NILES — Like any other child of his age, Chase Nixon spent his youth on the playground or in a playhouse while his dad was at work. The Scrappers outfielder said that at a young age, he wasn’t too wrapped up in his dad’s occupation.

“I was just being a kid, doing kid things,” Nixon said.

While Nixon’s description of his childhood may sound quite common, there’s a uniqueness about it when you discover that Nixon’s father is former big-league player Trot Nixon.

Trot Nixon played 12 years in the MLB, including 10 with the Boston Red Sox from 1996-2006. He was a fan favorite in Boston and helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2004. Trot Nixon played one year in Cleveland and one year with the New York Mets before retiring in 2008.

Born in 2001, Chase says he never truly appreciated his dad’s work until years after his retirement.

“Thank God for Youtube,” Chase Nixon said. “As I got older, and even to this day, I’d go back and study my dad’s career. I’ll watch entire games of his, and man, those were some exciting times. Just as a baseball fan, I can appreciate what he accomplished and what those teams were able to achieve.”

As Chase Nixon got older, his love for sports – and his athletic talent – blossomed. He was a two-sport standout at New Hanover High School (Wilmington, N.C.) – his father’s alma mater. A quarterback, Chase Nixon was named Coastal Prep’s Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and was offered a football scholarship by numerous Division I schools.

“I loved playing football, I still totally love the game, but in my heart I knew that I wanted to play baseball well beyond high school,” Chase said. “My game began to take off during my sophomore and junior years of high school. I didn’t have a college picked out just yet, so I was looking to have a really strong senior season, then go from there.”

Unfortunately, COVID-19 had other plans. Because of the lockdown in the spring of 2020, Chase Nixon’s senior season – and his opportunity to showcase his talents to Division I schools – was erased.

Chase Nixon spent the 2021 baseball season playing for Pro5 Baseball Academy as a post-high school graduate student. By the end of the season he was fielding offers from the likes of Georgia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina State.

“That was a tough time because there was so much uncertainty,” Chase Nixon said. “I used my faith in Jesus Christ to get me through the year. Looking back, it was a great experience and a great opportunity. I was able to really sharpen my game against some of the best players in the nation.

“I met some great coaches and teammates, played at a lot of awesome places. It was a blessing in disguise in many ways.”

Chase Nixon eventually chose to attend North Carolina State. He played three years for the Wolfpack, compiling a .281 batting average while playing in 89 games.

This past year. Chase Nixon transferred to the University of Memphis, where he completed his college baseball career while earning a degree in Business Administration. With the Tigers, he batted .271 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs.

“I was truly blessed throughout my college career,” Chase Nixon said. “I was able to share the field with some of the best players in the country. You name it, and I played with or against them. I got to live the dream of every college player and go to Omaha and play in the World Series.

“Those four years only strengthened my desire and my determination to play at the next level.”

Chase Nixon is certainly off to a good start.

Entering Tuesday’s game against West Virginia, Chase Nixon was leading the Scrappers with a .394 batting average. He has nine doubles, one home run and 10 RBIs since joining the team in mid-July.

“I just go out and play as hard as I can each and every day,” Chase Nixon said. “I enjoy the challenge of baseball.”

He hopes that a season in the MLB Draft League is a springboard toward a baseball career at the professional level.

“It’s been my dream for a while now,” Chase Nixon said. “I’m going to give all I got, because as long as someone gives me an opportunity to play, my dream is still alive.”

TUESDAY’S GAME

Tuesday’s game between the West Virginia Black Bears and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers featured a pair of teams playing for very little in terms of the MLB Draft League standings

The Black Bears entered the contest with an eight-game lead over second-place Williamsport. With just 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Black Bears have a virtual lock on a first-place finish and a berth in the league title game.

Meanwhile, the Scrappers entered the night in last place, 13 games behind the Black Bears.

For at least one night, the Scrappers – with an assist from Mother Nature – turned the tables on the Black Bears.

The Scrappers defeated West Virginia 2-1 in a rain-shortened game at Eastwood Field. The game was called with one out in the top of the seventh and a West Virginia base runner on first.

West Virginia wasted no time scoring the game’s first run. Black Bears leadoff hitter Drew Collins doubled to start the game, then came around to score on a Jace Rinehart two-out base hit.

The Scrappers quickly answered. Hayden Moore led off the home half of the first with a single, stole second and scored on a Dreylin Holmes single.

The Scrappers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Carson Hornung reached first on a one-out walk, advanced to second on a groundout then scored courtesy of an Ian Francis single.

Scrappers starter Tyler Johnson earned his first win of the year. Johnson worked six innings, giving up the one run while scattering six hits. The Michigan native recorded five strikeouts.

Matt Rivera relieved Johnson in the seventh. Rivera gave up a one-out single before the game was called.

West Virginia (39-20, 23-7) entered the game riding a 10-game winning streak.

The Scrappers and Black Bears continue their three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m.