Scorps' season ends

The Yuma Scorpions' first season as an affiliate of the Colombian Professional Baseball League came to a lopsided close Thursday, losing at Chico 9-3 and clinching the worst overall record in the league.

The Scorps (19-20 second half, 29-47 overall) trailed 2-1 after one and scored two in the fifth to take the lead, but starter Reynaldo Correal (1-6) gave up seven in the seventh in eight innings to the Outlaws (13-22, 33-41) and was the only pitcher used by manager Boris Villa.

Diover Avila went 3-for-5 and scored twice, fishing the season with a .279 batting average. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs, finishing with a team-best .335 batting average, eight points ahead of team home run leader Carlos Villalobos.

Former Scorpions had a big day for Chico, with Rich Janeway driving home three runs and Evan White giving up three runs in six innings, although reliever Jesse Oster pitched up the win. Both White and Janeway were traded in the offseason.

Blake Gailen had two hits and scored, while Truen Mehl drove in two. Both were on the Scorpions roster and projected to be starters for Mike Marshall's club before the affiliation deal went through two days before the start of the season. More than half of those players found homes with new teams, and many of those ended up on Chico.

While the Scorpions season ends, the other eight teams in the league still play, including the Tucson Toros taking on St. George for the South Division second half title. The Toros will play four games at the Roadrunners leading by one and a half games. Orange County and Long Beach are also alive for playoff berths.