season, are currently on sale by calling the Spikes at (814) 272-1711. Additional information on all club ticketing options, as well as team news and schedule info, can be viewed at StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action of the Spikes’ game on Thursday via the Spikes Radio Network presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Steve Jones and Joe Putnam on the call. The broadcast starts with Spikes Live! presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at approximately 6:10 p.m.

The game can be viewed worldwide on the MLB Draft League streaming platform at MLBDraftLeague.com/streaming, along with the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.