NILES — For the second time in franchise history, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers were victims of Canadian wildfires.

The Scrappers were forced to cancel their scheduled home game against Aberdeen on Thursday due to poor air quality from wildfires originating in Canada.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, the Scrappers issued a press release stating that the game between the Scrappers and IronBirds “has been cancelled out of an abundance of caution due to the air quality index (AQI). Fans holding tickets for Thursday night’s game can exchange them for tickets of equal or lesser value to any other 2026 Scrappers home game, based on availability.”

On June 28, 2023, the Scrappers were forced to cancel a scheduled home game, also because of poor air quality resulting from Canadian wildfires. Earlier that season, the Scrappers had a scheduled game at Frederick cancelled for the same reason.

At the time of Thursday’s press release, the AQI in Niles was at 466, which is considered “hazardous.” Any AQI reading of 300 and up falls into the hazardous category.

By comparison, the 2023 game was cancelled while the AQI reading was at 251, which is considered “very unhealthy.”

An AQI reading between 200 and 300 suggests that 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.

Yesterday’s hazardous reading suggested that all individuals should avoid outdoor activities.

The Scrappers are scheduled to continue their homestand tonight with a game against State College. Tickets for tonight’s game were distributed free of charge by 717 Credit Union, and the game is already considered a sell-out. The tickets include a voucher for a free hot dog and soft drink, and parking for attendees. There is also a combination fireworks and drone show scheduled at the conclusion of the game, the first such show in ballpark history.

This marks the third straight year 717 Credit Union has hosted the event on July 17. In 2022, the game attracted 7,726 fans – at the time, the largest crowd in ballpark history. Last year’s 717 Night drew a new record crowd of 9,034 fans. A crowd of similar size is expected for tonight’s scheduled game.

As of Thursday night, the Scrappers made no announcement regarding the status of tonight’s game. An air quality index advisory remains in effect until midnight tonight. Today’s AQI levels are expected to remain at least in the “very unhealthy” range throughout much of the day.

Thursday’s cancellation may have given the Scrappers a much-needed chance to reset as they head into their weekend series against State College. The Scrappers, 14-22 overall, own a 1-6 record since the start of the second half of the season. The Scrappers have lost six straight games.

In their last seven games, the Scrappers are batting just .226 while the pitching staff owns a combined ERA of 6.10. Opponents are hitting .301 against the Scrappers.

The Scrappers also lost a game due to smoke 23 years ago.

On Aug. 31, 2003, the 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.

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

The Scrappers-IronBirds cancellation wasn’t the only MLB Draft League casualty of the night. Thursday’s scheduled game between Williamsport and State College was also canceled due to poor air quality.