NOTEBOOK \ From Eastwood Field

Nice atmosphere: Mahoning Valley Scrappers manager Tim Laker was impressed with the atmosphere for the home opener at Eastwood Field, which drew 6,487 fans. It seemed especially impressive after playing a few nights in front of Jamestown, N.Y., crowds that could be measured in the hundreds. “It was a great crowd, especially for short season A ball,” he said. “The turnout is really something.”

Getting adjusted: Like many of his players, Laker is still getting adjusted to his new job. The first-year manager has learned most of his players’ names, but not all of them. “I’m getting pretty good,” he said. “I’ve got almost all of them. I still need a couple pitchers yet, but I’m close. But I can’t get too close. They could be gone tomorrow.”

Bad night for Beau: After going 2-for-9 with a pair of runs scored over the first three games, first round draft pick Beau Mills struggled in the home opener, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. He and cleanup hitter Nick Petrucci (who also went 0-for-5) were the only Scrappers not to reach base in Friday’s game. Petrucci did play flawlessly at third base, recording seven putouts, including six in the first five innings. “I think the guys are still adjusting to the wood bats,” said Laker. “Even though we haven’t been swinging the bats well, we’ve been putting together good at bats, working the counts.”

Conservative approach: The Scrappers did not steal a base on Friday night and Laker, a former catcher, said he doesn’t plan to overmanage the game. “I try to just let them play,” he said.

Local connection: Cardinal Mooney High graduate Jeff Hehr, an infielder for the Scrappers, was one of two local players selected in this month’s draft. The other, Girard High graduate Stephen Procner, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 28th round and assigned to the Bluefield (Va.) Orioles, a rookie league team that straddles the Virginia-West Virginia state line. Procner went 4-9 with a 4.31 ERA for Cleveland State this spring.

Joe Scalzo