Josh Johnson blasted a solo home run to power the Portland CR Brewers to a 3-2 victory to claim the NAFA World Series AA-Major Championship over J & B Painting, Saturday. Johnson also pitched and picked up the win and was named the AA-Major Most Valuable Player. Photo By BOB OTTO

QUAD CITIES, IA/IL – Call him a man of heroics, a man who thrives on the big stage, a man who rises to the challenge.

After his performance in the NAFA World Series AA-Major Division championship game, Josh Johnson certainly lived up to those billings.

With the game tied 2-2 in the sixth inning, Johnson crushed a solo home run high and deep over the leftfield fence to give the Portland CR Brewers a 3-2 victory over J & B Painting of So. Calif., Saturday afternoon at Green Valley Sports Complex.

“I got a rise ball and I was looking for that or a change-up,” said Johnson, who was named the Most Valuable Player, and is a USA Softball National Team member. “I didn’t want to do too much or over swing.”

Johnson’s home run came off J & B pitcher Rob Schweyer, who pitched a four-hitter with three walks and 14 strikeouts.

And if not for some bad luck, Schweyer may have come out the winner.

J & B took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first on Schweyer’s single that scored Kevin Castillo, who led off the inning with a double up the middle. Schweyer later scored on Patrick Burns’ infield hit.

Those two runs appeared to be enough for J & B to pull out the win.

But then came the bad luck.

In the fifth inning with two outs and Dan Macier on first base by way of a single, Schweyer struck out lead off batter Matt Christensen on a low drop ball. But the ball bounced in the dirt, forcing the catcher to throw to first for the put out.

But the ball sailed high over the first baseman’s outstretched glove and bounced down the third base line, finally banging up against a rolled up tarp along the fence.

The J & B defense appeared to hesitate thinking the ball was trapped in the tarp and out of play. As they hesitated, Macier and Christensen tore around the bases with both of them scoring and tying the game.

After a brief discussion, the umpires ruled the ball had not gotten stuck or trapped in the tarp, so both runs were good.

Rob Schweyer struck out 14 and allowed just one earned run for J & B Painting. Photo By BOB OTTO

“It’s a game that anything can happen,” said Schweyer, who was named to the All-World team. “It was a questionable call, and we didn’t know how to play it. But it was still one of the best games to be involved in.”

Johnson also picked up the win, going 6 innings and then turned the game over to Terry Luster in the seventh with a runner on first. Luster got a strikeout, and infield pop up and a fly ball to end the game.

And then the celebration began.

For Portland sponsor and manager Roger Jones, the win was a first in the NAFA World Series.

“Chemistry was a key ingredient,” said Jones, who in the past has had teams win four ASA Class A and B national championships. “We have a great defense and didn’t make any errors.

“And Josh (Johnson) single handedly won some games for us.”

Jones was right on that account. In Friday night’s winners bracket final, Johnson blasted a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to force a 1-1 tie with J & B.

Portland went on to win that game 4-1 in 11 innings to remain undefeated.

For J & B sponsor and manager, Bob Berger, the loss in the championship came down to, “a little bad luck,” he said. “That’s all it takes, but Rob pitched great and kept us in the game.”

The Portland offense was led by Johnson, 1 for 3, with a home run; Kevin Rasmussen 1 for 4, Dan Macier 1 for 3, run scored; and Todd Hodge 1 for 1.

For J & B, Castillo was 1 for 3 with a double, Schweyer 2 for 3, and Burns 1 for 3.

Johnson finished with a five-hitter, allowed two runs, four walks, and struck out seven. Luster came on in the seventh for the save. He gave up a walk with a strikeout and didn’t allow any hits.

Though they lost, J & B has had a good year, winning five its last 10 tournaments. And Berger is planning bigger things next year.

“Next year were going to the ISC (World Tournament),” he said, adding that his pitching staff will consist of Pat Burns and Devon McCullough and possibly Schweyer.”