Diamond Crew does its thing

Corky Fazio waters down the infield at Harris Field.

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Story Published: May 28, 2008 at 7:01 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 8:44 PM PDT

By Matt Loveless

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LEWISTON - There are dozens of great volunteer opportunities during the NAIA World Series. And at least with one of them, you're never to old to be a kid who plays in the dirt.

"We have them from mailmen, to slinging binders, to Potlatch, to the School District to a retired banker, an attorney, city employees, all walks of life," said Corky Fazio, head of the Diamond Crew.

Strangely enough, there are no landscapers. A potpourri makes up the NAIA World Series Diamond Crew, the handful of men and boys that spend morning, day and night getting Harris Field in championship condition.

"20 minutes of fury and three hours of sitting, with a little food mixed in between,' said Fazio.

"We really have a good time," said crew member Fred Berglund of Lewiston. "We've probably known each other for forever and a day, so we have a really fun time."

That 20 minutes in between games is just enough time for most fans at the concession stand to miss the artwork in action.

Fazio, who is mayor of Lapwai, says many of the guys were ballplayers in their younger days.

"Each guy has their individual talent and we try to use that to the best of their abilities."

"I just kind of do whatever Corky asks me to do, and usually I do third base bullpen," said Berglund.

Many are retirees, but Fazio says they've had workers as young as 6 and Berglund says there's no special treatment in this group.

"All of us that have kids that play baseball, they all come out. Some of them have to stay out until one or two in the morning pulling the tarp on a rainy night."

It's no G-rated world under the bleachers down the right field line at the ballpark, but when you get them all together, "kid" becomes a pretty flexible term.

"We get to play in the dirt, and we get to help put on the show for the college and for the community, and I think that's probably one of the best things," said Fazio.

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