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Father-son duo play in NAFA Series

Fairmont family maintains rich softball tradition

FAIRMONT – For most baseball players, the first person to teach them to throw was their dad.

Many fathers and sons dream of getting to play on the same team someday, but most never get the chance.

Brian Johnson and Jake Johnson of Fairmont got to do just that.

The two competed Aug. 9-12 in the North American Fastpitch Association’s World Series in Fargo, N.D. The NAFA World Series brings together teams from across North America, some teams from California, some from New York and Pennsylvania, and a few from Canada.

The Johnsons joined Odin FP when Justin Davis called Brian to ask if Jake wanted to play last year. Davis wants to bring younger players onto the team to try to build interest in the league.

When Brian and Jake arrived in Lake Crystal for Jake’s first game last year, the team was a man down and Brian offered to fill in.

“I just happened to have my glove in the car,” Brian said. “I said, ‘I’ll fill in, but I’m playing first base.'”

Brian stopped playing fastpitch softball in 2010 because he was spending his time coaching Jake and his sister, Jaya. But once he got back on the field, he couldn’t stop.

“Once I got back out there and the bug bit me again, I just wanted to go,” Brian said.

Jake said it didn’t take much persuading to get him on the field once he was asked to join.

“I always remembered watching him (Brian) play when I was younger,” Jake said. “I always thought it would be cool to go play with him.”

Brian said he wasn’t sure if they would ever get a chance to play together, but it was something Jake wanted since he was watching from the stands.

“He (Jake) always said when he was really little, he was like, ‘When I get older I’m gonna play and you’re gonna play with me,'” Brian said. “I just said, ‘We’ll see.'”

Jake spent much of his summer playing for Fairmont’s VFW team. He said playing fastpitch softball takes some adjustment time to get used to after a summer of baseball.

“The pitching is a lot different,” Jake said. “It takes some getting used to, but I have a lot of fun. I basically play wherever they need me to and go in whenever they need me.”

Jake played all around the field for Odin. He played center field, second base and shortstop, often because one of the older players needed some rest.

“All us old guys, we need to take breaks.” Brian said with a laugh.

Odin FP went 4-2 in the World Series tournament at the Class A-Major rank.

Odin won its first game against the Young Thunder from Missouri 7-1, with Brian leading the way with two hits.

In Game 2, Brian and Jake faced the best pitcher they would see in the tournament when they played RM Kurtz from Pennsylvania.

“That pitcher was tough,” Brian said. “He had a perfect game against us through six (innings), we finally got a couple of hits in the seventh. Out of the possible 21 outs, there was one stretch where he struck 11 out of 13 out.

“I didn’t find out until two games later, we were playing another Pennsylvania team and I told them, ‘That Kurtz team is pretty good,’ and they said, ‘Oh, you probably faced Derek (Martin),’ I didn’t know who he was but I knew he was good. He pitches for the Team USA Junior National Team and I thought, ‘Well, that explains it.'”

RM Kurtz beat Odin 5-0 before Odin rebounded for three straight wins. The first was against Striker’s Lanes from Wisconsin, 10-8, the second, a 12-5 victory over the Bombers from Saskatchewan and the third, dropping Sauder Trucking from Pennsylvania 5-4.

Odin ended the NAFA World Series with a loss to the WhiteTail Husky Bucks from Pennsylvania, falling 10-0.

Brian played first and designated hitter through the tournament, while Jake played second. Brian hit .300, with Jake hitting .400.

When Brian used to play, there was a full league based in Mankato with 20 teams. Brian said now there are about 10 teams in the state. The numbers have fallen as more activites have cropped up. But the numbers aren’t only down for men’s softball, they are down in youth baseball and youth softball, too.

“Being in the baseball association and the softball association, the summers are so much more filled than they used to be,” Brian said. “The numbers are down, Jake’s team had to cancel out of their VFW tournament because they didn’t have enough players, the legion team didn’t even get to play a full season. My softball association, we didn’t have a 16-and-over team this year.

“You’ve got basketball in the summer, you’ve got volleyball in the summer, you’ve got football camps, you’ve just got so much more for kids to do than before. Twenty years ago, if you wanted to do anything in the summer, it was baseball or softball.”

Seeing the number of players drop won’t deter Brian and Jake. Both said they want to continue playing in the NAFA World Series as long as they have the opportunity.

Jake said he enjoys playing in games with his dad after sitting and watching from the stands as a kid.

“It’s cool being able to play with him now that I’m 16,” Jake said. “When I was 8 or 9, I was watching from the bleachers. It’s nice to be out there with him and play catch with him before the games.”

Brian said the chance to play with his son creates a special bond like the one he had with his dad, Marlin Johnson, after playing together.

“Being able to do something at a higher competitive level with your son is pretty cool,” Brian said. “There’s a lot of stuff you can do with your kids but to do something at a competitive level is pretty neat. It’s definitely different, but it’s a lot of fun. It give you a bond. I have a bond with my dad that I’ll always have from playing together.”

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