SEPTEMBER 10, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A21
The Volcanoes extended the lead to 3-1
in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI-single
from Landen Barns, but the Campesinos
responded in a big way in the bottom half
of the frame.
With one on and one out, Campesinos
outfielder Joseph Nunn Jr. stepped to the
plate in a big spot — Nunn Jr. replaced
Campesinos top hitter Rick Phillips in the
third inning after Phillips was injured col-
liding into the center field fence while mak-
ing a play on a deep fly ball.
But Nunn Jr. proved he was up to the
task, lining a double into left field that was
just out of reach of Volcanoes left fielder
Nick DiBenedetto. After a sacrifice fly by
Colin Runge and an RBI-single from Trevor
Morrison tied the game at 3-3, Volcanoes
manager Tony Torcato replaced his left-
handed starter Evan Brisentine in favor of
Matt McDonald.
The Campesinos would take their first
lead of the game later in the frame on an
error by Volcanoes shortstop Kevin Jordan
Jr.
Pitching with the lead for the first
time in the game, Nealy came back to the
mound with a different level of swagger
and mowed through the Volcanoes lineup
in the sixth inning.
“I just wanted to do everything I could to
keep the score the same and leave it to the
bullpen to take care of the last few innings.
At that point it’s a mentality switch,” Nealy
said.
“Underneath the long hair, slender body
and quiet demeanor is a dog. When he gets
punched in the mouth, he is looking for the
next opening to punch back. He knew it
was his game. He had been waiting for this
moment all year,” Robertson added.
In the bottom of the sixth, the
Campesinos got some extra insurance runs
for their bullpen, courtesy of Chung, their
star second baseman.
After falling behind in the count, Chung
tattooed a moonshot over the right field
wall that nearly reached the Interstate-5
freeway as the Campesinos increased their
lead to 7-3.
“I got a little bit too big with the first
two swings. I was trying to hit a sac fly, but
with two strikes, you just look to put a good
swing on it and hit something to the middle
of the field. Fortunately, I ended up doing a
little bit more than that,” Chung said.
The Campesinos increased their advan-
tage to 9-3 in the bottom of the seventh on
a pair of unearned runs, but the Volcanoes
threatened to do some damage in the top of
the eighth after loading the bases.
Nick Adgar brought in a run with an
RBI-walk to make the score 9-4, which
brought up Volcanoes first baseman Bryan
Ruby.
Ruby hit a scorching ground ball up the
middle that initially appeared like it was
going to score two runs, but Chung, who
shifted to behind second base during the
at-bat, was positioned perfectly to field the
ball and stomp on the bag for the force-out.
With a five-run cushion, the Campesinos
set the table in the bottom of the ninth for
their closer Luke Laurita, the league leader
in saves. Despite giving up an RBI-hit,
Laurita earned the game-ending punch-out
and was mobbed by his teammates on the
mound.
The celebration lasted long after the
final out was recorded and was full of hugs,
photos with friends and family and cham-
pagne showers. For Campesinos players,
it was more than about winning a champi-
onship, it was about returning to the sport
they love after nearly a two-year hiatus.
“It has been so much more than I could
have asked for. Just to be able to get back
into the game and have the success that
I had was very big for my confidence and
served as a reminder that I can still go out
and compete. I had a lot of fun too. That
was the big part for me,” Nealy said.
“This summer has meant everything,
one of the best summers of all time. I’d be
remiss not to thank the Mavericks League
and everyone who put this on. Last year,
all of us were sitting home, searching for a
chance to play and they gave us that oppor-
tunity. To be out here playing with this spe-
cial group of guys has meant the world,”
Chung added.
Joesph Nunn Jr. slides safely into third base.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes