Matt%2520Miller Archive

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers had an up-and-down season in 2012, but there were still several bright spots. The team competed well during the first half, and fans also got a first glimpse at several of the Indians' 2012 draftees. Take a closer look at the Scrappers' 2012 campaign as Matt Miller recaps the season that was.

The Scrappers and Spikes finished what they started way back in June on Wednesday, squaring off one final time to close out the 2012 season. The Scrappers entered the finale on a five game slide, and just 1-9 in their last ten games to cap off a terrible second half of 2012.

The Scrappers lost the first game of their season-ending two-game series against the State College Spikes, coming out on the wrong end of an extra-inning 5-4 walk off. Before losing in the bonus frames, the Scrappers did take a 4-1 lead in the middle innings.

In their last meeting of the year, the Jammers got the best the Scrappers, using a ninth inning walk-off to secure a 6-5 victory.

For the second time in as many nights, the Scrappers were drubbed by eight runs. After getting licked in their home finale by the Auburn Doubledays, they were dropped in the first game of their final road trip, falling 10-2 to the Jamestown Jammers.

It wasn’t that long ago that Luis Dejesus was throwing out the first pitch to christen the 2012 Scrappers home slate. Now, exactly 72 days later, it was Robbie Aviles throwing out the first pitch to end it. While 2012 hasn’t exactly been the championship year the fans might have hoped, it supplied plenty to smile about.

The Scrappers were eliminated from playoff contention long ago, but the last few nights it has felt like they were in a pennant race. Maybe that’s because their foe, the Auburn Doubledays, are neck deep in a race of their own. And for the Scrappers, that can only mean one thing: spoiler.

For Joe Sever, it was about more than just getting a big hit in the eighth inning with his team down a run. It was about pride. Just one batter earlier, the Scrappers best hitter Joey Wendle was intentionally walked with first base open to load the bases for Sever. That made it personal.

The days are getting shorter, the nights longer, the air crisper and cooler. You wouldn’t be wrong if you mistook it for football season. But before the men of autumn claim center stage for themselves, the boys of summer have a few finishing touches to put on their respective 2012 campaigns.

A night after a rain-soaked Eastwood Field forced a delay of the last Scrapper home stand, a clear and breezy August evening provided the perfect backdrop for a double dip with the Doubledays. For the Scrapper faithful, it may have looked like a different team than the one that they saw hit the road a week ago.

The Scrappers dropped the series finale in Auburn Sunday night, as the Doubledays were able to salvage the series with a 4-0 victory.

A tide-turning call in the top of the eleventh led to a four-run Scrapper rally that helped them defeat the Auburn Doubledays 7-3.

The Scrappers got back on right track Friday night, snapping a brief four game losing streak with a 3-2 victory on the road in Auburn.

For the second straight night, the Scrappers fell in walk-off fashion as the Batavia Muckdogs used a 2-1 extra inning victory to finish off their sweep Thursday night.

The Scrappers just keep finding new ways to lose. After dropping the first in their series against Batavia Monday, it looked like they would squeak by in the second as they carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth. It wasn’t to be, however, as a Muckdog rally aided by a costly error was enough to propel them past the Scrappers 3-2.

A four run second inning was all the Muckdogs needed Tuesday, winning 4-1 and delivering the Scrappers their fifth loss in six days. Luis Morel got the start for the Scrappers, and pitched well were it not for the disastrous second inning.