EDENTON — That Ryan Brenner is a real go-getter.

Let the Edenton Steamers outfielder reach first base and he’s likely to go get second.

From there, it’s only another 90 feet and a cloud of dust and Brenner might go get third.

The rising senior from Miami of Ohio performed just such a feat in a 6-0 win over the Forest City Owls last Friday.

And Brenner’s back-to-back stolen bases resulted in a run in the fourth inning of a scoreless game when the Owl catcher threw the ball away trying to nail him at third base.

That type of derring-do is nothing new for Brenner, who stole home in a 9-1 win over Peninsula Saturday.

“I feel like I have a pretty good handle on how to steal bases,” he said. “Ever since I’ve been five, six years old I did it whenever I was allowed and I just kept getting better at it.”

Brenner has become so adept at stealing bases that last spring his 39 thefts ranked second among all Division I players. After this past weekend, he was the runaway Coastal Plain League leader with 16 steals. The next nearest player has 10.

While Brenner, who stole 138 bases in high school, is the one doing the running, the mindset he shares with Steamers coach Dirk Kinney makes wreaking havoc on the basepaths a team effort.

“He’s a very aggressive coach, I’m an aggressive runner,” said Brenner, who has yet to be thrown out by a CPL catcher, although he has been picked off. “It’s good to have a coach who will let me do what I do and not question me.

“I don’t have to worry about what he’s thinking, because he’s probably thinking the same thing I am.”

“I like to play aggressive, we’re going to run a lot on this team,” Kinney said. “With Brenner, you could tell he knows the game well enough to do it.

“Usually, I give him the sign relatively early (in the count). But I also like to mix it up so we are not going on the same count in the same game.

“He understands that. He’s demonstrated good judgment.”

While Brenner has been timed in 6.45 seconds in the 60-yard dash (“that’s an above-major league tool,” said Kinney), stealing bases is not all about speed.

“You have to get a good read on the pitcher and know what kind of arm the catcher has,” Brenner said. “Coach gives me a feel on whether the catcher can throw (to second) in 1.4 or 1.2 (seconds) or whatever. Then I watch the pitcher, see whether he’s throwing hard, starting guys off with fastballs. If he is, you don’t want to go then. When the opportunity is there, I take it.

“But you also don’t want to try to steal if a guy is going to get a walk. It’s a waste of an out if you get caught.”

When a player of Brenner’s reputation is on base, it actually helps the hitters. Pitchers can become so concerned about him stealing that they put aside the breaking ball in favor of something that gets to the plate quicker.

“The fastball is their best opportunity to throw me out, but it also gives our guys a lot of opportunities to get good pitches to hit.” Brenner said. “And sometimes they’ll leave something up in the zone rushing to get the ball to the plate.

“Putting pressure on the pitcher definitely helps the rest of the team.”

Brenner does more than help the Steamers with stolen bases. He’s a smart, solid, all-around player who is batting a team-high .364 and has attracted the attention of major league scouts.

Kinney loves his attitude.

“Ryan battles and battles and battles,” he said.

Brenner says he knows no other way.

“My coach at college is always telling us to play as hard as we can every day,” he said. “It can be tough playing every day, but it’s only nine innings, so there’s no reason you can’t give 100 percent.”