SPIKES NOTEBOOK

Spikes infielders showing league how to turn two

By Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — The State College Spikes lead the New York-Penn League in one category: double plays.

The team has turned 18 in its first 12 games, including two more during Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to Mahoning Valley. Staten Island ranks second in the league with 11. The Spikes’ total is surprising considering second baseman Brock Holt and shortstop Andy Vasquez never played together until last week.

Holt, 21, was selected in the ninth round of this year’s draft from Rice. Vasquez, 21, played for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League team in 2007 before joining the Spikes last summer.

“We’re starting to feel more comfortable,” Holt said. “We know where each other is going to be and where we like the feeds to be at. It’s working out.”

The duo has appeared comfortable together despite a language barrier. Holt doesn’t know Spanish and Vasquez, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, speaks little English.

“We get it done one way or the other,” Holt said.

Holt and Vasquez started all three games of the Mahoning Valley series. Ty Summerlin, a 30th-round pick from Southeastern Louisiana, and Carlos Silva are the team’s other two middle infielders.

The Spikes’ infield defense has impressed at least one knowledgeable baseball figure: Mahoning Valley manager and former major-league infielder Travis Fryman.

“They are a much-improved club,” said Fryman, a five-time allstar. “We saw them a week ago and they have cleaned their defense up a little bit. Vasquez has looked good at short and I like Holt at second.”

Looking often

The Spikes also lead the league in one troubling category: strikeouts.

The Spikes struck out 102 times in their first 11 games. None of the league’s other 13 teams entered Tuesday with more than 87.

More than a third of the strikeouts (36) were looking. The Spikes struck out looking 18 times in their first four home games.

“We just have to make sure our guys understand — and they hear it over and over and over — what our approach is to hitting with two strikes,” manager Gary Robinson said. “It’s not difficult. It’s just a matter of bearing down, not worrying about what it looks like and fouling off pitches close enough to call strike three.”

Amato in Vermont

Former Spikes and Penn State pitcher Gary Amato has returned to the NY-PL.

Amato has made two appearances for the Vermont Lake Monsters, who are affiliated with the Washington Nationals. Amato signed with the Nationals after being released by the Pirates earlier this season.

Amato started 2009 at full-season West Virginia, where he allowed three earned runs in 91/ 3 innings. Amato split time between

State College and Bradenton the past two seasons. The Pirates selected Amato, 23, in the 48th round of the 2007 draft.

Amato is one of six former Penn State players in the minor leagues. Scott Kelley (Rookie, Burlington), Cory Wine (Rookie, GCL Phillies), Scott Gaffney (Low-A, Dayton), Craig Clark (High-A, San Jose) and Sean Stidfole (Triple-A, Las Vegas) are also playing for affiliated teams.

Auburn coming to town

The Spikes begin a three-game home series with frequent Pinckney Division power Auburn at 7:05 p.m. tonight. The Doubledays are once again managed by Dennis Holmberg, who has led the team to six playoff appearances in seven years.

Holmberg’s roster includes some familiar names. First baseman Lance Durham is the son of former major league first baseman Leon Durham and Jonathan Fernandez is the son of former major league shortstop Tony Fernandez.

Tony Fernandez played 12 seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are Auburn’s parent club and they selected Jonathan Fernandez in the 34th round of this year’s draft.