Whether it was coping with adversity, delivering in the clutch or inspiring a national champion, no player captivated the imagination of those attending the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series the past eight days like Chipola (Fla.) College ace Drew Parker.
Coping with his mother’s fight against ovarian cancer, Parker earned the Preston Walker Most Valuable Player award Saturday after the Indians defeated 2005 champion New Mexico Junior College 7-3 in the national title game.
Parker picked up his second victory of the series Saturday afternoon after throwing 61⁄3 innings in a 27-12 victory over Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist College that clinched the Indians’ berth to the national final.
He struck out 14 batters in a total of 161⁄3 innings at the series and also earned saves in key victories over Spartanburg and San Jacinto (Texas) College-North as Chipola won the national title in its first trip to the JUCO World Series.
“I am getting ready to call my mom (Cindy) right now,” Parker said of his terminally-ill mother whose condition has deteriorated so much over the past five years since she was diagnosed with cancer that she couldn’t travel to the tournament.
“All this is for her. I won the national championship for her.”
As soon as Ryan Chaffee struck out Christian Figueroa for the final out of the title game, Parker led a mob of Indians who stormed the field, leaping in celebration of the school’s second national title in three weeks.
Chipola’s top-ranked softball team defeated North Idaho on May 19 in Plant City, Fla.
“They got me with both water and Gatorade,” Parker said of teammates who gave him a bath during the celebration.
Parker’s roommate, Chaffee, tossed a complete game in the championship. He allowed only three runs on five hits, against the Thunderbirds, who were hitting .344 as a team.
“I have seen what he’s gone through all semester,” Chaffee said. “I would have been angry with the people here if he didn’t win MVP.
“That was the best thing for me since I came here, seeing him win that award and us win the national championship. He has some Derek Lowe-type sink action on his pitches and he’s taught me to sink my pitches. But the best thing he has taught me is to fight through anything. He has fought through so much.”
Parker’s MVP performance at the JUCO World Series hit home for Chipola coach Jeff Johnson, who is noted for his handling of pitchers.
“I lost my older brother (Jay) to cancer five years ago,” Johnson said as he began to weep.
“I just tried to stand by (Parker) and be there for him because I know what he is going through.”
Parker has pitched for Team Canada the past two years. He was part of a team that placed third in the world championships in Cuba.
“Nothing compares to this,” Parker said of winning the JUCO title. “You can’t compare anything to this.”
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Joe Spencer can be reached via e-mail at jspencer@gjds.com.
