Pony League Championship Game

Timp Sports Weekly
June 30, 2009

Publisher's Message

Our cover story this week regards a team's regaining the American Fork Pony League crown after a two-year absence. That achievement proved to be no small feat, because of great opposition which the squad had encountered from a pitcher having the great potential of shining in high school sports in the near future. This issue's other stories cover a close Colt League game, three American Fork High summer varsity duels, and a big win for the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' 16-under division team. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Pirates Overcome Difficult Twin Pitcher to Regain American Fork Pony League Pennant
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having endured two summers of frustration, the American Fork Pirates once more own the American Fork Pony League championship pennant. They had a devil of a time in regaining it during the June 23 championship game at Bus Manning Field. The Pirates had to come from behind to win 8-4 over the Twins, who were still on a high after having eliminated the Giants, the league's defending champs, in a June 18 playoff game.

Twin pitcher Trevan Hendry turned out to be the reason the Pirates had such difficulty with trying to regain their league's title. During the course of the night, Hendry struck out 13 batters. Furthermore, he prevented the Pirates from making any hits until the fourth inning. Hendry's handiwork permitted the Twins to build up a 4-1 lead in the first three innings.

"Going into this game, we knew he [Hendry] was going to be a good pitcher," admitted Pirate Brian "Bucket" Parker. "We just hung in there, and the hits finally starting occurring for us in the fourth. We chipped away, and our walks allowed us to get back into the game. We have finished either first or second in our league for the past seven or eight years."

Getting on base through a walk in the top of the first, Twin Sam Bateman soon scored on two Pirate errors. On two outs, Logan Baugh singled Andy Lowe in for the next Twin run. After giving up a single to Caleb Clark, Pirate pitcher Matt "Pulsinator" Pulsipher struck out Connor Thomas to shut the Twins down briefly.

Striking out Hendry at the start of the second, Pulsipher held the Twins scoreless that inning. Walked by Hendry in the bottom of the second, Cam "Bam Bam" Thomas soon scored the first Pirate run on a passed ball. After having also walked Joe "Ihop" Denney, Hendry struck out three straight Pirate batters to prevent the score from becoming tied at two.

In the top of the third, though, Twin Alex Fender singled off the Pirate pitcher and scored on a Connor Thomas sacrifice groundout. Hendry singled in Clark to improve the Twin lead at 4-1.

On two outs in the fourth, Fender doubled into center, and Baugh belted a left-field single, giving the impression that the Twins would soon go on a long rally. Pulispher didn't let it occur, though, for he struck out Clark. At that point, the game proceeded to go downhill for the Twins.

The fourth's lower half turned into a long frustrating spell for Hendry. After having shined in the first three innings, he gave up a one-run single to Pulsipher and walked Denney, Richie "Pauncho" Stetson, Eli "South Paw" Aubrey, and Brock "Kenny" Tanner. Hendry's posting three strikeouts that inning didn't matter to the Pirates, for they secured four runs that left them leading 5-4 at the end of the fourth.

At the start of the fifth, Connor Thomas got on base through an error. A Hendry single movedn Thomas to into scoring position. However, after Pirates had pinched Hendry in a fielder's choice play at second, Pulsipher picked Thomas off at third. Center fielder Aubrey's interception of a Jackson Flood fly ball smashed the Twins' best chance for regaining the lead.

With Pulsipher tripling in the bottom of the sixth, Aubrey singled him in to start a three-run rally. During it, Tanner singled in Aubrey, then came home on Keaton "Big Foot" Whitter's single. Catcher Bateman put out Whitter with a throw to second baseman Clark, and shortstop Lowe grounded out Cam "Bam Bam" Thomas for the final Pirate out for the night.

On one out in the top of the seventh, Connor Thomas belted a right-field single. The Twins couldn't capitalize on it, however. After Pulsipher had struck out Hendry, second baseman Colby "Foot Long" Walker grounded out Bateman to secure the win for the Pirates.

While Pirates did fulfill their dream of regaining the AFPL title, Hendry had still proved that night that he had a strong potential for becoming a prominent figure in Utah high school baseball during the next few years.

AF Cardinals Defeat AF White Sox 11-9 in AF-PG Colt League Playoffs
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a first-round American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League playoff game at American Fork's Rotary Park June 25. the American Fork Cardinals defeated the American Fork White Sox 11-9.

Though the first inning's action determined the game's final outcome, the White Sox refused to throw in their gloves, even after experiencing the beating that the Cardinals had administered to them in the top of the round. The White Sox kept up with their comeback efforts.

After Cardinal C.J. Miller had scored on an error in the top of the first, Taison Smith hit a three-run homer that sparked the Cardinals' decisive rally. They picked up their next four runs on three passed balls and a Ty Romney single.

With White Sox Jory Bowers and Taylor Jensen each hitting a single in the bottom of the first, Jordan Rasmussen doubled them, and he came home on a passed ball to energize a five-run rally for his team.

It held the Cardinals scoreless in the second, and in the bottom of that inning, White Sox Josh Bezzant's one-run single moved John Atwood into scoring position. Atwood soon raced home during a passed ball, putting the White Sox within 8-7.

