NILES — On Aug. 31, 2003, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers were rained out of a scheduled home game against Jamestown. One day later, the two teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader, with a fireworks show taking place in between games.

Smoke from the fireworks show descended on the playing surface and was extremely slow to lift. Eventually, the nightcap was canceled due to the smoke.

Nearly 20 years later, history repeated itself.

On Tuesday, the Scrappers’ home game against Trenton was rained out. Wednesday, the Scrappers-Thunder game was smoked-out.

This time, the source of the smoke was the Canadian wildfires.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Scrappers released a statement regarding the cancellation. It read, in part; “Wednesday’s game between the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Trenton Thunder has been canceled out of an abundance of caution regarding air quality in the area. The decision was made with the best interests of players, staff and fans in mind in light of the possibility that the Air Quality Index (AQI) may worsen this evening.”

At the time of the release, the AQI in Niles was at 251, which is considered “extremely unhealthy.” A reading of 300 and up is considered “hazardous.”

At an AQI reading of 251, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are urged to avoid physical outdoor activities. Everyone is urged to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep all outdoor activities short or consider moving activities indoors.

This marks the second time this season the Scrappers had a game canceled due to poor air quality resulting from the wildfires. On June 8, the Scrappers game at Frederick was wiped from the schedule.

The Scrappers and Thunder will try to salvage the final game of the scheduled three-game series tonight at 7:05.

RIGHT AT HOME

This week marks the 24th anniversary of the Scrappers’ first-ever home game. It was on June 25, 1999 when 6,718 fans packed what was then Cafaro Field to watch the Scrappers defeat Auburn 8-5.

It’s safe to say that of all the Valley residents in attendance that night, no one had a better vantage point than Nick Siciliano. The Austintown native and former Fitch quarterback was situated behind home plate – directly behind home plate – serving as one of the two umpires working the game.

“That was a great night for the Valley, it was one of those special occasions that really grabbed the attention of everyone living in the area,” Siciliano said. “Knowing the way the area loves and supports its sports, I knew it was going to be a memorable and special atmosphere.”

Siciliano began working as an umpire when he was 15 years old, calling Little League games “to put some extra cash in my pocket during the summer months.” What started out as a side gig quickly turned into a passion. He soon found himself working up through the ranks. Another Fitch alum – Wally Bell – helped guide Siciliano every step of the way.

Bell umpired in the major leagues for 21 years before passing away of a heart ailment in 2013.

“I can’t begin to describe how much Wally helped me through the process,” Siciliano said. “Wally loved what he did, and in a very difficult profession, he was the best at what he did.

“He went out of his way to help guide me and put me on the right path.”

Siciliano graduated from Fitch in 1993, then earned a degree in computer information systems at Youngstown State. He was working his second season in the New York-Penn League when the Scrappers’ franchise relocated from Erie to Niles in ’99. He worked the Scrappers’ first series at home, then saw them on other occasions throughout that summer.

“Working in front of family and friends was a great thrill,” Siciliano said. “The league knew I was from the area and they were very accommodating in letting me work that opening series.”

“I remember the electric atmosphere that first night, and it was like that pretty much throughout the season whenever I worked a Scrappers series.”

Siciliano enjoyed his work as an umpire, but he had a deep passion for football. At the end of the 1999 season he was offered a job by Bob Stoops to serve as a video coordinator for the Oklahoma University football program. That triggered a two decades-long coaching career, which included stints at Youngstown State, Ohio State (quarterbacks coach), the University of Minnesota and the Cincinnati Bengals. Siciliano most recently coached in the XFL, in 2019.

Today, Siciliano and his wife Analisa reside in Texas and own their own business. They are the parents of four children – 15-year-old quadruplets Giovanni, Cole, Garielle and Zoe.