NILES — After getting swept by Frederick earlier this week in a three-game series, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers were hoping to complete a sweep of their own.

The Scrappers had defeated Williamsport two straight nights and were leading the Crosscutters by three runs through five innings on Sunday. However, from that point on the Crosscutters outscored the Scrappers by four runs and walked away with a 4-3 victory in front of 1,810 fans at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers conclude their six-game homestand with an overall record of 7-8. Williamsport lifts its record to 5-10.

The Scrappers scored the first run of the game in the fourth on a Braedon O’Shaughnessy two-out single. One inning later they built a 3-0 lead on a run-scoring single off the bat of Colton Coates.

Coates leads the team in batting (.395) and RBIs (12).

Williamsport tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth. Stephen Hrustick and Nate LaRue each plated a run with singles. The tying run came on a wild pitch.

Williamsport scored the game-winning run in the ninth on a Ryan Vogel two-out single.

MV starter Cale Lansville made the most of his first appearance in a Scrappers uniform. The recent addition to the team worked four scoreless innings, giving up four hits with three strikeouts,

Lansville wiggled out of a pair of jams. In the first inning he loaded the bases with three straight two-out walks, but he ended the inning with a flyout. Williamsport opened the second inning with back-to-back singles, but Lansville then retired three straight.

The Scrappers will enjoy an off day today before embarking on a six-game road trip. They will travel to Trenton and State College before returning home June 27.

BASEBALL NEAR AND FAR

Zane Barnhart has traveled near and far throughout his baseball journey.

Barnhart is a 2020 graduate of Medina Highland High School. Currently, his baseball home is Eastwood Field, just 66 miles from his hometown.

Barnhart is a relief pitcher for the Scrappers. He has appeared in five games and has yet to give up a run. He has recorded 17 strikeouts in 9.2 innings of work.

“It’s been great playing here, it’s awesome because my mom and dad have been able to make it to every home game, and I’ve had aunts and uncles come out,” Barnhart said.

The close-to-home setup is a far cry from Barnhart’s 2022 summer, when he played in the Alaska Baseball League — 3,916 miles from home.

“It was an incredible experience, both from a baseball standpoint and just from being able to experience nature, the mountains and the great people,” Barnhart said. “Everything about that year of summer ball was incredible.”

Barnhart played in Anchorage at the time of year when sunlight is plentiful. Barnhart noted that games began at 7 o’clock in the evening, and when he left the ballpark just before midnight, the sun was still shining bright.

“There was about four hours of darkness between three and seven in the morning,” Barnhart said. “You’d go to bed way past midnight and there was still daylight. It took some getting used to.”

Barnhart played for the Anchorage Glacier Bears, a summer league team similar to the MLB Draft League. He says that the league receives great support from the locals.

“There’s no other baseball all year long, so if fans want to see the game they have to come out during the two months the league operates in the summer,” Barnhart said. “This is their pro ball, this is their chance to see live baseball.”

Barnhart recently completed his junior season at Hillsdale (MI) College, where he earned Division II First Team All-Region honors. He appeared in 20 games and logged a 5-1 record with six saves. He worked 43 innings, recording 61 strikeouts.

As a junior at Highland, Barnhart posted a 1.70 ERA and a 5-2 record. His senior season was canceled due to COVID.

Barnhart recently entered the transfer portal, and is currently undecided on where he will continue his academic career while utilizing his final year of athletic eligibility.

“I’m just looking for a chance to improve my game and to improve my chances of playing at the next level,” Barnhart said. “That has always been my dream.”