In the third's top half, Cardinal Regan Grossgebauer tripled in Matt "Huck" Finn, then came home on Jordan "Salty" Saltmarsh's sacrifice groundout. Grossgebauer's offensive efforts didn't snap the White Sox's morale, though.

On one out in the bottom of the third, Bowers singled into left, and a Rasmussen single brought him home. Jensen came home on a passed ball. Two straight White Sox struck out before their team could tie the game.

The fourth started with Matt Ludlow singling into left. He tried stealing second, but the White Sox tagged him at that base. Getting on base through a walk, Smith scored the final Cardinal run when he came home on a passed ball. The Cardinals put the game away in the bottom of the fourth when they decked the While Sox with a double play.

Park City Digs Out 3-2 Win Over AF Cavebatters In 9-Inning Thriller June 22
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Snow Bunnies, the Park City Miners dug out a 3-2 win on the American Fork Cavemen's home diamond during a nine-inning game for the Utah Baseball Academy League's 17-under division June 22.

Park City pitcher Dave Feasler held the Cavemen scoreless during the first four innings, and he kept them from making any hits until the bottom of the fourth. That inning a Tyler Flinders single led to the Cavemen loading the bases on one out. Feasler kept American Fork from going on a rally, though.

Feasler's work couldn't permit the Miners to coast past American Fork with much ease. American Fork pitcher Kyle Wright didn't let Park City go far with Nate Stanley's first-inning run. After the Miner had scored it on an error at third, Wright clamped down on Park City. No sonner had Dakota Matherly hit an infield single when Wright picked off Feaslerly at third, retiring the Miners to the field. Park City couldn't score again until the fourth when Kam Paulson singled in Matherly.

Meanwhile, the Cavemen did not let Feaslerly's pitching discourage them any. Even though Feaserly kept American Fork from capitalizing on Nick Searle's second-inning double, the Cavemen still climbed onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Colton Whatcott singled in Jeremy Reynolds, who had opened the inning's lower half through belting a left-field single.

On one out in the bottom of the sixth, Caveman Taylor Tonks tripled in Ben Beddes. Feaserly stuck out Colton Dunn, then grounded out Aaron Hill to keep the game tied at two.

With neither team able to put runners on base during the seventh, the game went into extra innings. The Cavemen belted the Miners with a double play in the top of the eight, and in its bottom half, a Tyler Flinders single gave the Cavemen a chance for pulling out a win. However, Park City kept Flinders stuck on base.

In the top of the ninth, Matherly tripled into right. Parker Ruttan joined him on base through a walk, but the Cavemen put Matherly's teammate out at second. In response, Paulsen singled Matherly in.

For the bottom of the ninth, Tonks hit a right-field double, then advanced to third on Dunn's sacrifice bunt. Before Tonks could score a tying run, he saw Hill and Derrek Durfey strike out.

American Fork acting head coach Corey Clayton said, "We left too many men on base. When we would have runners on second and third during less than two outs, we would make costly mistakes that denied us runs. That was so in the in fourth when we had the bases loaded on one out."

AF Cavebatters Win 4-0 On Ferocious PG Viking Diamond June 24
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Utah Baseball Academy League game for the 17-under age division June 24, the American Fork Cavemen proved to be awesome as they won 4-0 on the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' home diamond.

"Anytime you can beat PG 4-0 on their field, you're doing pretty good," said American Fork Coach Jarod Ingersoll.

The head coach added, "We threw four pitchers tonight. They included Colt Dunn, Ryan Reynolds, Aaron Hill, and Taylor Tonks. Together, they held PG to four hits for the night."

Caveman Jeremy Reynolds opened the game by hitting a right-field single off pitcher Tyler Harmon. The Caveman soon scored the night's first run while Viking shortstop Jordan King turned up a double play. It didn't prevent Tyler Flinders from hitting a one-run single to put the score at 2-0.

Harmon held the Cavemen scoreless during the next four innings. Meanwhile, the Vikings' fortunes couldn't improve. Despite singles from Terry Cardon, Ryland Peterson, and Rhett Rickanbach, the Vikings couldn't bring any runners in, because of good pitching from Dunn and his three successors.

In the sixth's top half, actress Ursula Andrus' "distant cousin," Scotty Andrus, singled in Taylor Tonks, then came home on a passed ball .

Taking over the mound in the bottom of the sixth, Aaron Hill, no relation to TV's Hank Hill, caused both Stevie Rockhill and Tyler Whitely to ground out to third baseman Ky Clayton. Hill struck out Jordan King.

With no Cavemen able to get on base in the top of the seventh, Pleasant Grove soon placed all of its final hopes on a two-out single Rickanbach hit out into left during the inning's bottom half. However, reliever Tonks struck out Bo Bice to end the game.

Lone Peak Knights Unsaddle AF Cavebatters In UBAL Joist
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The American Fork Cavemen's arch rivals, the Lone Peak Knights, alias the Loners, defeated them 11-3 in a Utah Baseball Academy League game at Lone Peak June 26.

A contest for the league's 17-under age division, the June 26 joist was not a repeat of an April game that the Cavemen had played on the Knights' home diamond. Near the end of that contest, the Loners came from behind to defeat American Fork . Lone Peak didn't trail for long in the June 26 rematch.

