NILES – The Trenton Thunder continue to own the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

In the process, the Thunder and Scrappers continue to head in opposite directions in the MLB Draft League standings.

The Thunder on Saturday defeated the Scrappers 5-2 at Eastwood Field, lifting their record to 26-12 (7-5). The Scrappers fall to 14-24 (3-8).

Trenton is now 8-0 against the Scrappers this year.

Trenton scored three runs in the third inning to take a lead it would never give up. Three straight singles loaded the bases to start the inning, then the Thunder scored the first run of the game on a Jack Lynch groundout. One out later, Anthony Fontana knocked in a pair of runs with a single.

Trenton starter Jonah Hurney worked five innings, giving up just one unearned run. He recorded six strikeouts.

Mahoning Valley scored its first run in the fifth. Justin Wiley reached on an infield single and eventually advanced to third on a passed ball. Wiley then scored on Braylin Marine sacrifice fly.

The Thunder extended their lead to 5-1 in the eighth, but the Scrappers answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning on a Mason Sykes RBI single. Sykes leads the MLB Draft League with 31 RBI,

However, that proved to be the final run of the night as the Scrappers were retired in order in the ninth, all on strikeouts.

A trio of Trenton pitchers combined to record 13 strikeouts on the night.

In their eight losses to Trenton, the Scrappers have scored just 12 runs.

The Scrappers and Thunder will wrap up their three-game series today at 2:05.

GETTING THE CALL

The Major League Baseball Draft, held earlier this month, included 47 players who spent time in the MLB Draft League. Of those, 34 played in the league in the first half of the 2023 season. The other 13 were part of the league in 2022.

Among them were eight former Scrappers. They include: LHP Zach Thornton (5th round, Mets), RHP Hayden Minton (9th, Tigers), 1B Jack Moss (11th, Reds), C Cole Conn (12th, A’s), LHP Jack Sellinger (14th, Marlins), RHP Cale Lansville (14th, Giants), RHP Zane Barnhart (17th, Orioles), 3B Brian Kalmer (18th, Cubs).

Thornton, Minton and Kalmer were with the Scrappers in 2022.

The Scrappers also had four former players sign undrafted free agent contracts. They include; RHP Jake Bockenstedt (White Sox), RHP Ruddy Gomez (Padres), RHP Isaiah Jackson (Brewers) and RHP Ben Thompson (Angels).

Barnhart is a 2020 graduate of Medina Highland High School. He appeared in 10 games this year with the Scrappers, posting a 1.00 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 18 innings of work.

“This is something I’ve been looking forward to pretty much my entire life,” Barnhart said. “It’s great that it finally happened.

“I had a blast with Mahoning Valley. I was close to home, my family was able to come out every night and everything about the place was great. The time here was a great experience and it helped to put me in a position to move forward in my baseball career. Can’t ask for anything more.”

Barnhart recently completed his junior season at Hillsdale (MI) College, where he earned Division II First Team All-Region honors. At the end of the season he entered the transfer portal and committed to playing his final year of eligibility at West Virginia. However, he now plans to accept the Orioles $100,000 signing offer.

Conn, a native of St. Charles (IL), recently completed his junior season at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He appeared in six games with the Scrappers prior to the draft.

“I came to the MLB Draft League because of its reputation for exposing players to major league scouts,” Conn said. “The league is gaining a reputation for its quality coaches and its ability to get their players noticed. There’s a great deal of talent in this league so the scouts are beginning to take note.”

Conn also played at Eastwood Field against Youngstown State during his college career.

“I love the stadium, especially playing for the Scrappers,” Conn said. “There’s just a different vibe during Scrappers games, fans are really into the games and very supportive of the players.”

This marked the second straight year that the Draft League has produced 47 MLB draft picks. The league had 39 players selected during its inaugural 2021 season.

Six players were drafted within the first five rounds this year. Sabin Ceballos, who played for Williamsport in 2022, became the highest-drafted player in Draft League history when the Atlanta Braves selected the University of Oregon product in the third round (94th overall pick).