The Mahoning Valley Scrappers took steps forward as a team on Friday night at Eastwood Field.  Having lost the first game of a two-game set to Batavia and winless on the season-opening homestand, the Scrappers had something to prove to the faithful fans. The bats, in particular, Chase Burnette’s wooden bat, supplied more than enough offense in support of a fine start by Alex Kaminsky as the Scrappers finally won one at home, 12-4.

Mahoning Valley (3-5) scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to open up the scoring.  Chase Burnette and Tyler Cannon produced RBI-singles to put the Scrappers ahead.

In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Kevin Fontanez hit a soft liner right at Batavia 2B Joey Bergman.  Bergman dropped the ball to keep the inning alive.  Andrew Kinney then knocked Jordan Casas home.  Burnette then promptly hit a 2-run homer (pictured, top) to put the Scrappers up 5-0.

After surrendering a run in the top of the sixth and the score sitting at 5-1 in favor of the Scrappers, Brian Heere hit a sacrifice fly and Casas delivered a nice two-run double down the first base line to put Mahoning Valley comfortably ahead, 8-1.

Scrappers starter Alex Kaminsky, who pitched at Eastwood Field before signing with the organization for Wright State, threw a nice game.  Kaminsky tossed five full innings and did not surrender a run.  Kaminsky threw 79 pitches and surrendered five hits with 3 K’s and 2 BB.

After Batavia put up two runs in the top of the seventh to make the core 8-3, the Scrappers responded by scoring three runs off of Batavia knuckleballer Houston Summers who struggled to find the plate.  Burnette would tack on a second home run in the bottom of the eighth to push the Scrapper lead to 12-3.

Burnette, who commented after Monday’s 12-0 home-opener beating that there would be a transition period of getting used to wooden bats after using aluminum through college.  ” It’s a big adjustment and will take some time, but we had eleven hits tonight and it really felt good to finally win one at home “.  Burnette finished the game 3-5 with two homers and four RBI’s.

After the game, Manager Travis Fryman was pleased with the hitting and pitching that the Scrapper provided in front of 5, 043 fans.  ” We got some very solid defense tonight and executed really well.  Coming in, I thought Chase [Burnette] had a great swing, tonight he showed it. “

The Scrappers head out to Auburn and Batavia for a five game road trip before returning home Thursday to host three against Jamestown.