It opened with Caveman Ryan Hall hitting a center-field double off pitcher Logan Leavitt. Lone Peak attempted to keep Hall quarantined to second through second baseman Riley Otteson grounding out Ky Clayton and Leavitt's striking out Ryan Pitcher. However, Scotty Andrus doubled Hall in, then came home on a Jeremy Reynolds single.

American Fork's domination of the game couldn't survive the first inning. As soon as left fielder Reynolds had picked off a fly ball swatted by lead off batter Dakota Murdock, Mitch Call singled into center. Seeing shortstop Pitcher snatch a Tyler Reese line fly, Tanner Larsen singled Call in and caused Lone Peak to load the bases. After Rhett Reiber walk had scored Larsen, Otteson doubled in three runs.

The Cavemen experienced frustration in attempting to recover from the Knights' five-run rally. Leavitt held them scoreless during the next two innings, despite singles hit by Andrus and Ky Clayton in the third.

Though American Fork right fielder Blake Brailsford turned up a double play that kept Lone Peak's lead stuck at 5-2 at the end of the second, the Knights still managed to improve upon their advantage. In the third, for instance, they scored two runs on a passed ball and an error after they had loaded the bases on one out. American Fork responded by belting the Knights with a double play that ended the third.

Getting on base through an error in the top of the fourth, Reynolds got singled by Tyson Heaps.

On two outs in the bottom of fourth, Larsen doubled in a run, then came home on a Leavitt single. Catcher Ralphie Holding put Leavitt out with a throw to second baseman Derrek Durfey.

In the top of the fifth, right fielder Jacob Hepworth caught a Brailsford fly ball, and shorstop Murdock grounded out two straight Cavemen to keep American Fork scoreless. During the fifth's lower half, Reiber doubled into left, and he came home on Otteson's sacrifice bunt.

Getting on base through a walk in the bottom of the sixth, Reese soon scored on a passed ball. That was the last run that American Fork let the Knights make for the evening.

Seventh-inning singles from Brailsford and Hall gave the Cavemen hopes of securing additional runs. However, second baseman Otteson grounded out Clayton to end the game.

Ferocious PG Vikes Bury Bingham Miners Alive 14-4 in UBAL Game June 27
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a June 27 game for the Utah Baseball Academy's 16-under age division, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings won 14-4 over the visiting Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers.

The Vikings never trailed in the game, while it did stay close for most of its six innings.

The game opened with second baseman Court Iorg grounding out Max Dimick. No. 2 hitter Billy Kennick singled off pitcher Dave Stephens, only to become stranded on base. Iorg grounded out the next two Miners.

Iorg singled in the bottom of the first, but he soon became ensnared in a double play that left the inning ending in a scoreless draw. While Stephens held the Miners scoreless during the first three innings, the Vikings began building a lead in the second. Broc Starr opened Pleasant Grove scoring by hitting a solo home run over the left-field fence. After the Vikings had loaded the bases on three straight walks, Tyler Harmon scored their second run on an error.

Hitting a center-field triple, Rylan Petersen stole home.

On one out in the third's top half, Miner Devan Peterson singled in a run, and P.J. Goff came home on a Viking error, putting Bingham within 3-2. The Vikings didn't let the Miners tie the game, though.

Pleasant Grove proceeded to pull away in the third's lower half. After Iorg had singled in Jesse De St. Jour, Petersen and Starr each hit a two-run single.

In the fifth's top half, Bryson Benton's center-field double scored Nate Bloxham, who had hit a one-out, right field single early in the inning. Reliever Drew Velez didn't let the Miners profit from that RBI, though, for he caused the next two Bingham hitters to get out.

Doubling in De St. Jour in the bottom of the fifth, Riley Hicken started a three-run rally for the Vikings. Bingham prevented Pleasant Grove from ending the game that inning.

Benton came home on a passed ball in the sixth's top half, but Velez struck out Brandon Hirst, preventing a Miner rally. Tripling in the bottom of the sixth, Riley Erickson got singled in by Hicken, who soon got tagged at home. Jordan King singled in Iorg for the game-ending run.

Giant-Killing Twins

Timp Sports Weekly
June 22, 2009

Publisher's Message

This week's cover story regards an American Fork Pony League story that could have been a plot for one of the the Bad News Bears movies in the 1970's. We also look at Colt League and Utah Baseball Academy League action during the past week. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Giant-Killing Twins Blast Way Into Championship Showdown with Pirates in AF Pony League Playoffs
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Twins player Andy Maxwell epitomized his American Fork Pony League team in its June 18 playoff game against the Giants, the league's defending champs. Though he struck out three times while at bat on Bus Manning Field, he still slugged a seventh-inning, one-out single that reeled Treven Hendry for a RBI that helped the Twins win 16-7 over the Giants and lift the team to a June 22 showdown with the Pirates for the AFPL playoff pennant.

Twin Coach Brent Bateman said, "We had a rough year. We lost quite a few games, and we finished second to last in the regular season. It was great to see our guys to come back to be able to play in the championship game."

