Vermont couple makes a College World Series memory, ties knot during 4-hour rain delay

Vermont couple ties knot during CWS rain delay

OMAHA, Neb. — Some people waited out Sunday’s 4-hour, 15-minute rain delay in the Rosenblatt Stadium concourse. Others whiled away the time in nearby beer tents and bars. Some went home.

One couple decided to get married.

Brian Chandler and Toni Weaver are high school teachers in Jericho, Vt. They were attending their first College World Series but, like thousands of other fans, had to endure the long delay before the start of the South Carolina-Oklahoma game.

“We’ve been planning on getting married,” said Brian, 43.

Toni, 37, had a better idea.

“I said, ‘Brian, we should just elope,” Toni said.

As the couple killed time on the main drag outside the stadium, they happened upon the Stadium View, a sports memorabilia shop owned by Greg Pivovar. Brian and Toni brought along friends who followed them into the store, where every legal-age customer is greeted with a free can of beer.

Toni jokingly asked if there was a justice of the peace working there.

“We actually asked a couple of cashiers,” Toni said, “and they said Greg was.”

Pivovar, an attorney by trade, is an ordained online minister. He didn’t hesitate when asked to perform the ceremony, and he quickly drew up the couple’s vows on a piece of scrap paper.

After the short vows were exchanged, along with the rings — yes, they actually came to Omaha toting rings — Pivovar made it official.

“By the power vested in me by the state of Oregon. . .,” Pivovar said before hesitating to chuckles. “Hey, that’s where I’m ordained. I now pronounce you man and wife.”

The newlyweds, sporting Stadium View T-shirts, then headed back for their “honeymoon” inside Rosenblatt.

STUMPING FOR HOLADAY: The list of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award includes TCU catcher Bryan Holaday.

“He’s the straw that stirs the drink,” TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “He’s our quarterback. I don’t think there’s any question that he should win the Johnny Bench Award.”

The other two finalists are Miami’s Yasmani Grandal and Jose Iglesias of Coastal Carolina. Holaday is among the top 10 nationally in slugging percentage (.599), runs (64), hits (90), doubles (23), total bases (154) and homers (13).

The winner of the award that goes to college baseball’s top catcher will be announced July 1 in Wichita, Kan.

NO FRESHMAN JITTERS: TCU starting pitcher Matt Purke didn’t look like the freshman he is while pitching the Horned Frogs to their 8-1 win over Florida State in their CWS opener Saturday. Purke, who was drafted by Texas 14th overall last year, showed no signs of nervousness in his first CWS start.

“I feed off a lot of energy,” Purke said. “It displaces a lot of energy coming from the crowd. I just like to funnel it all in with my pitching.”

With seven strikeouts against FSU, Purke moved to fourth nationally with 140. UCLA’s Trevor Bauer added to his CWS-leading total of 141 with 11 strikeouts in Saturday’s second game.

SOONER FACED ALMONTE: Rosenblatt is just another grand stage to Oklahoma pitcher Bobby Shore.

Shore was on the Oceanide, Calif., team that reached the Little League World Series in 2001.

“I played against Danny Almonte,” Shore said, “and he struck me out, of course. That was a lot of fun.”

Almonte received national attention for throwing a perfect game for a New York City team in the Little League World Series. It was later revealed Almonte was 14 at the time, 2 years over age.

SHORT HOPS: Oklahoma pitcher Michael Rocha has given up six homers in 15 innings after having South Carolina’s Christian Walker and Jackie Bradley go yard on him Sunday … The Florida Gators must feel leery of UCLA. Not only did they lose to the Bruins 11-3 in Saturday’s CWS opener, the Florida softball team fell to them 16-3 in the Women’s College World Series earlier this month. The UCLA women went on to win a 12th national softball title. … Saturday’s second game drew 23,271, compared to the 2009 Game 2 attendance of 24,904.