UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The State College Spikes surged out in front with a six-run first inning, then cruised home to a 9-4 victory over the Major League Baseball Draft League-leading West Virginia Black Bears on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The win clinched a series victory for the Spikes (17-18 2nd Half) over the Black Bears (23-12 2nd Half), who lead the MLB Draft League’s second-half standings by five games over Trenton.
State College’s opening flurry began with back-to-back walks to Payton Harden and Zac Vooletich, followed by Carlos Contreras’s RBI single to right field. Braedon Blackford then doubled home two runs and scored himself three batters later on Ryan Guardino’s groundout. Logan Mathieu and Caleb Marquez finished the onslaught with back-to-back RBI singles of their own.
After West Virginia responded by cutting the deficit to 6-3 in the fifth, the Spikes countered with Harden’s RBI fielder’s choice, followed by a Black Bears error to plate another run in the same frame.
Brennen Dorighi’s single to center field in the eighth brought in Josh Leslie to finish the scoring.
Eight of the nine members of the Spikes’ starting lineup recorded hits, with Leslie and Dorighi providing two apiece.
Jackson Lindley led the State College pitching effort, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four batters over 4 2/3 innings. Ty Pohlmann (2-1) picked up the win by tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, yielding one hit and one walk while recording two strikeouts.
Black Bears first baseman Anthony Hansen went 4-for-5 at the plate in the game. Brooks Garrett (2-3) took the loss after going just 2/3 of an inning in the start for West Virginia.
Sunday, the Spikes will hit the field for a very special 4:05 p.m. game to finish their three-game set against West Virginia. Right-hander Derrick Cherry (3-2) will take the hill for State College to face West Virginia left-hander Nathan Madej (0-4).
Every Spike will wear special jerseys bearing the name and retired number 10 of the late Josiah Viera, the honorary bench coach of the Spikes who served as one of the most inspirational figures the baseball world has ever known, on the back. The jerseys will also be adorned by a logo, hand-drawn by Josiah himself, featuring his lifelong motto, “Never Give Up,” inside a baseball diamond.
Each jersey is now up for bids in the Josiah Viera Jersey-off-the-Back Auction presented by PSECU to benefit Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, Pennsylvania, which provided Josiah with outstanding care throughout his lifelong battle with progeria, a rapid aging condition.
Bidding is taking place on the LiveSource app through the end of the sixth inning of Sunday’s game, and all auction winners present at the game will be able to go down on the field after the game to receive their jersey from the Spike that wore it.
Josiah’s number 10 was retired on Opening Night 2019 after his passing on Christmas Eve 2018, and his perseverance and enduring spirit remain with Spikes fans to this day. While serving as honorary bench coach, Josiah helped propel the club to three Pinckney Division titles and New York-Penn League championships in 2014 and 2016.
Josiah was also the recipient the 2014 Harry Mitauer Good Guy Award, presented by the St. Louis Baseball Writers Association of America chapter, and received a special commendation recognizing his impact at all levels of the game from Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner at the 2015 Baseball Winter Meetings.
Josiah made his final appearance at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game. After making the final pitching change of the game, Josiah left the game to a standing ovation from every one of the 3,000-plus in attendance, as well as players and coaches from both teams who came out of their dugouts to give him the accolades he so richly deserved.
In addition, Sunday will be a Sunday Funday presented by BIG Froggy 101, featuring a Sunday Pre-Game Catch on the Field presented by curavetti. The first 100 kids for the Pre-Game Catch on the Field will also get a Spikes Youth Baseball Glove presented by curavetti.
Plus, Kids Eat Free on Sunday with the first 250 kids receiving a voucher good for a free hot dog, chips and soda, and Half-Price Hard Seltzers are available for fans of age from 3-5 p.m.
And to top off the day, all kids 14 and under will be able to participate in a Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health.
Tickets for Sunday, and each of the last eight games remaining on the Spikes’ largest 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 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the full 2023 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
In addition, you can make your plans to be at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this Labor Day weekend as the ballpark will host Happy Valley Music Fest, produced by Chautauqua Region Music Alliance, on Sunday, September 3. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will headline the lineup for the return of this community concert event, with more acts to be announced in the coming days.
All tickets for the Happy Valley Music Fest at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park will be in digital form and are now on sale at StateCollegeSpikes.com. The stage for Happy Valley Music Fest will be on the field, with general admission digital tickets available for $20 with access to the field as well as seats in the main seating bowl.
The full slate of concessions will be available at the ballpark for fans throughout the event.
Parking is available in the Porter North, Jordan East, and Stadium West parking lots. Parking can be purchased in advance until Saturday, September 2 at 11:59 p.m. for $5.50 at https://psu.parkmobile.io/medlar-field-lubrano-park. Day of parking will be available for $10 at the above link, and at ParkMobile Zone 95112. Penn State parking permits are valid in the commuter lots at no additional charge.
Catch all the action of the Spikes’ game on Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Steve Jones and Joe Putnamon the call. The broadcast starts with Spikes Live! presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with Josiah Viera’s grandfather, Dave Bohner, as a special guest starting at approximately 6:05 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.
