By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The West Coast League Playoffs have been the goal from the start for the Marion Berries.
Their work during the second half of the season, correcting the ship after a slow start to the season, has allowed the Berries to achieve that goal during their inaugural season. The squad went 16-11 down during the second half of the season after starting the season 12-15 during the first half of the season.
“That was the goal. The goal from Day 1 was to be in the playoffs. If there’s ever a playoff in anything you do, that’s what you want to be in. If there’s a scoreboard you’re playing to win, it’s the competition part,” said Marion Berries Head Coach Tucker Brack. “And I think that’s the standard for what you do. If there’s a playoff and you’re not trying to make it, there’s an issue.
“We gave ourselves a chance at the dance to see what you can do. You never know. Baseball is funny.”
Be around Brack long enough. You know baseball is life. A North Marion-grad, the Brack name is legendary at the school, and in the community, he still coaches with his father every Spring at the Prep Level. The Huskies this past Spring, with a young squad, nearly pulling off the upset of the top-seed squad in 4A.
And now, as the inaugural Head Coach for the Marion Berries in their inaugural campaign, he gets to share that passion and love at a higher level.
“It’s just how I go about how I do. We’re all put here on this Earth for a reason, and me being out here on a baseball field, I feel like it’s something I’m supposed to do,” said Brack. “It’s been around me my whole life and besides my family, it’s my passion to be out here and the players can see that I care about them, I care about their well-being, I care about their careers and I think they can feel that.”
The result has been a fun summer as the squad enters this last guaranteed week of baseball.
“This has probably been the best Summer I’ve had since I played. I’ve had so much fun. Credit to the organization for how they run things. Credit to the players we have, to be around them and the coaches that coach with me, i truly enjoy coming to the ballpark everyday to be around the coaches, the players and the organization, it’s been an absolute blast” said Brack.
As for this week, Monday starts a three-game stretch of home games. It’s a good opportunity to get some extra at-bats, heal up, and be ready to go as they await either the Portland Pickles or the Corvallis Knights for a three-game Playoff series on Friday.
“It’s going to be games for guys to get some extra at-bats, get some playing time. We’re going to be able to rest some guys and just try to get ourselves to Friday healthy,” said Brack.
Monday saw the Berries play the Dubsea Fishsticks, taking the game 6-3, while Tuesday and Wednesday will see the Marion Berries play the Willamette Wild Bills to close out the regular season.
