Schuckman: QND baseball fans indulge in ‘Bacon’ to keep winning ways alive

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Everybody likes bacon, right?

That’s undoubtedly true of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players’ parents, grandparents and fans.

But if you’re thinking it’s the sizzle-in-the-frying-pan kind of pork product they are so enamored with, you’d be sorely mistaken.

In this case, “Bacon” is their good luck charm, a 4-inch crocheted, stuffed pig that made its way to Reiser Field on Tuesday in Jessica Linenfelser’s purse and enjoyed a perch in back of the netting behind home plate during the Raiders’ Class 2A sectional semifinal against Shelbyville.

The trust the Raider faithful are putting in Bacon is paying off.

QND secured a 2-1 victory as Dalton Miller struck out two batters with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, moments before storms clouds released a bellywasher that sent everyone scrambling. Luckily, Bacon wasn’t left behind.

The victory was the Raiders’ 23rd in a row, dating back to the middle of April when they suffered a loss at Beardstown. QND went undefeated at home, including winning a regional championship at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield.

That’s where the legend of Bacon began.

Ady Linenfelser, the 8-year-old sister of QND starting second baseman Jack Linenfelser, brought the stuffed creature with her to home games. With the victories piling up while Bacon was in her possession, a tradition and superstition was born.

Now, Bacon is part of the travel party.

Not only is the piggy, which has a curly yarn tail, brought along, the parents sitting in the bleachers along the third-base line Wednesday rubbed it for good luck. At one point, Ady Linenfelser was summoned and asked to rub the pig’s back.

Bacon may have even been kissed for good luck.

Whatever it takes, right?

In this case, it worked. The Raiders scored in the top of the seventh to take the lead on Jack Linenfelser’s RBI single after Bacon received a backrub.

Baseball is filled with superstitions and traditions, although they mostly involve players, clubhouses, dugouts and bullpens. This one simply adds to the lore of superstitions and provides a rallying point for those agonizing over every swing and strike from the bleachers.

Besides, you can’t ever go wrong when you indulge in “Bacon.”