GRANVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears dropped the final game of the season to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 11-8, at Kendrick Family Ballpark. Though West Virginia held a lead through the first six frames, Mahoning Valley scrapped its way back into the game with seven runs scored over the seventh and eighth innings.
After two straight losses, the Scrappers came out swinging with two home runs in the first. Lead-off hitter Jayden Hylton blasted a solo shot to center, followed quickly by Maddox Mihalakis’ home run to left field the next at-bat.
West Virginia stormed back with four runs in the second. Owen Petrich scored on a single from Jackson Trout, who advanced to second on a fielding error. A double from catcher Noah Jouras brought home Trout to tie, and a wild pitch from starter Clayton Burke scored Alec DeMartino for the go-ahead run. Tyvon Moore’s sac fly plated Jouras to put the Bears ahead by two heading into the third.
Despite giving up the early runs, starting pitcher Malik Abdul settled in and threw another empty frame. In the bottom of the inning, Trout’s RBI double brought in Ben Barrett to pad the Black Bears’ lead.
The Scrappers began to build momentum with two runs in the fourth. Zion Williams scored on a Kaikea Harrison double before a pitching change brought in Carson Gipson with one out. Hylton tallied an RBI with a single that plated Harrison to cut the deficit to one before the Bears ended the rally.
Tom Chimielewski entered to start the sixth, retiring the side to preserve the Bears’ lead, but the Scrappers could not be contained and claimed it in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Rene Lastres issued a walk to Julian Hernandez to tie the game at five. After a pitching change brought in reliever Andrew Luczak, Harrison picked up two RBI on a single that scored Cooper Vance and Mike Young.
Mahoning Valley widened the gap with four runs in the eighth as a single from Cayden Evans coupled with a throwing error scored three. Evans came home for another Scrappers’ run and a commanding 11-5 lead.
Attempting a final stand, West Virginia pulled within three in the final inning as Elijah Cook, Tyvon Moore, and Kevin Jones touched home. However, the Bears could not complete the comeback and ended the game on a flyout.
In the season finale, Jackson Trout went 3-for-3 at the plate with one run, one RBI, and two doubles, tying Williamsport’s James McCoy for most doubles in the league (16). Tom Chmielewski gave a strong performance, holding the Bears’ lead through the sixth inning with three strikeouts. West Virginia standout Dawson Hall closed the game in his 17th appearance and added three punchouts to his season total to finish with a 3.20 ERA.
With the loss, the Black Bears end the 2026 campaign with a 33-41 season record, finishing fifth in overall standings.
The MLB Draft League season concludes on Wednesday evening with the league championship in Williamsport, Pa. The Crosscutters will host the Aberdeen IronBirds for the fifth title game in league history. First pitch set for 6:35 p.m.