With the Twins having finished so low in regular season standings, it was unfathomable to imagine that they would be able to make it to the June 22 championship series. Yet, they were still in the tradition of the fictional Bad News Bears and the 1989 American Fork Angels, two teams with dismal records that still made it to championship games.

Having lost a game earlier in this year's league tournament, the Twins battled their way through the single-elimination bracket to face off with the Giants for the right to play the Pirates, this year's regular season champs. The Twins never trailed in the June 18 game.

In the top of the first, a Jackson Flood sacrifice groundout scored T.J. Sumner, and Alex Fender singled in Sam Bateman to improve the Twins' lead at 2-0.

Pitcher Hendry held the Giants scoreless during the first three innings. Singling in the top of the third, Flood came home on a passed ball, sparking a six-run rally for the Twins. Sumner contributed a two-run double to the rally.

The next inning's top half saw the Twins load the bases on one out. Though pitcher Brig Murray picked Caleb Clark off at first, Hendry stole home while narrowly beating a throw fired at it.

The Giants finally got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Sam McGeary tripled in two runs, then came home on a Tanner Neilsen single.

In the fifth, Twin Connor Thomas hit a one-run single to spark a three-run rally. The Giants kept the Twins from putting the game away that inning. The Giants went on to hold the Twins scoreless in the sixth.

The sixth saw Giant Tyler Dutson double in a run and come home on a Kolbey Cordova single to cut the lead to 12-5.

The Twins picked up four insurance runs in the top half of the seventh. Fender singled in Bateman while Hendry whalloped a two-run triple. Though the Giants did put Maxwell out at second after he had singled Hendry in, they found themselves in a losing battle to retain their league title.

Each singling in the bottom of the inning, Neilsen and Rick Elliot each stole home plate, but the Twins quickly shut the Giants down and moved on to get ready for the June 22 championship series, scheduled to be played at Bus Manning.

AF 16-U Team Flatten Orem 18-8 in UBAL Game June 16
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Tiggers, the Orem Tigers usually have much of a bounce. However, their 16-under division team couldn't bounce away with a win from the American Fork Cavemen's home diamond during Utah Baseball Academy League action June 17. That was because the Cavemen flatted the Tigers 18-8 during a nine-run rally in the bottom of the sixth.

Orem sprung onto the scoreboard first in the top of the first. That inning, Orem's Brett Tittle and Nolan Gray both came home on passed balls after pitcher Blake Brailsford had walked them.

The Tigers held the Cavemen scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Brailsford got even by not letting Orem players get on base during the second and third innings. Brailsford's actions allowed the Cavemen to take firm control of the game during those two rounds.

Spurred on by an Orem error in the bottom of the second, Cade Hill singled in Jeremy Reynolds to spark a seven-run rally for the Cavemen. The next inning, Caveman Taylor Frost hit a left-field single to advance J.D. Evans into scoring position. Evans soon stole home, improving American Fork's lead at 8-2.

The Tigers proved in the fourth that they could still bounce back into the game. In the top of that inning, Dave Mella and Sammy Wright each singled in a run. Wright also scored on an error that occurred seconds after Mella's one-run single.

With Orem now within 8-5, the Cavemen attempted to rebuild their big lead. Even though American Fork loaded the bases on two outs in the bottom of the fourth, they couldn't make any more runs that inning after a Frost walk had scored Tyson Heaps.

Orem kept American Fork's lead stuck at 9-5 in the fifth. The next inning, the Tigers bounced really close to tying the game. In the sixth's top half, Wright hit a two-run double, then came home on a Ty Denning single to cut the lead 9-8.

American Fork Coach Andy Lewis said, "Our bats fell asleep in the fifth, but they came awake in the sixth and came through for us."

Hit into left during the sixth's lower half, a Heaps triple tipped the momentum back into American Fork's favor. Reynolds singled in Heaps to start the decisive rally. It climaxed with Evans hitting a three-run double that ended the game.

PG Angels Fly Away With 10-5 Win Over AF Dodgers In Colt League Play
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In an American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League game at American Fork's Rotary Park June 17, the Pleasant Grove Angels flew away with a 10-5 win over the American Fork Dodgers.

Spurred on by Riley Smith double, the Angels grabbed a 7-4 lead over American Fork during the first three innings. In the bottom of the third, the Dodgers scored two runs on a Pleasant Grove error, and Cam Buck came home on a passed ball to put American Fork within 7-4.

Two American Fork errors permitted the Angels to pick up two runs in the fourth. American Fork loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, and Dodger Janzen Frampton came home on a passed ball. That was the last American Fork run that Pleasant Grove allowed to occur.

Juan Diego Pitcher Uses The Force Effectively Against PG In 17-U Division Game June 19
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In watching the Juan Diego Soaring Eagles win 9-2 over the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' 17-under team in Utah Baseball Academy League action in Draper June 19, spectators could not help but want to rename the home team pitcher Luke Skywalker.

Acting like a Jedi Knight using the Force, pitcher Luke West struck out 10 Pleasant Grove batters and didn't let the Ferocious Vikings score any runs until the fifth inning. West's performance at the mound allowed the Soaring Eagles to build up a 5-0 lead in the first four innings.

