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Spikes earn 3-2 victory over Crosscutters ahead of playoffs

UNIVERSITY PARK Time is running out and it was almost to a point of do-or-die for the State College Spikes.

In the playoffs, but still battling for the top record in the league which would give them the top seed in the playoffs, State College did what it had to do as the Spikes sneaked past Williamsport for a 3-2 win before a Medlar Field at Lubrano Park record crowd of 6,111 fans in the home finale of the 2016 season.

The Spikes drew first blood with a single run in the first inning with a little two-out lightning.

Vince Jackson split the gap between center and right for a double and Jeremy Martinez chased Jackson home when he grounded a sharp single to right. Martinez was later thrown out attemting to steal.

“He missed a sign,” Spikes manager Johnny Rodriguez said. “When he (Martinez) took off I almost died. We had an opportunity to get some separation from the because I knew their pitcher would find himself sooner or later. For the better of things, he came through for us in the end. They all learned something and that is we can’t afford to give away outs.”

The Cutters got themselves even in the fourth when Darick Hall doubled to left, went to second on an infield hit by Luis Espirito and scored on a throwing error by catcher Martinez.

Not to hang around with the tie, the Spikes came right back in the fifth to score the tie-breaking run. Elier Rodriguez walked, stole second and scored when Danny Hudzina doubled to left-center.

The scoring pendulum swung back toward the Cutters as Emmanual Garcia led off the seventh inning with a solo home run just inside the line in left field.

The third time proved to be the charm for the Spikes as they took the lead for the third time in the game, and it turned out to be the winner.

Tommy Edman, who had a rough night at 0-for-3, led off with a walk.

After a pair of strikeouts, Martinez with an 0-2 count on him, reached out and stroked a soft single to center that allowed Edman to sprint home with the go-ahead run that turned out to be the winner.

“He is one of our most disciplined hitters,” Rodriguez said. “He might not have the best bat speed or the most leverage but his discipline allows him to know what he wants to do on every pitch. He is either going to pull, go to the middle or go to right. As a catcher he has the advantage of knowing what the pitcher is going to try and do.”

Steven Farinaro worked the first six innings, working his way through eight hits while only allowing one unearned run.

Although he blew a save opportunity, Gerwuins Velazco picked up the win, his third against no losses. Eric Carter worked the eighth to earn the save, his ninth of the season.

The Spikes and Crosscutters will close out the regular season today with a 1:05 matinee at Bowman Field.

With a berth in the postseason already guaranteed to them, the Spikes will play a road game Wednesday against an opponent yet to be determined.

The second game of the best of three series will be played Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. First pitch for that game is set for 7:05 p.m.

If a third game is necessary to determine the survivor of the 3-game series it will also be played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Friday night.

Prior to the start of the third inning, the Mifflin County 13-year-old Babe Ruth team that captured the World Series championship was recognized by the crowd.

Players from the team who were in attendance along with manager Scott Reigle were Colby Bodtorf, Ethan Eichhorn, Marshall Muidars, Kodak Milliron, Cole Schlagel, Connor Cherry, Jaxson Pupo, Bryce Dobson, Brando Souders, Brycen Hassinger and Jaydan Jackson.

The Spikes announced their 2016 year-end award winners before the game. Infielder Tommy Edman was named the club’s Most Valuable Player, while right-handed pitcher Steven Farinaro earned the Spikes’ Pitcher of the Year award and Danny Hudzina won the Josiah Viera Perseverance Award.

Edman, the Cardinals’ 2016 sixth-round draft choice out of Stanford, has been a constant spark at the top of the order this season. The San Diego, CA native is leading the New York-Penn League with 60 runs scored and 45 walks through September 4. Edman has also produced 23 extra-base hits to lead the Spikes, including 14 doubles and four home runs, while knocking in 33 runs and compiling a .402 on-base percentage over the Spikes’ first 74 games.

Farinaro set the Spikes’ single-season wins record with a 9-1 record through September 4. The righty also has the opportunity on Sunday to become the first pitcher in franchise history to double-digit wins. Farinaro has compiled a 3.72 ERA with 46 strikeouts to 17 walks over 77 1/3 innings this season. The Hayward, CA native has also seen steady improvement this season, culminating in an ongoing streak of 19 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

The Josiah Viera Perseverance Award was introduced in 2014 as a tribute to the Spikes’ honorary bench coach. Josiah faces challenges everyday due to Hutchinson/Gilford progeria but has become a rallying point for the Spikes over the past three seasons thanks to his determination, perseverance and joyous spirit in the face of adversity.

Hudzina, the Cardinals’ 2016 10th-round draft choice out of Western Kentucky earned the award this year by overcoming a 1-for-24 start at the plate in his pro career. The Palm City, FL native came back to reach a high-water mark of a .277 average on August 9, and received a berth in the 2016 NYPL All-Star Game for his efforts. Hudzina is now hitting .234 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in through September 6.

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