Werners steal the show for Mudhens
In August 2008, a representative of the Minnesota Twins offered Miesville’s Joey Werner a chance to take his batboy skills to the Metrodome. He turned it down and Saturday’s performance highlighted why.
- Joey Werner
By Brett Boese
Red Wing Republican-Eagle
In August 2008, a representative of the Minnesota Twins offered Miesville’s Joey Werner a chance to take his batboy skills to the Metrodome. He turned it down and Saturday’s performance highlighted why.
Werner, who is in his fourth year with the Mudhens, watched Miesville rally to defeat the rival Aces 4-3 at the Red Wing Athletic Field. Werner’s older brother, Andrew, pitched six strong innings to pick up the win. The elder Werner also drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning.
Still, Joey managed to steal the show.
The 11-year-old routinely beat Red Wing batboys Teddy Tauer and Isaac Gadient to foul balls. One foot race left Gadient grasping at air as Werner plucked the ball from the grass behind home plate before him. It drew one of the loudest cheers of the day from the Miesville faithful, including a shout-out from shortstop Nate Otto.
“It was pretty nice,” Joey said of the crowd’s reaction. “Fun. It made me happy.”
It was simply business as usual, as far as the Mudhens were concerned.
“We’re playing the games, but he’s got his own personal battles,” Andrew Werner said. “He doesn’t like to get beat in anything.”
“I’ll take our batboy every day of the week,” added Miesville player/manager Chris Olean.
Tauer and Gadient responded to the challenge. After an early visit to the concession stand and a few trips to play catch in the bullpen, they began setting up like Usain Bolt to go after foul balls. Werner still controlled the action — Tauer later claimed he let Werner win — but the results were more even after the third-inning scramble.
“It’s fun because it’s just a great rivalry,” said Red Wing starter Andy Gibart, who allowed three runs in the seventh to take the loss. “That just adds to the atmosphere.”
The day was already ripe with tradition. The bases were red, white and blue in honor of Independence Day. There was a flag mowed into the center field grass. The field crew also shot off fireworks after the National Anthem.
However, the outcome - inside the lines and out - made for a frustrating finish for the Aces.
“It doesn’t matter what you play Miesville in, you want to beat them,” said Red Wing player/manager Corey Tauer, Teddy’s father.
Tags: joey werner, sports, batboy
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