McCall – The McCall Mudhens have begun a victory parade to celebrate the team’s second ASB title.
A huge cheering crowd has lined the two-mile route through McCall since early Thursday to see the team roll by on a flatbed truck.
A heavy police presence has been deployed along the route, and Chief Kevin Lilly says officers will not tolerate a repeat of the violence and vandalism that erupted last week after the Mudhens defeated the Boggstown Boilers in Game 6 of the championship series.
This year’s celebration is less elaborate than in the past, with no rallies before or after the parade.
Last year’s parade culminated in a rally that filled McCall Memorial Stadium, but there was also debate over costs absorbed by the financially strained city.
The Mudhens are paying this year’s tab.
The team is traveling aboard a flatbed float from the downtown McCall Memorial south to Maddux Park. The Mudhens will be interviewed as they roll along, their responses broadcast over loudspeakers.
Officials have estimated as many as 2 million fans could line the route.
Nick Gleason, 32, and his 8-year-old son, Clipper, came from Salina to watch the parade. Gleason said he chose a spot close to the beginning because he thought it would be safer. Of the crowd, he said: “Ninety percent are true Mudhens fans. Ten percent are here to cause trouble.”
It was Clipper’s second parade and last year he only got a glimpse of the players. “This one’s going to be better because we’ll see the players,” the youngster said.
Lilly held an early morning news conference to warn troublemakers that police would not tolerate a repeat of the violence that occurred Thursday. There were no serious injuries, but a lot of damage from vandalism and fires.
“If you’re coming here to vandalize, if you’re coming here to disrupt, well, then you’re going to stay because we are going to put you in jail,” Lilly said.
Along the parade route, one fan hoisted a foam tombstone reading “RIP Boilers.” A woman carried a homemade poster boasting: “Back to back!”
The high-energy, flag-waving crowd sat in lawn chairs, snuggled in blankets and dodged Silly String and confetti. The shrill blare of bull horns and other spontaneous buzz took place amid splotches of purple, gold, blue and white jerseys.
Kelly Wendt, 26, of Webster Groves, arrived to take part in her first Lakers victory parade. “I’m disappointed they are not going to have a rally at the end. I expected more,” she said.
Tickets to playoff games were too expensive for Pat Jaquay, 42, of Alma. “I get to see the players for free,” he said. “Twenty dollars for parking doesn’t compare to thousands of dollars for tickets.”
He said she enjoyed sharing back-to-back memories with fellow fans. “I’m just as excited this year because it’s the second time in a row. I’m looking forward to a threepeat. And I’ll be here next year.”
Fan Ram Fox, 58, said he took the day off from his job as a window washer in Marathon because he wanted to see his longtime baseball heroes in person. He wore a red and gold jacket and hat.
“I’ve been a diehard fan all my life and I watch every game but this is my first opportunity to see them in person,” he said.
