FARMINGTON – Now that the Connie Mack World Series has come to an end, we’ve got some time to look back at some of the storylines that, while they didn’t make the newspaper, definitely caught our attention.
First, there’s the people that deserve a lot of thanks and praise for their efforts.
David Montoya, who worked with several individuals this past week during the CMWS hyping the home crowd at Ricketts Park from behind the public address system’s microphone. Montoya recently was recognized by the New Mexico Activities Association with a Distinguished Service Award and is one of the unheralded, but most important voices for amateur and prep sports in San Juan County.
There’s committee executives and board members, volunteers and county leaders, as well as countless amounts of kids running around the stadium delivering food and beverages to fans sitting in the bleachers. On days where the temperatures often soared into triple digits, these kids were a sight for sore eyes and an occasional relief from the heat.
There’s the story of Ann Marie Johnston, the mother of Wes Johnston, who flew in from Ontario, Canada despite battling cancer to watch her son throw a spectacular seven-inning win for the Mississauga Tigers over D-Bat United in the first round of bracket play at Ricketts Park.
Ann Marie and her husband Bob surprised Wes at the parade, which was held in downtown Farmington prior to the start of the tournament, then were some of the most vocal fans – and deservedly so – as the Tigers beat one of the top teams in the World Series.
“It was really good to have them at the parade and in the stands for the game,” Wes said after striking out six batters and giving up only three runs in a 5-3 Tigers victory punctuated by a walk-off home run by teammate Lachlan Maude.
In what was truly one of the more special moments of the tournament, the Johnston family made the most of the opportunity.
“This is my happy place,” said Ann Marie Johnston after the Tigers beat D-Bat United. “When I get to watch (Wes) on the bump and throwing strikes.”
Getting to meet players and coaches from teams making their first visit to Farmington is also an opportunity to see how those folks react to their newfound stardom in San Juan County.
“Everyone here has been so welcoming, even before we stepped foot outside the bus,” said Gunner Glad, coach of the Tulsa Sandlot squad. “Now that we’re here and meeting all the host families and the people in charge, you can see why this event means so much to so many people.”
From the perspective of a baseball fan without a real cheering interest in the outcomes of games, this year’s World Series featured some spectacular moments on the field.
Perhaps one of the best pitching performances of the tournament is one that doesn’t come attached with a win or loss designation.
Midland Redskins starting pitcher Augie Mojica threw a solid 6⅔ innings before he gave up a 2-run blast to D-Bat United’s Jaxon Willits which tied their elimination game at 3-3. Mojica struck out nine while throwing more than 100 pitches and wound up with nothing to show for it in the record books.
Dallas Tigers starting pitcher Jack Hickerson fanned seven hitters in six innings of work in the team’s 2-1 opening round win over the NOLA Cardinals. He gave up only a pair of hits and a walk in the contest.
The tale of the two Oklahoma teams in the CMWS is one that resonated well with this reporter last week. Since covering the 2021 championship run of the Enid Majors, I did find my curiosity piqued by the Tulsa Sandlot and Oklahoma Express.
There’s clearly been a great emphasis on the success of amateur and youth sports in recent years in the state of Oklahoma, particularly in baseball. The South Plains regional qualifying tournament for the Connie Mack World Series, which took place last month in Enid, featured more than two dozen teams from across the southwest.
“A lot of high school coaches, who used to be tooth and nail against the summer teams are gone, and now a lot of high school coaches are now coaching these clubs,” said Shannon Enfield, director of the South Plains regional tournament and vice-president of the American Amateur Baseball Congress.
On the field, there were also some outstanding defensive performances.
Third basemen, which are tasked with what some coaches believe is the hardest position in the sport, were in the spotlight during the Connie Mack World Series.
Michael Catalano of the Dulin’s Dodgers came up big in the tournament, both in the field and at the plate. Playing the so-called “hot corner,” Catalano assisted on five groundball outs in a second round game against the Southern California Renegades. At the plate, Catalano scored more than a half dozen runs and drove in more than half a dozen in seven tournament games.
Midland’s Jake Daltrui, Dallas’ Major Brignon and Trent Abel from Colton also had phenomenal weeks playing third base.
And then there’s the walk-offs. The wins that come out of nowhere, catching fans by surprise and – depending on which team you happen to be supporting – either adulation or grief.
The Dallas Tigers had three of them, two of them within the span of 24 hours which catapulted the team into the final four of the tournament. The Midland Redskins had one which kept their hopes for a second straight CMWS championship alive.
And then there was the most captivating walk-off win of them all, when Dallas upended the Redskins by a final of 3-2 in the most unlikely of fashions in front of a packed house at Ricketts Park to secure the team’s first CMWS championship.
My only regret during this past week – and it’s a selfish one – has more to do with being a fan of unique situations with the English language.
Throughout the tournament, I was hoping for one moment when I could write a sentence about a play involving Midland’s Parker Picot and Dallas’ Park Prater. Because how often does a writer get to mention two people with the same first letter in both their first and last names?
Despite both the Redskins and Tigers playing twice in 24 hours, I never got that chance to single them out for one specific play.
Guys, I mean it. Seriously, I tried.
As a baseball fan, I have very specific, but not altogether outrageous expectations.
I want to see a well-played ballgame. I want to remember some great action on the field, and as one of my best friends likes to say from time to time in a somewhat sarcastic manner, the wish remains the same.
I just hope both teams had fun.
That’s all.
