Pummeling opponents

By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HERE WAS NOTHIN' BUT LOVE for Big Pum and the Kin.
The "Kin" -- members of the Mineral Ridge junior varsity volleyball team -- made Big Pum, a pumpkin, an unofficial team mascot during competition in the Hubbard JV Classic on Saturday.
"We needed a good luck charm," said Tomisa Sangregorio. "We were sitting at breakfast before we left for the game and saw the pumpkin. It's orange, and we put black writing on it, so it fit."
Across the body of Big Pum, black ink marked the names of the "kin" -- Sangregorio, Jessica Rouzzo, Morgan Maiorana, Jami Goodman and scorekeeper Toni Hunt. The girls were identified in print as everything from "The Blocker" to "The Getaway Driver."
The girls found Big Pum sitting alone on a bale of straw at a local eatery. He had the coloring they needed for a mascot -- the Mineral Ridge Rams' colors are orange and black -- so they decided to take him along as inspiration.
"If we could have found a ram to use as a good luck charm, we would have taken that along," said Hunt.
Big Pum comes through
The team fell into the losers bracket after playing the Hubbard Lady Eagles before taking on a tough opponent in the Southeast Lady Pirates. The Lady Rams were battling the Lady Pirates for a fifth-place finish in the tournament.
Big Pum sat on the sidelines in the lap of one of the girls through each game and made an appearance at each time out. The girls would raise Big Pum over their heads as they and their coaches touched it for luck.
The girls even made sure to pat Big Pum each time they rotated out of the game.
"The other team came out and laughed at Big Pum," said Jenny Forayer. "They were calling us 'weird' and giving us stupid looks. That just made us mad. We had to defend Big Pum."
For a while, though, it didn't look like Big Pum would come through. The girls won the first game against the Pirates but fell short in the second.
Within one point of losing in the third and final game of the series, things were looking bleak for Big Pum and the Kin. But then, the tide changed.
Trailing 14-9, the Lady Rams forced a side out to prevent the final point, then took control. Patting Big Pum feverishly, those on the sidelines were chanting and cheering, holding up Big Pum for good luck.
Kaili Gehring served two aces in a row. With each point, the girls patted Big Pum harder.
The Lady Pirates had a chance to put the game to rest, but the Lady Rams stayed alive by regaining the serve. The tension grew as the score was tied, then as the Lady Rams pulled ahead 15-14.
In volleyball, a team can only score when it is serving. While game point is 15, a two-point margin is required to win.
It was Big Pum's shining moment.
Raised up over the heads of the girls, Big Pum was there when the Lady Rams scored the final point, winning 16-14 and earning the team its second-best tournament finish.
More work to do
Big Pum still has some work to do, as the Lady Rams continue their season.
Tuesday night, though, the Lady Ram's hopes and Big Pum's influence were squashed by South Range 6-15, 15-12, 15-8.
When the season is over and his work is done, Big Pum can rest again on his bale of straw.
"We'll take him back 'home' after the season is over," Sangregorio said.
slshaulis@vindy.com