NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks infielder Johnny Vulcano catches air while making a throw to first base in the Mavs 8-3 win Saturday at Athletic Park over the Weyburn Beavers.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Medicine Hat Mavericks fans heard the name ‘Vulcano’ a lot during their last home stand.
Mavs infielder Johnny Vulcano had provided excitement on the field all season long, with his long hair flowing while he’s either stretching a single to a double or making flashy plays in the infield.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, an 8-3 win over the Weyburn Beavers, the Mavs added Vulcano’s younger brother Adam to their roster and he dressed in both weekend games at home against the Beavers. He’s enjoyed every minute of donning the Mavs’ red.
“It’s honestly been two of the most fun days of baseball in my life,” Adam said. “John called me on very short notice, just said we needed a guy to dress up and then when I was on my way here, he told me I was playing right field and in the starting lineup, so that was exciting for sure. “It’s been tons of fun with these guys.”
He received the call from his brother at 10:30 a.m. Saturday ahead of the 7:05 p.m. start that night. Adam says that was likely for the better because he had less time to overthink it, he just had to be worried about getting there from Vauxhall, where he is living.
The duo played for the Vauxhall Spurs at the same time on the U19 team but never got a chance to play together. Johnny says it was even better getting to look into right field and see his brother on the field at the same time as him.
“We’re three years apart so we were never able to play on the same team growing up but now that we’re both in college, it’s pretty cool to play with him,” Johnny said. “Especially getting the chance to do it at a little higher level than we would have played before, it’s been an awesome experience so far.”
Adam collected an RBI on one hit and a walk in his first two games as a Maverick. He says there was one voice cheering him on that stood out from the crowd when he was at the plate, brother Johnny.
“I’m sure a lot of people can hear it but when I’m when I go to up to bat, his voice is just way louder than everybody else and he’s always cheering for me,” Adam said.
Mavs’ head coach Kevin Mitchell has enjoyed the Vulcano duo and what they’ve brought to Medicine Hat in the first couple of games.
“Adam’s been awesome, great energy, a lot like Johnny,” Mitchell said. “They’re very similar in that way. If one Vulcano is good, two of them are even better. He came right in, a high energy guy who has been happy to be here and I’m happy that he’s here.”
He won’t be eligible to be in the Mavs’ lineup for playoffs but is ready and more than willing to be on the bench and cheering on Johnny and the rest of his new teammates.
“I’m just going to hang out with the guys and be on the bench, it’ll be an awesome time,” Adam said.
Adam didn’t make it into the lineup in the Mavs’ 10-5 win Tuesday at Moose Jaw against the Miller Express. The Mavs overcame a five-run deficit in that game for the victory on the back of pitcher Nicholas Spidel, who entered the game in the second inning and only allowed one hit the rest of the way while striking out seven batters.
With the win Tuesday, Medicine Hat clinched second place in the East division, giving them home field advantage in their first round playoff series against the third-place Regina Red Sox. The Mavs were back at Moose Jaw on Wednesday for their final road game of the regular season, a rematch with the Miller Express. That game was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.
