Port Dover proud of Axford

As the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals head into game five of the World Series Monday night, you can be sure that residents in Port Dover will be cheering louder than most. That’s because one of their own is playing for the Cards.

Melissa Raftis joins us live with more.

30-year old John Axford was raised in Port Dover where those in the small community knew he had talent from a young age. And now that he is pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wrold Series, the town is hoping they can soon boast being the home of a World Series champion.

Watching John Axford take to the mound in the World Series is something his former pitching coach Doug Mcrae describes as surreal: “It hardly seems possible a kid that you knew growing up would end up being in the World Series but yah, we’re all very proud of him and the whole town is certainly behind him.”

Mcrae coached Axford on the Port Dover Midget Sailors from about 1999 to 2001 where he occasionally played outfield. But shone as a pitcher: John was born with the God given talent. Doesn’t hurt when you’re well over 6 feet tall and can throw the ball over 90 miles and hour.”

Mike Archer used to catch for axford in little league. He says that fastball is something you don’t forget: “It hurts, It definitely hurts. Even playing in the little league and the travelling teams he was a player that stood out and it’s really nice to see him up there.”

Peter Knecktel hired Axford to pour pitchers at local restaurant, Callahan’s Beach House in 2005. He says they never imagined they’d be watching one of their bartenders play in the World Series: “We were just talking about how it’s such a weird thing that some guy used to work here at this restaurant is now on that stage, he’s made the game, he’s at the show so we’re really proud of him.”

But Mcrae says it’s no accident the “ax man” made it as far as he did: I know how hard he works to achieve what he’s achieved. Very few people realize the amount of hard work and dedication that it takes.”

So far John Axford has yet to allow a run in the two and a third innings he’s pitched against Boston in the World Series. You can bet Port Dover will be watching game 5 Monday night.