For the State College Spikes, last night's game was more of a series finale than a cliffhanger.
After being eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week, the Spikes' 3-1 win against the Jamestown Jammers was as anti-climatic as a cancelled sitcom.
With the playoffs a distant memory, State College really had nothing to play for -- Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Jammers denied the Spikes a chance at the 40-win plateau. So what was the motivation last night?
"To be a finisher," Spikes manager Mark DeJohn said. "Being a pro means if you're paid 'till the end, you play 'till the end."
Spikes left fielder Nathan Southard was a finisher all season long and last night, and he didn't disappoint.
He blasted two critical RBI-doubles in the first and fifth innings. His 2-for-4 day allowed the all-star to finish with an average .300 -- a season that should promote him to the Single-A Swing of the Quad Cities in April.
Quad Cities is something teammate Jose Salazar knows all about.
The undrafted rookie out of Texas A&M played the entire season like he had a chip on his shoulder, including last night's game where he hustled for an infield single.
"Early on I had [the chip]. I was just trying to prove myself," Salazar said. "Later on, I just kept playing hard and hoped everything would fall in to place."
Everything finally did on Aug. 6, when Salazar was called up to replace the Swing's injured shortstop. Salazar hit .250 at Quad Cities.
So the finale was bittersweet for Salazar, as he knows he completed his goals for this season, but he also doesn't want to leave the fans that grew to love him.
"It was great," he said. "I'm going to carry those guys with me for the rest of my career."
For most of the Spikes, the season's end came too quickly, as they paused before packing their bags after the game.
It wasn't just the end of their season, but a farewell to State College. It also meant saying goodbye to a park that became home in less than three months.
"[This year] was something else," Spikes left-handed reliever Brian Schroeder said. "This ballpark was something else -- just beautiful."
It's just the nature of minors: a player, hopefully, doesn't stay in one place for too long. That means next year's Spikes will have a new look, and a whole new group of players.
But for the 2006 version of the Spikes, the Happy Valley exodus begins today as they head back to their friends and families.
Where Are They Now?
Five of the original Spikes -- Adam Ottavino, Jason Motte, Mark Hamilton, Tyler Norrick, and Donnie Smith -- were called up to low-A Quad Cities this season. Some have succeeded, while some have not. One of the former, closer Adam Ottavino, has dominated the Midwest League. Ottavino -- the St. Louis Cardinals' first-round pick in 2006 -- had a rocky start, but he settled down, compiling a 3.44 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 36 innings. Former closer Jason Motte on the other hand, started off hot but has watched his ERA rise from under 2.00 to 4.97. The most surprising stat comes from slugger Mark Hamilton, who started five for his first eight games, and is now hitting only .254 with three home runs. The other two pitchers, Norrick and Smith, have been consistent both holding ERAs under 4.00.