After West had posted three strikeouts in the top of the first, the inning's lower half saw A.J. Begay hit a one-run single that spark a three-run rally for the Soaring Eagles. Hitting a one-out double in the second's lower half, Brock Garn came home on a Viking error at first. In the third, Begay slugged another one-run single, only to become ensnared in a Viking double play that ended the inning.

The Vikings finally got a hit in the fourth when Calder "Blue" Bonnett hit an infield single at the start of the inning. Bonnett got thrown out in a fielder's choice play, and the Vikings had to wait until the fifth to get onto the scoreboard. Hitting right-field single at the start of the fifth, Stevie Rockhill soon scored the Vikings' first run during an error at third.

In the sixth's top half, Pleasant Grove's Jordan King and Keaton Secretan each slugged a single, but the Soaring Eagle defense made them become stranded on base.

In the bottom of the sixth, Soaring Eagles Frankie Sutera singled and Mitch Moncur doubled, setting the stage for destructive work carried out by Garn. He doubled in Sutera and Moncur. Garn then came home on a passed ball, concluding Juan Diego scoring for the night.

Hitting a seventh-inning single into left, Viking Bo Caldwell soon moved into scoring position on a Rockhill single. Caldwell then raced home on a passed ball during two outs. Shortstop Garn grounded out Terry Cardon to shut down Pleasant Grove's remaining chances for rallying back.

AF Cavebatters Fall to Las Vegas Longhorns at Bruin Classic
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The American Fork Cavemen got eliminated 7-6 by the Las Vegas Longhorns in a semifinal game of the Bruin Classic, played June 20 at Salt Lake Community College's Cate Field in West Jordan.

American Fork Coach Jarod Ingersoll said, "Our guys have a great commitment level this year than they did this year. More of them are making the decision to show up at our games more often. Colton Dunn and Jeremy Reynolds played really good in the tournament. Dunn today went 2-3 at the plate, and Reynolds played really good defense.

"We had won our pool play to earn the right to be the championship bracket. We posted a 2-1 record in our pool, losing only to Kearns. We shot ourselves in the foot in the Kearns game, because we blew a four-run lead in the final inning. The teams we did beat in pool play were Uintah and the Utah Elite."

In the5-3 win against Utah Elite, Jake Blackhurst hit a double for the Cavemen while Taylor Tonks slugged two singles.

The Las Vegas team that American Fork took on in the June 2o game was an American Legion outfit. The Longhorns' pitcher, Jim Allen, held the Cavemen scoreless in the second, third, fifth, and sixth. Allen's handiwork permitted Las Vegas to stay ahead for the entire game.

In the top of the first, shortstop Reynolds grounded out leadoff batter Chase Skinner. Pitcher Dunn walked Speedy Ortiz and gave up a single to Austin Christensen. Seconds after American Fork had nailed Ortiz in a fielder's choice play at home, Zach Monticelli hit a one-run double, and Joey Lauria singled in two runs.

With Jake Blackhurst getting on base through an error in the bottom of the first, Ben Beddes tripled him in. Pierce Skinner's one-run single in the second improved the Longhorns' lead at 4-1. It grew to 5-1 in the fourth through Ty Thurston's scoring on a sacrifice groundout.

On two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Dunn singled in Reynolds and Ryan Draper. Dunn got stranded on base.

Las Vegas loaded the bases on one out in the sixth, and after a Pierce Skinner walk had scored a run, Ryan Hall took over pitching duties for American Fork. First baseman Dunn turned up a double play to prevent a long Longhorn rally.

For the seventh, Longhorn Don Glover singled into center, and Monticelli batted him in for the final Las Vegas run.

Singles from Dunn and Colton Whatcott spark a rally for the Cavemen in the bottom of the seventh. As soon as an Aaron Hill walk had loaded the bases, Las Vegas pulled Allen and had Monticelli pitch. The pitching change didn't stop a American Fork rally. Hall singled in Dunn to begin the rally. After a Blackhurst sacrifice fly had scored Whatcott, Hall came home on a passed ball. Monticelli struck out Ben Beddes to end the game.

In Utah Baseball Academy League action at Riverton June 19, the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA Silverpups, defeated the Cavemen 5-4 in an eight-inning affair. American Fork took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, but the Sivlerpups pulled ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the inning. Dunn scored sixth-inning run to force the game into an eighth inning.

During the loss at Riverton, Reynolds hit a double while Hall and Dunn each slugged two singles.

Preseason Summer Baseball Tourney

Timp Sports Weekly
June 16, 2009

Publisher's Message

While we do look at some Colt League baseball action in last week's action, much of this week's issue is focused on the American Fork Cavemen's participation on a preseason tournament, sponsored by the Utah Baseball Academy. Let's get to those stories right now.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

AF Cubs Pull Out 10-5 Win Over AF Cardinals in AF-PG Colt League Play
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League action at American Fork's Rotary Park June 8, the American Fork Cubs clubbed the Cardinals 10-5.

The contest was a grand contrast to a June 6 game in which the Cubs had to play the Lehi Pirates for three hours before finally scuttling them in the 10th inning.

On one out in the top of the first, Cub Kaden McMurtry doubled into left, and teammates Caden Taylor and Jim Davis soon joined him on base through walks. Derek Durfey singled in McMurtry and Taylor, only to get thrown out at second. Davis soon scored a run on a passed ball.

