Causing a stir

Pennsylvania natives help spark Cyclones to win

Guy Cipriano

- gciprian@centredaily.com

UNIVERSITY PARK — A three-hit, three-error performance suggests little cheering.

CDT/Michelle Bixby

Brooklyn's Scott Grimes is safe at second as Spikes' Pat Irvine (56) tries to tag him in the 2nd inning during the Brooklyn at Spikes game Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. CDT/Michelle Bixby

View larger

That certainly was the case for the State College Spikes, who started life after the New York-Penn League All-Star break with a 6-1 loss to Brooklyn before 4,993 fans Wednesday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

But not everybody sat in silence.

Smatterings of applause accompanied shrewd pitches by Brooklyn starter Darin Gorski. Even some of the Cyclones’ nine hits earned applauses.

A simple explanation existed for the pro-Brooklyn behavior. Gorski, center fielder Justin Garber and designated hitter Scott Grimes are Pennsylvania natives who played major parts in the victory.

Gorski, a product of Kutztown University and District 3 Donegal High School, is an easy starting point. He held the Spikes (29-29) to two hits and one run over seven innings, retiring 16 straight batters from the second to seventh innings. David Rubinstein scored the lone run on Pat Irvine’s double to right-center in the second.

The outing marked the best of Gorski’s 10-game professional career. He pitched before 20 family members and friends, including an uncle wearing a Cyclones jersey sitting 10 rows behind home plate. Only 117 miles separates State College from Gorski’s hometown of Mount Joy, Lancaster County.

“It was cool,” Gorski said. “It wasn’t very long for them to make it up here. It was a pretty good crowd, a little more than I was expecting.”

Everything about Wednesday felt familiar for Gorski as State College bears a closer resemblance to Mount Joy than Brooklyn.

One of the perks — or challenges — of being drafted by the New York Mets is playing for the Cyclones. The team averages a league-high 7,109 fans per game and plays near a parent club that expects NY-PL victories.

“It’s not home,” Gorski said. “It’s a different world. That’s for sure.”

Gorski, 21, learned things are different in Brooklyn quickly after the Mets selected him in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Gorski’s draft status meant no stops to the rookie Gulf Coast or Appalachian Leagues for seasoning.

“Brooklyn is a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s a little change of pace, but it’s nice. They make it an easy transition for you. Of course, they want to win, but they love you if you are doing well.”

Garber, who doubled and scored in the seventh inning, faced a similar transition this summer. He attended Elizabethtown High School, which is less than 10 miles from Gorski’s hometown. Garber stayed in central Pennsylvania for college, playing at Shippensburg, where he set the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference all-time hits record with 288.

The Mets selected Garber, 24, in the 34th round of this year’s draft, and he made his Cyclone debut last month.

“It was an adjustment,” he said. “It’s a lot faster than what I’m used to. I’m used to country. I’m not used to riding the subway and walking down the street with a lot of people. Now, I’m used to it. I kind of like it.”

Grimes, 25, is a Brooklyn newcomer. Grimes, who attended District 1 Kennett High School and attended Division III Keystone College, spent three years with affiliated teams before the Mets purchased his contract from the Can-Am League’s Worcester Tornadoes last September. A hand injury delayed the start of his season, and he appeared in 12 GCL games before joining Brooklyn earlier this month.

“It took me a little while to get up here and everything has been phenomenal,” said Grimes, who singled and walked twice. “I love all these guys.”

The trio’s appreciation for Brooklyn could grow during the next three weeks. The Cyclones are 37-21, and they lead rival Staten Island by 31/ 2 games in the McNamara Division. Brooklyn is approaching its sixth playoff appearance since joining the league in 2001.

“It makes it a lot more fun out there,” Garber said. “Plus, there’s a lot more pressure, too. Getting a big win like this tonight is a lot of fun.”

Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates released reliever Owen Brolsma, who spent parts of the past two seasons with the Spikes. Brolsma, a 48th-round pick last year out of Texas Tech, allowed nine hits and three walks in 61/ 3 innings after rejoining the

Spikes from full-season West Virginia. …Spikes starter Nelson Pereira allowed four hits and walked three in four innings. Rubinstein and Aaron Baker hit infield singles in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively.