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PrintMachinist mate Trevor Johnson of the United States Navy is from Oklahoma City and based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a member of the USS Columbia submarine crew.
He knows little about the Mid-Missouri Mavericks and their history of futility, which is entering its third year.
That might have been why he was so eager to talk baseball before the Mavericks’ 8-7 loss to Rockford Monday night.
“It is an American pastime,” Johnson said. “It represents what America stands for. Memorial Day is remembering those who fought and served America. So I think it goes great together. I can’t think of a better fit.”
Petty officer Jumar Holston and senior chief Vance McKinsey were recognized with Johnson in the third inning.
McKinsey threw the second of three honorary first pitches before the game.
The crewmen were visiting Columbia as part of a unique partnership. The cities of Columbia in Missouri, Illinois and South Carolina, Johnson said, donated money to have the submarine named for them.
The three toured the city and visited with residents Monday. They also received a special surprise.
“We got the chance to meet a lot of World War II sub vets,” Holston said. “That’s something that’s pretty rare. There aren’t too many that were ever around.”
Johnson said: “A day like this reminds me of how those people paved the way for the tradition that we have to look forward to living for and working for.”
Most of the 770 fans stood at casual attention to the American flag in center field as Sarah Stone and Natalie Wear of Sedalia sang the national anthem before the game. More had their right hands at their sides than over their hearts.
Holston, Johnson, and McKinsey, though, gave Old Glory a proper salute: thumb to palm on the right hand as it touched the forehead, left hand sharply at the side.
ROPER RETURNS: It had been more than two years since Derek Roper last toed the rubber at Taylor Stadium. The former Missouri Tiger reacquainted himself with his old surroundings nicely.
The RiverHawks’ starting pitcher (1-0) allowed one run and seven hits in six innings.
“It was really surreal to be out there again,” Roper said.
Roper was 6-5 as a Tiger from 2002-03, making 16 starts among his 32 career appearances. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 32nd round (965th overall) of the 2003 MLB amateur draft.
He pitched for the Cardinals’ Class A affiliates in Peoria, Ill., and Augusta, N.J. before joining the RiverHawks (6-0) this season.
HIT THE ROAD: After an open date today, the Mavericks (0-5) will travel to Crestwood, Ill., for a three-game series with Windy City. The Mavericks then hit a quirk in their schedule. They will play the first game of the next series with Gateway at GMC Stadium in Sauget, Ill., on Saturday.
The series shifts to Columbia for games Sunday and Monday. Because of a conflict with the MSHAA baseball tournament, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Taylor Stadium, the Mavericks end up with a two-game homestand.
“High school gets priority over us, huh?” Mavericks’ left fielder Brent Metheny said Sunday. “We’re struggling.”
Metheny shouldn’t be too indignant. Mid-Missouri is contractually obligated to be out of town for the first part of the weekend, co-owner and president Gary Wendt said.
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