The bottom of the first opened with C.J. Miller doubling into left. Soon a Jordan "Salty" Saltmarsh sacrifice groundout scored Miller. That was the only run that the Cubs let the Cardinals make that inning.

With two runners on base and one out, Cub leadoff hitter Aki sinlged MarkMcDonald in, setting off a five-run rally. With three of their four second-inning batters striking out, the Cardinals couldn't score any runs in the round.

Hitting a third-inning single into left, McDonald soon came home on a passed ball. A Taylor Tonks sacrifice groundout scored Brett Miller for the final Cub run soon afterwards.

In spite of holding the Cubs scoreless through the rest of the game, the Cardinals couldn't turn the contest around to their favor. The Cardinals did have a good fourth inning, though. In the bottom of it, Matt Ludlow and Tyler Romney each scored a run on a passed ball after having gotten on base through a single and a walk respectively. C.J. Miller singled in Regan Grossgebauer, then came home on a Devin Anderson double.

Hitting a double into left in the bottom of the fifth, Taison Smith attempted to turn his hit into a triple, but the Cubs tagged him. The next batter, Ludlow doubled into left, and he went on to score the Cardinals' final run through a Skyler Davis single.

AF Cavebatters Fall to Bingham in Preseason Tournament Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

With light rain constantly falling, the American Fork Cavemen began a Utah Baseball Academy-sponsored tournament with a loss at home June 9. AKA the Pickers, the Bingham Miners shut American Fork out 1-0 in that game.

It went down as a pitching duel between Bingham's Mason Marshall and American Fork's Jeremy Reynolds. Giving up no hits to American Fork, Marshall stuck out nine batters. While giving up five, Reynolds posted eight strikeouts.

The pitching duel was so tight that no scoring occurred until the top of the seventh. That inning, Bingham's Derrick Whitney tripled into right, and Billy Anderson's sacrifice groundout scored him for the game's only run.

Both sides played exceptionally great defense. Bingham, for instance, slugged American Fork with a fourth-inning double play. American Fork shortstop Kai Clayton turned up a double play of his own in the top of the sixth.

Acting American Fork head coach Corey Clayton said, "I was pleased with our defense. We just didn't make any hits. I was impressed with our pitching. We had no errors tonight."

Cavebatters Wash Away Northridge Knights 13-0 in Preseason Tourney Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In second-day action of a preseason tournament sponsored by the Utah Baseball Academy, the American Fork Cavemen posted a 13-0 win at home June 10 against the Northridge Knights, AKA the Iron Studs.

American Fork Coach Jarod Ingersoll said, "We came out and hit the ball really good. Both of our pitcher, Colton Dunn and Kyle Wright, threw really well. We did some really great things on defense, and we ran the bases well."

In the top of the first inning, Dunn struck the first three Knight batters. The starting Caveman pitcher would go on to post five strikeouts for the night.

Northride second baseman Larry Lyons grounded out the first three Caveman runners in the bottom of the first.

After Taison Smith had flown out to first baseman Austin Meyers in the bottom of the first, Kai Clayton hit an infield single. Dunn singled him in, only to become ensnared in a double play a short time later.

Having singled into center at the start of the third's bottom half, Wright came home on a Nick Searle single. Jake Blackhurst hit doubled Searle in, and he then came home on a passed ball. American Fork soon loaded the bases on one out soon afterwards, giving the impression that the third-inning rally was going to continue. However, pitcher Clint Bialack struck out Colton "Fig" Whatcott, then grounded out Dunn to keep American Fork's lead stuck at 4-0.

Despite giving up a single to Searle in the fourth, Bialack held American Fork scoreless that inning. The fifth inning went down as long, real-life nightmare for Northridge's pitching staff. No matter which hurlers the Knights put on the mound, Layton could not shut American Fork down, once a Tyler Flinders single had brought in a run. The ensuing rally yielded nine runs for the Cavemen while Reynold and Derek Durfey each hit a two-run double for American Fork.

Cavebatters Decimate Layton 9-3 in Preseason Tourney Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having a June 11 game against the Brighton Bengals, AKA the Bad Old Puddy Tats, canceled because of rain, the American Fork Cavemen won 9-3 at home June 12 against the Layton Lancers, alias the Stickers, in a preseason tournament sponsored by the Utah Baseball Academy.

American Fork acting head coach Lynn Anderson said, "In both of the innings that we scored, our rallies began with bunts. We built our lead upon them."

American Fork pitcher Taylor Tonks threw all seven innings, posting nine strikeouts during the course of the game.

Layton loaded the bases on two outs in the top of the first. Ty Accianne hit a two-run single to open the game's scoring. As the Lancers' starting pitcher, Accianne preserved their 2-0 lead during the first two innings, even though he gave up a second-inning single to Zach Robinson.

In the bottom of the third, Jeremy Reynolds bunted a single, resulting quickly in American Fork loading the bases on one out. Colt "Fig" Walton singled Reynolds in to start the Cavemen's first rally. After a Taison Smith sacrifice fly had scored Derek Durfey, Kyle Hall came home on an error, putting the Cavemen ahead 3-2.

