NILES — Last season for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers was the first of its kind.

This year, however, some changes in the league itself as well as no pandemic restrictions will give fans a sense of normalcy when they walk through the gates at Eastwood Field.

Thursday night, the Scrappers opened the 2022 campaign excited and “looking forward to a good year.”

“Last year was a good first year. We had a lot of challenges with pandemic restrictions and labor shortages, but we ended up leading the league in attendance, which was a highlight,” Jordan Taylor, general manager of the Scrappers, said. “This year, we have an expanded schedule and an opportunity to have a full off season, so we’re looking forward to a really good year.”

The pandemic did away with numerous fan-favorite activities, but the laxed restrictions this season will give the Scrapper faithful a taste of what they’re used to.

“This year we’ve been able to build a season more traditionally. We have a lot of group programs back that we weren’t able to do last year given the way the restrictions were,” Taylor said. “I think that will be a highlight and also being able to fully integrate promotions that we weren’t able to last year will give the fans a full, much more well-rounded experience.”

On the docket for this season, Taylor said, will be eight more fireworks shows, five or six giveaways including some bobbleheads, celebrity appearances and five specialty charity jersey nights, which will “be popular days to come out to the ball park.”

As the fans flooded the gates and made their way to their seats, among them was Scott Broomfield, of Masury, who said he loves taking his children to the game. As the kids sought autographs, Broomfield said the players don’t know the impact they have on the kids.

“It’s exciting. Some of these players don’t know how it is to be that little, to look up to them. I think it’s great they get involved with the kids,” he said. “(The kids) get so excited and want to be here all the time.”

Adam Jablonski of Hubbard, said Thursday’s game was the first for him in a long time, but the trek to Niles was made sweeter by the fact he was there with his 19-month-old daughter, Eliana, who was at her first baseball game.

“Everything we get to do for the first time is special,” he said. “We decided to come out and it turned out to be a nice night, so here we are for a baseball game.”

For Michael Lew of Champion, and his sons, 8-year-old Jaxon and 14-year-old Kyle, being back in the confines of Eastwood Field is just fun.

“It’s a lot of fun to come to the games and be part of the action. I think baseball is the best sport to watch in person, so we always enjoy it,” he said. “I wondered if it would be different not being affiliated with Cleveland, but the experience is the same. The game is the same and the players are good, so it’s still fun.”

Partial season ticket holder, Cindy DeWalk, of Austintown, also shared her disappointment the team isn’t affiliated with Cleveland. However, as a fan of the game itself, she said coming to the games is enjoyable.

“This is a good place to get autographs before they become harder to get. You get more access to the players and get to joke and talk with them. A lot of these guys do get drafted and you don’t know who you’re going to see in the future. It would be better if they were still affilated with Cleveland, you’d have a better connection with them,” DeWalk said.

Regardless of lack of affiliation, DeWalk said she was surprised with the talent last year and is looking forward to the changes coming to this season, such as playoffs.

“It was nice to see they extended (the season) out. I did think they needed to do something because once the players were drafted or coming close to the draft, the quality (of play) was a little down so I think the changes might help. I’m glad to see they’ll have a playoff, too,” she said.

Before the start of last season, the future of the Scrappers was up in the air when it was announced a large sum of Minor League affiliates were going to be eliminated. After it was announced the Scrappers were here to stay, fans flocked to the field in droves.

“I think what we’ve heard was that the fans were happy the Scrappers were still around,” Taylor said. “Seeing the quality of play in the first half of the season last year was more than comparable to what we had previously. As we evolve the league year in and year out, the fans will see a high quality of play each year.”

The Scrappers are at Eastwood Field for the four-game homestand against the West Virginia Black Bears through Sunday.