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Johnny and Adam Vulcano are back for a second stint with the Medicine Hat Mavericks and look to make an impact in their first playoff run.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Vulcano brothers provided a short flash of excitement for the Medicine Hat Mavericks last season. This year, the duo is looking to do their part to propel the team to the promise land.
Mavs’ starting shortstop Johnny Vulcano has been a mainstay in the lineup all season, suiting up in 52 games with four home runs, 26 RBIs and countless defensive stops and highlight reel plays up the middle. It’s a rerun of his first season in the red and white where Vulcano drew comparisons to Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette with his long hair and play on the left side of the diamond.
As the Mavs get set for Game 1 of their semifinal matchup against the Saskatoon Berries tonight at Athletic Park, Vulcano gets to share the moment with younger brother Adam who is making his second appearance in the red and white.
The duo are looking forward to sharing the diamond again.
“It’s pretty exciting, especially for our parents, they’re gonna be able to come to the playoff game,” Johnny said. “It’s really cool for them, but having this experience with Adam is awesome. Being able to compete in summer ball for a championship with him is something that’s really cool.”
Adam joined the Mavs last season for a Lin-sanity run of five games that were full of energy and emotion but cut short by playoff eligibility. He spent the majority of this summer working at Stamp Seeds in Enchant with joining the Mavs for the playoff run in the back of his mind.
He had an at bat in the Mavs’ 5-4 win on July 19 over the Weyburn Beavers that cemented his playoff eligibility. He’s been utilized in a utility man role, working six hits with a home run and two RBIs in his six games. It’s a role that he embraces.
“I’m a big morale guy, I love the good vibe and I love creating baseball to be fun, that’s all I want,” Adam said. “You can see how I play, I walk around, I stay loose, but I like to have fun on a baseball field because if you’re not here having fun, why would you be out here?
“That’s what I really like about this group, is that we’re all just really fun people, we love to have fun.”
Adam’s loose spirit in the game provides a bit of contradiction to older brother Johnny who has taken on a leadership role with the Mavs all season and is often the first to voice constructive criticism for mental miscues on the diamond. Johnny says he likes his younger brother’s energy and he won’t interfere but will say something if he, or any other Mavs player finds the playoff moment too big.
“Moments can create pretty big hype in the playoffs, so just making sure everyone’s slowing the game down, make sure we’re sticking our approach, not letting the moment get too big,” Johnny said.
Both Adam and Johnny missed the Mavs’ run to the WCBL finals last season, Adam because of that eligibility and Johnny because of an early call to Ottawa University in Phoenix. He appeared in the Mavs’ semifinals Game 1 win over the Regina Red Sox and had to promptly leave. He’s excited at the opportunity to stick around for the full run as the Mavs try to accomplish their championship aspirations.
“Having to miss out on playoffs last year really sucked, playoffs is the reason why you play baseball,” Johnny said. “Being able to stay for this year, I’m just so excited, I can’t wait to get going.”
Game 2 of the Mavs’ best-of-three series against the Berries heads to Saskatoon on Thursday, and if needed, a decisive Game 3 would be Friday back at Athletic Park.
While Adam was working throughout the summer he dropped by Athletic Park to watch Johnny and his eventual teammates. He’s liked what’s he’s seen from his older brother and the steps he’s taken that Adam says will help push the Mavs over the edge.
“He’s so good off the field with the team, with mindset stuff,” Adam said. “He’ll be talking to the team in the dugout before practice, before BP or before a game, explaining mental stuff. But that’s what really helps him out, and seeing him do well and be one of those types of guys on this team, really makes me happy as his little brother.
“He’s the biggest mentor on this team to me, because he knows me so well,” Adam said. “He’s been helping me out around the locker room and whatnot and all that stuff. It’ll be really cool for Medicine Hat to see a couple brothers lead the team to a championship.”
