81 WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2010 Pirates GM scouts Spikes' young talent By Jake Kaplan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The State College Spikes know when they have certain specta tors watching their games from behind home plate at Medlar Field at Lubrano c Park. Monday and Tuesday's games were two of those times. Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington was in attendance for the latter two games of the Spikes' three-game homestand against the Vermont Lake Monsters. Huntington, who took over as GM in the fall of 2007, picked a good night to spend at the ballpark Monday as he saw his short-season Class A affiliate tie a franchise record with 20 hits in a 13-2 win. Tuesday afternoon, however, he was not as lucky as the Spikes fell to the Lake Monsters 3-1. Overall, Huntington said it was a positive visit and though he did not address the team as a whole as he did in his August visit last season, it was nice to get more familiar with the players in the Spikes' clubhouse. - I love watching the young players," Huntington said after Tuesday's game. "I love watching the guys in the system play really at any level. But the entry levels are always the most fun as you get a chance to see a guy whether it's in his first professional experience or first experience under the lights so to speak. It's always enjoyable to get out and see the young guys play." First baseman Matt Curry hit Spikes From Page 6. bounces today, and couldn't really put anything together, consecutive hits or any type of pressure on them consistently." Vermont (18-7) got out to an early lead in the first inning for the second-straight contest. Lake Monsters' second baseman Hendry Jimenez tripled off Spikes starting pitcher Tyler Waldron, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Stephen King. Their 1-0 lead held up until the sixth when a two-run double by Russell Moldenhauer to left-cen ter field off State College reliever Trent Stevenson increased the margin to three. Three Vermont pitchers com bined to give up the one earned Pitching we shouldn't give away a ballgame 20 hits and scored 13 runs. like today, but we just didn't hit," That kind of performance has first baseman Matt Curry said the team excited as it prepares to From Page 6. after Tuesday's loss. head out on a six-game road trip games against the Cyclones "If they keep pitching like they against Connecticut and Auburn. either, scoring a total of seven have been this last series, we "Any time you've got three runs in the three games. should be fine. - straight days of good pitching, it And although the offense again A glimpse of what Curry was sparks the entire staff," third had its struggles Tuesday, the hit- talking about came in the second baseman Kelson Brown said. ters know that if they start to pro- game of the Vermont series. Five "Everyone wants to one-up each duce a little more, the pitching different Spikes pitchers corn- other and that's what makes the staff will start picking up more bined to allow just two runs pitching staff good." wins. and six hits over nine innings, If they give up three runs then while the hitters notched a record To e-mail reporter: wmlsoos@psu.edu Royster From Page 6 gave time to regroup and prepare for a sea son in which he has the opportunity to cement his place among Nittany Lion greats. The opportunity to break Curt Warner's rushing record, as well as the possibility to surpass 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season, are all on Royster's radar. Though Royster said he spoke to Warner just a few times as he tried to downplay the significance of the record, Warner said when the redshirt senior closes in on the milestone they will surely talk. But, Royster's decision to return for his final season was never completely dictated by a chance to shatter records. It was about coming back, helping his team improve and preparing for his professional future, he said. With the Lions still undecided on a start ing quarterback, having Royster in the backfield is a valuable asset. The ability to have a reliable running back is something quarterback Matt McGloin is looking for ward to, but he doesn't want Royster to be the only one making plays. is first professional home run Monday night, a monster shot into the right field bleachers, a special moment for the Pirates' 2010 16th-round pick in itself. But the fact the man who drafted him was there to witness it, might have made it a little more memo rable. "You always know when they're around because people are talking, people are whisper ing 'Hey, they're here, they're here," Curry said after Monday's game. "You just can't get too hyped up. You've got to stay in the pres ent moment and that's just what I had to do tonight." Infielder Kelson Brown, a 34th round pick this past June, also showcased his talent in front of the GM with four hits Monday and another one Tuesday. - You can say that they don't really make us play any different but when you've got people and eyes up above you looking at you, you get a little bit more energy and a little bit more excited," Brown said. Aside from Curry, Brown and other 2010 draft picks selected out of various colleges, much of the 2010 Spikes (13-12) roster is made up of 2009 selections out of high school. That list includes a plethora of the Pirates' top pitch ing prospects from that draft, including second-round pick Brooks Pounders, fourth-round pick Zack Dodson and sixth round selection Zack Von Rosenberg. Trent Stevenson and Colton Cain, seventh and eight rounders in 2009, respectively, are also with State College. All, save Stevenson who recently run on eight hits, while walling just one. Shane