Accianne held American Fork scoreless in the fourth and fifth, even though Nick Searle did slug a fourth-inning single off him.

At the start of the fifth, Tonks walked Juan "Jack" Paiz got on base. However, the Cavemen forced Paiz out at third right after Chris Kaysan had hit a double. Carson Hardison singled Kaysan for a tying run, but got stuck on base.

The game stayed tied at three until the bottom of the sixth. Bunting a single off a pitcher from reliever Paiz, Robinson soon moved into scoring position. With Paiz walking Searle next, American Fork commenced acquiring the moment it needed for pulling off a decisive rally. After Paiz had grounded out Jeremy Reynolds, Kai Clayton singled Robinson and Searle in. Hall and Walton each whacked a one-run single to keep the rally going. Taison Smith hit a two-run double to send Layton severely damaged into the final inning.

In the top of the seventh, Tonks grounded out Paiz and struck out another two batters, putting the game away for American Fork.

Pony-Colt League baseball

Timp Sports Weekly
June 8, 2009

Publisher's Message

With the high school sports seasons over until fall, we are now focusing on summer baseball action. For this issue, we will be looking at stories about games played recently in the American Fork Pony and American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt leagues. We will also look at the return of American Legion baseball to American Fork. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Pirates Win American Fork Pony League Through Sinking White Sox 16-4 June 2
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In what was a tight battle for the American Fork Pony League's regular season championship June 2, the Pirates staged a 12-run rally in the fifth inning to sink the White Sox 16-4. The explosive rally earned the Pirates a regular season pennant.

Last year, the Giants beat the Pirates for both the regular season and post-season pennants.

Pirate Coach Brian "Bucket" Parker said, "We won the league outright tonight. We haven't lost game all year. We were able to take the game tonight in spite of missing four key players."

The first four innings went down as one of the tightest battles for the Pirates this spring. Taking only one league loss into the June 2, the White Sox looked as though they would have an awesome chance of winning the regular season title.

The White Sox's first pitcher, Emmett Green, opened the game by striking out Ken "Bam Bam" Thomas. After No. 2 hitter Brock Tanner had singled off Green, he worked his way around to third base, only to see Riley "Beatie" Smith ground out to the pitcher, ending the first's top half.

Pitching for the Pirates in the bottom of the first, Thomas walked Jake Ingerson and Jade Lucker. Though the pitcher tagged Ingerson at the plate soon afterwards, Lucker beat a throw to home, scoring the game's first run.

The next inning, the Pirates loaded the bases on two outs. Tanner singled in Riley "Fun Side" Cox, and Pirate Colby "Foot Long" Walker scored the tie-breaking run on an infield error.

The White Sox didn't let the Pirates enjoy their 2-1 lead for long. Reliever Lucker didn't let a single Pirate get on base during the top of the third. Walked by Thomas in the bottom of the third, Brandon Wright came home on two errors. Thomas fanned three straight batters, though, to delay the White Sox from retaking the lead.

Singling into left during the fourth's top half, Tanner stole his way around to third. On two outs, Smith singled Tanner in to put the Pirates ahead 3-2. Lucker shut them down briefly by striking
out Cox.

The lead once more slipped from the Pirates' grasp during the bottom of the fourth. On one out, Tommy Nelson singled Green in, and he scored a go-ahead run to give the White Sox a 4-3 advantage.

"In the fifth, we decided it was to time to show them our potential. When we had the bases loaded on one out, Keaton ["Big Foot" Whittern] hit a big, two-run double that got a rally going for us. It snowballed from there," Parker said.

Whittern's two-run hit put the Pirates ahead 5-4, and they never looked back. A two-run double hit by Tanner helped the Pirates rack up 13 runs in the ensuing rally, which caused the White Sox to go through three pitchers.

In the bottom of the inning, the White Sox couldn't put any runners on base.

Highland White Sox Sock AF Dodgers With 17-1 Loss in Colt League Action June 5
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Through belting out 11 hits, the Highland White Sox socked the American Fork Dodgers 17-1 in AF-PG Colt League action at American Fork's Rotary Park June 5.

Singles from Jory Bowers and Jordan Rasmussen empowered Highland to take firm control of the game during the top of the first. After Rasmussen's single had reeled Bowers in, the White Sox scored their next two runs on American Fork errors.

Three strikeouts in the bottom of the first prevented the Dodgers from rallying back, even though they did put Mitch McGeary on base through a walk.

American Fork held Highland's lead to 3-0 until the top of the third. With that inning opening with a Rasmussen triple hit into center, the White Sox quickly turned the game into a rout. Preston Jensen singled in Rasmussen, and Highland became very difficult for American Fork to shut down. The Dodgers went through a string of pitchers while the White Sox jacked up the score through clubbing seven hits, including Austin Arnett's three-run double.

On one out in the bottom of the third, Jensen Frampton singled in Colby Massa for American Fork's only run for the night. Frampton attempted to turn his single into a double, but Highland forced him out at second.

Singling on one out in the top of the fourth, White Sox Josh Bezzant soon stole home, opening another rally. As soon as Taylor Jensen had reached third base on two errors, Rasmussen singled him in. Rasmussen then stole home, concluding the evening's scoring.


