August 11, 2022 at 10:48 a.m.
Rebels' Jamison makes mark in Legion All-Star Game
Rebels' Jamison makes mark in Legion All-Star Game
The Rhinelander baseball standout was able to realize that dream Sunday, even if he didn't have a lot of time to think when he got the call for first game action on a Major League diamond.
Jamison hit a two-run single as part of a 2-for-2 day at the plate and pitched a scoreless inning as his Stripes team rallied to beat the Stars 8-5 in the 50th Wisconsin American Legion Baseball All-Star Game.
"It sent chills down my spine. It's so much bigger when you're standing on the field in person. I don't really know how to put it in words. It's a surreal experience," Jamison said. "Stepping onto the field with them was something special. You watch your idols playing on the same field just hours before you get to step on. It's something special."
Jamison was part of a 24-player Stripes squad and was scheduled to see three innings of game action, including one inning on the mound. His number wasn't called until the seventh inning of Sunday's nine-inning affair and he was warming up in the bullpen to work the bottom of the seventh when the Stripes made a rally, bringing up his spot in the lineup sooner than anticipated.
"I was warming up in the bullpen and a player came out and said, 'Hey, your spot's coming up in the lineup, you should probably get back soon,'" Jamison explained. "I was just about past the tarp when, I forget if it was a walk or a single ahead of me, and then Coach (Tim) McMahon from Beloit just looked at me and said, 'You're up.' There wasn't much time to think at all. I rushed up there and tried to work the count to get myself some practice swings, get loose."
Jamison worked the count to 1-2 and fouled off a two-strike pitch before hitting a two-run single that cut the Stars' lead to 4-3.
The Stripes would eventually take the lead in the eighth and tack on three more insurance runs in the ninth, with Jamison collecting another single in his second at-bat.
On the mound, Jamison retired the Stars in order in the seventh, recording a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
"I got to warm up during 'Roll Out the Barrel' and 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame.' That was fun on the mound, just hearing the seventh-inning stretch as you're playing out there," he said. "Most legion games are seven innings, so there really isn't a stretch in those. Playing a nine-inning game, at a big-league stadium. They've got all the traditions you get to hear and be a part of."
The game was the culmination of a weekend of events put on by the Wisconsin American Legion in Milwaukee that included a reception and banquet Saturday evening, breakfast Sunday morning and being introduced to a crowd in excess of 40,000 strong prior to the Brewers' 4-2, 10-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
"I got to meet a bunch of other guys from Team Stripes and they're all good ball players, good people," he said. "I made some friends, got to watch the Brewers game with them. Unfortunately. that didn't turn out how we would have liked to see it."
Because the Brewers' game ran late, so did the start of the Legion All-Star game. The roof was closed and it was dark outside the park by the time Jamison checked into the contest.
Like Rhinelander Post 7 All-Star participants Martin Hoger (2019) and Isaac Bixby (2021) before him, Jamison said he was overwhelmed by the sheer massiveness of his surroundings when stepping onto the field for the first time.
"You could say it's kind of intimidating. Just the scale of the stadium makes it feel so much bigger to play in than even watching on TV or in the stands," he said. "I was just hoping I could do my part and not let the team down. Obviously you're playing with 47 of the best in the state. It's definitely kind of intimidating, but also you're excited to be amongst such a pedigree of players."
Jamison put up big numbers for the Rebels all summer long. At the plate, he hit a team-best .458 with two home runs and 18 runs batted in. On the mound, Jamison went 8-1 while leading the team in innings pitched (56 2/3), ERA (0.74) and strikeouts (59).
According to records kept by the Wisconsin American Legion, Jamison was the 11th Rhinelander player to take part in the All-Star game. Prior to Hoger in 2019, Rhinelander had gone 36 years since its last All-Star selection - John Huebner in 1983.
"To be able to represent Rhinelander on such a big stage, I was glad I was able to make the team and the city proud," Jamison said. "Thank you to my teammates for supporting me, to (Rebels manager Dan) Huhnstock for nominating me and just for a great weekend. I had a blast. It was a heck of an experience."
Jamison, a 2022 Rhinelander High School graduate, is age-eligible to return to play with the 19U Legion program next summer and said he plans to do so.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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