GAME BLOG- Green v. Gold Scrimmage

Well, the team is on the field. Throughout the home schedule, Brad Zahar and Justin Sampson will be your source for up-to-the-minute blogging. Since I have a grand total of zero duties today, I will take you through it. Here is the action (for latest information, scroll to the bottom of this blog):

• 5:30 p.m.: I spoke with pitching coach Chris Moore, and he told me that Cameron Hiscox will start tomorrow against Licking County. David Starn will get the call Thursday at Stark County. Friday's game will feature Corey Harness on the mound. As for this weekend, the rotation is tentatively set as Dave Jensen and Tyler Koors for Saturday's double header and Matthew Robertson and Andy Onak for Sunday's double dip.
• 5:33 p.m.: Allie LaForce, a member of our broadcast team, threw out the first pitch...and it just missed outside (by at least 3 feet).
• 5:34 p.m.: First unit: Robertson P, Fear 1B, Thoma 2B, Marrero SS, Moses 3B, Harness LF (He is a pitcher, but there are not enough position players to have three hitters and 9 fielders), Glass CF, Plata RF.
• 5:41 p.m.: Three consecutive men reach, capped off by a two-run triple by Jerod Yakubik. Robertson is struggling.
• 5:46 p.m.: Robertson battles back to retire the next three batters. He wastes a lot of pitches in the dirt, and the three hitters he has faced have been patient. Robertson's day is done, and in comes Andy Onak.
• 5:55 p.m.: Following the longest hot dog eating contest of all time, Andy Onak pitched pretty well in his half-inning. He retired Chad Geier, gave up a ground ball to Brian Hiscox (but he reached because the throw came home to try to retire the runner) and gave up a hit to Yakubik (Hiscox was thrown out trying to score from second). In now is Nick Egan against the next three batters (Zach Thoma, Jake Plata, and Trent Moses).
• 6:05 p.m.: Egan looked decent. Nothing spectacular. In comes Dave Jensen, who allows an RBI single to Zach Thoma right off the bat. After retiring Moses, Plata flies a ball deep to left field, and Jerod Yakubik flagged it down. It's time for Rob Moffat.
• 6:21 p.m.: Took a break from the game to talk with former Copperhead Marc Krauss. He just inked a $550,000 signing bonus, and he will make $1100 per month during the season months only. He will begin his minor league career with the Diamondbacks' low-A team, the South Bend Silver Hawks. Krauss noted, "It's actually closer to my house than Athens is." Good for Krauss. He deserves it.
• 6:36 p.m.: Matt Bayes gives up two runs in his outing. He hung a few balls, and the hitters took advantage. Brannon Belair also worked a scoreless inning. It is now time for Tyler Gatrell.
• 6:46 p.m.: Gatrell looked pretty solid in his frame. Now Jordan Langley gets his chance.
• 6:52 p.m.: Jeff May singles up the middle off of Langley, and that is the end of the scrimmage. Certainly an interesting day. Not a lot of organization, but everyone got some reps.

The real deal begins tomorrow. Southern Ohio will battle Licking County at 7:30 p.m. Tony Castricone, Allie LaForce and I will greet you from Bob Wren at 7:15 p.m. on Power 105. Tune in online with the link at copperheadbaseball.com. Go Copperheads!

- Brian