Brewers fans bittersweet on 2014 season coming to an end

MILWAUKEE -- One last smell of the grill.  One last pass through the turnstyles.  And one last chance Sunday for fans like Chris Kiley to reflect on a lost season  that saw the Brewers miss the playoffs for a third straight year.



\"What could have been, what should have been,\" Kiley said.  \"It was a great season to be a fan.  And at the end it got kind of hard.\"



The season ticket holder got his playoff tickets in the mail last Wednesday, just one day before the Reds knocked Milwaukee out of the postseason.  Still, Kiley plans to be back in the stands next year.



\"Every year you come back in spring going, 'Alright, who's still here?'\" Kiley said.  \"Everybody's still around  us, so it's fun.\"



Fellow fan Destiny Sorensen lost her cousin in a car crash during the season, which easily puts things like the Brewers losing 16 of 19 games into perspective.  A tailgate party in her cousin's honor this season will always be a happy memory.



\"We had 80 people come to it and just a memorable year,\" Sorensen said.  \"Good or bad season, it's just going to be good because of that.\"



There were certainly some positives for the crew in 2014.  Catcher Jonathan Lucroy set the record for doubles hit by his position and, of course, Hank the Ballpark Pup charmed people nationwide.



But losing certainly has consequences and after leading the division for nearly five months only to collapse in September could mean Sunday meant one last game for manager Ron Roenicke in a Brewers uniform.



\"They gave up on a lot of people too fast,\" fan Bill Moeser said.  \"I'd like to see [Roenicke] stay and try to keep doing his thing.\"



No matter who's leading the Brewers next year, fans know they'll be back ready to tailgate and cheer.



\"There's always next season,\" Tony Martin said. 


\"I think they're going to do really well, as long as they keep their bats going,\" Martin's friend John Matti said.  \"I'm back opening day.  Can't wait.\"

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