McCatty, who pitched innings five through eight, was the pitcher of record for Vermont, improving his record to 2-1. Waldron, who threw a solid five innings of four hit ball. was tagged with his second loss. State College was going for it's second three-game sweep of the year they swept the Williamsport Crosscutters July Ist through 3rd and at the same time looking to hand the Lake Monsters their first three-game losing streak of the year. Vermont holds the best record in the New York-Penn League none of the other 13 teams has more than 15 wins. `Any time you're playing a good team you've got to bring you're A game every day," Sldrving said. - We just didn't do that today, and it "He's so smooth, and he's a hard worker. All the focus isn't going to be on him this year." "He's just a great football player, McGloin said. "He's so smooth, and he's a hard worker. All the focus isn't going to be on him this year. All the quarterbacks are going to have to step up and make plays because either that or the teams are going to start stacking the box." However, regardless of whether or not Royster racks up the 481 yards he needs for the school rushing record, he said his work this summer is just the beginning of his future. "What I've heard also is that the biggest day of my life is that combine," Royster said. "So it's something that I will train hard for, and actually after the seasons done, I'll get right into it and try to make myself the best I can be for that." To e-mail reporter: aass22o@psu.edu Matt Curry (left) makes an out in a game earlier this season. Curry hit his first professional homerun in front of Pirates GM Neil Huntington Monday night. turned 20. are merely 19-years old. `'Without question we chal lenge them," Huntington said. "It's a much more advanced level than where you typically take them in terms of the pro gression, and they've responded well." "The reality is they throw strikes and keep the ball down. work quickly and then let their defenses play their part and put guys away when they get a chance to. They're going to be just means we couldn't get the sweep. If we bring it like we did the last couple nights than that's a winnable game and potential sweep The Spikes hit the road to start a series with the Connecticut Tigers, which starts at 7:05 tonight. Curry; who said the team was hoping to string together a long winning streak after the first two wins against Vermont. is hopeful State College will bounce back from Tuesday's loss. "We were just saving we were going to go a long run, long streak and we thought this was it." Curry said. "We'll just start it up again on this road trip." To e-mail reporter: jyksl42@psu.edu Matt McGloin Quarterback successful regardless of the Huntington, who has a busy couple of weeks ahead of him with Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, said the Pirates will con tinue to stick with their player specific pitch counts with their young prospects. While some other clubs in the New York-Penn League stretch their pitchers out, the Spikes haven't let a starting pitcher go more than five innings thus Boss From Page 6 claimed to have gotten in an ele vator fight with two Dodger fans after a Game 3 loss in 1981. Of course, in Gilbert's situa tion, Steinbrenner would have been able to throw infinite money at James. He did that for four decades In his early years it was Catfish, Reggie and Winfield, and in the years leading to his death, he drove fans of 29 other teams crazy by inking names like A-Rod, Giambi, Mussina, Matsui and Sheffield to lucrative contracts. The incessant desire to win by-cash is ultimately what made Steinbrenner so scrutinized and so hated. Was it bad for the game? That's a debate for another col umn. But Steinbrenner was allowed to win by spending, and that's what he did. Sure, he had the most money, but he also cared more. Pirates fans, tell me with a straight face you'd rather have the Nuttings as your owners than a man who spent in order to win seven World Series and 11 pennants. The lasting memories of Steinbrenner will hopefully be the ones of him arguing with Martin or calling out Dave THE DAILY COLLEGIAN far in the young season. "The history of the game is lit tered with guys who had great arms that were blown out young," Huntington said. "If you are trying to get back in shape you don't go out and run a marathon the first day. So we're trying to build these guys' arms, we're trying to build their bodies, we're trying to build the mentali ties and build a fundamental game as well, and it takes time." To e-mail reporter: jyksl42@psu.edu Winfield for being "Mr. May." They epitomize his brash desire to win. I grew up watching 130 Yankee games a year, and it was rare that I agreed with the Boss. He called out Torre, a man who earned him four titles, far too often, and he put unhealthy pressure on general manager Brian Cashman to raid the farm system to overpay for bigger names. But, I am a fan of the New Jersey Nets (yes, we exist), and I have watched, first-hand, a franchise demolished by majori ty owners who cared about earning a buck more than a title. That was never the case with George, and, as a fan, isn't that all you can ask for? Remember in Anchorman, when Vince Vaughn's character, Wes Mantooth, tells Ron Burgundy, "With every inch of me, I pure straight hate you. But damnit, I respect you." The same has to apply for critics of Steinbrenner. Rest in peace, George. The Yankees are champions, and I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted to die any other way. Al Cassavell is a senior majoring in journalism, and is a Collegian football writer. His e-mail address is ajcs23B@psu.edu.
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