NILES — For a second straight night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers received a solid performance from their starting pitcher and the bullpen.

For a second straight night, the result was a win for the home team.

Five Scrappers pitchers teamed up to record 14 strikeouts while giving up just five hits, lifting the Scrappers to a 5-3 home win over Williamsport in front of 3,182 fans.

Starter Connor Markl worked four scoreless innings, giving up just two hits while recording six strikeouts.

Zane Barnhart relieved Markl, and also recorded six strikeouts in three innings of work. Barnhart gave up two runs, but they were both unearned.

Derek Bolander came in with two on and two out in the ninth inning to induce a flyout, recording the save.

Williamsport starter Trenton Shaw issued three walks in the first, but was able to get out of the inning without giving up a run.

An inning later, Shaw issued a pair of walks, and this time the home team didn’t let him off the hook. The Scrappers sent nine men to the plate, scoring four runs. Brandon Hylton plated a run with an infield single, and Mason Sykes followed with a two-RBI base hit. The Scrappers also scored a run on a fielding error.

Williamsport scored its two runs in the fifth inning on a two-out fielding error by Scrappers right fielder Jarrod Belbin. The outfielder was making his first appearance of the season after joining the team earlier in the day. Belbin also played for the Scrappers in 2021.

Williamsport’s third run of the game, which came in the eighth inning, was also unearned.

The Scrappers even their record to 7-7. Williamsport falls to 4-10. The two teams conclude their three-game series this afternoon at 2:05.

SEMI-HOMECOMING

For Williamsport third baseman Reed Chumley, a three-game series at Eastwood Field feels just like a return to home.

Chumley, who just completed his third year at Houston Christian University, played for the Scrappers last summer. He was a fan favorite, and he put up impressive numbers, batting .333 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 28 games.

Chumley’s impressive showing in the MLB Draft League came on the heels of a sophomore season at HCU where he batted just .190.

“Last year was pretty tough for me at the college level, I had some things I had to work through in order to turn things around,” Chumley said. “Coming here was the best decision I ever made. I bet on myself and took a temporary contract in order to better myself. That turned into a permanent contract for the remainder of the summer and things turned out great.”

When Chumley chose to rejoin the MLB Draft League this summer, he was assigned to Williamsport by the league.

“I love this place,” Chumley said of Eastwood Field. “Before I left here for home last summer, I drove back to the stadium and just sat behind the field and reflected on my time here.

“Playing against some of the top competition in the country, I had a great summer. The fans, my coaches and teammates were great. I feel like this place got me back on track.”

The momentum Chumley gained last summer carried over to his junior season at HCU. This past spring he batted .392 with 11 home runs and 19 doubles. He led the Southland Conference in batting average and OPS.

After starting the season with a .260 batting average, Chumley batted .420 during the second half of the season.

His success is continuing with Williamsport. Through 12 games, he is batting .282 with a home run, three doubles and eight RBIs.

“Playing here last summer the way I did, it gave me the confidence to move forward,” Chumley said. “Baseball is a difficult game. You can’t be too high when things are going well, you can’t get down on yourself when things get tough.

“I learned last summer to put things in perspective. I knew that if I wanted baseball to be my life, I had to bear down and cancel out all the distractions and stay even-keeled and consistent.”

“Above all, I had to trust God in the process.”

Chumley recently committed to transferring to West Virginia to complete his academic and college baseball career. He has one year of remaining athletic eligibility and is close to earning his degree in general business studies. In the meantime, he will await to see if his name is called in the upcoming MLB Draft.

“Playing pro ball has been a lifelong dream, and I feel like I’m much closer to achieving that goal,” Chumley said.