AF Cubs Take Down PG Angels 9-2 In Colt League Action June 2
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In June 2 American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League action at Rotary Park in American Fork, the American Fork Cubs fell the Pleasant Grove Angels 9-2.

Known only as Aki, American Fork's leadoff batter epitomized the hitting power that the Cubs displayed that devastated Pleasant Grove during the six-inning game. In going 2-3 at the plate, Aki smacked two doubles into left field. However, he didn't drive in any runs. By the time the game ended, American Fork had racked up 11 hits.

Neither team could score during the first inning. In the top of the second inning, Angel Tony Pitts hit a single into center, but American Fork soon pinched him for a second out during a fielder's choice play at third.

Cub Jim Davis opened the second's lower half through singling into left. As soon as a Caden Taylor single had moved Davis to third, Kaden McMurtry hit a two-run single. McMurtry attempted to steal home, but catcher Mitch Carr tagged him. Brayden Schneider hit a triple, only to become stranded on base.

American Fork held the Angels scoreless during the game's first four innings.

In the third inning, Derek Durfey singled Aki in to open a long rally for the Cubs. Taylor Taylors tripled Durfey in, then stole home. Soon Burt Miller hit a two-run double, then came on an error.

Matt Yates' fifth-inning double opened the way for the Angels to fly onto the scoreboard at last.
On one out, Ryan Dumas doubled Yates in, then came home on a Scott Call sacrifice fly. American Fork soon slapped the Angels with a double play that retired them into the field. The Cubs didn't let Pleasant Grove make any more runs after the fifth.

During one out, Tonks singled Kyler Houston in, but got thrown out at second while attempting to extend the hit into a double. Davis singled into left, but Pleasant Grove kept him stranded on base.

The Cubs got even by not letting any Pleasant Grove player get on base in the sixth.

Morgan Trojans Bounce Past AF Cardinals in Both Games of American Legion Doubleheader
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly

The return of American Legion baseball to American Fork June 4 got spoiled by the Morgan Trojans, who defeated the American Fork Cardinals in both ends of a doubleheader played at American Fork's Rotary Park. Morgan won both games by scores of 8-7 and 6-2.

With one out in the top of the first game's opening inning, the Trojans bounced ahead 2-0 on singles from Lantzen Toomer and Curtis DeYoung.

While Morgan was basically a team staffed with players who had seen action in the recent 3-A baseball season, the team that the Trojans took comprised mainly of lads who didn't play for the American Fork Cavemen's baseball team this year. Though also a team in the American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League, the Cardinals proved, however, they could hold their own against Morgan.

Opening the bottom of the first with a double, Cardinal C.J. Miller soon got forced out at third. Singling into right, Devin Anderson, American Fork's No. 2 hitter, also got forced out. However, Jordan "Salty" Saltmarsh soon stole home for the only Cardinal run of the inning.

The next inning, Morgan's Tanner Earl doubled Graham Mortensen in and scored a run himself on Cormick Beshears' sacrifice fly in right field.

Morgan's 4-1 lead vanished abruptly in the bottom of the second. As soon as pitcher Garrison Alder had walked Regan Grossgebauer and Matt "Huck" Finn, Miller hit a three-run homer over the left-field fence to tie the game at four.

On two outs in the third, Toomer tripled into right, and Kade Dearden singled him in. Dearden then went on to steal home

Singling into right in the bottom of the third, Cardinal Taison Smith soon scored on an error at third. Morgan didn't let American Fork go on a scoring rally that inning, though.

Getting on base through being hit by a Smith pitch in the fourth, Earl tried stealing second, but American Fork put him out there. Reliever Smith didn't let Morgan make any runs in the fourth.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Anderson singled in Finn to tie the game at six. Morgan retaliated by slapping American Fork with a double play.

It turned out to be one of two crucial events late in the game. The other crucial event was Morgan's loading the bases on one out. An Earl walk scored a run, and Beshears hit a one-run single to conclude Trojan scoring for the game.

Singles from Smith and Matt "Lugnut" Ludlow resulted in the Cardinals loading the bases on two outs in the bottom of the fifth. A Grossgebauer walk scored Smith, but Alder struck out Miller to end the inning.

With American Fork keeping the Trojans from capitalizing on Jordan Wombsley's sixth-inning single, the Cardinals received a sweet opportunity at pulling back out in front. However, after Smith had hit his third straight single to go 3-4 at the plate, Alder struck out Ludlow.

Getting on base through an error in the top of the first, Earl soon came home on a passed ball, triggering athree-run rally, highlighted by Wombsley's one-run single.

Morgan held American Fork scoreless during the first three innings of Game 2. During those same three rounds, the Trojans made all of their runs. In the second inning, Beshears singled Earl in. The next inning, Morgan picked up two runs on an error and a Toomer sacrifice fly.

Getting on through an fourth-inning walk, Anderson scored the first American Fork run during a fielder's choice play at second. In the fifth, the night's scoring concluded with a Miller sacrifice fly scoring Ty Roberts.

Throwing for six innings during the game, Cardinal Jim Davis posted 10 strikeouts.