AF-Bingham Jayvee Doubleheader

Timp Sports Weekly

April 30, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at a junior varsity baseball doubleheader that the Awesome American Fork Cavemen hosted against the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, April 27. The doubleheader showed why that the Awesome Cavemen may feel relieved that they won't be having the Pickers as region foes next season. Let's take a swing at the account of the story about the doubleheader.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Bingham Pickers Sweep Jayvee Doubleheader Against Awesome AF Cavebatters April 27

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Although the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers,  couldn't change the history of their varsity team's home loss to the Awesome American Fork Cavemen April 26, they did enjoy taking sweet revenge in a junior varsity baseball doubleheader at American Fork April 27. The Pickers won ends of the  twin by scores of 9-3 and 10-2.

In the first game's first inning, the Awesome Cavemen took an early 1-0 lead. The Pickers pulled out a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Bingham picked up a third run in the third and a fourth one in the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Emmett Green singled into left, and on two outs, Koy "Big Joy" Dibb reeled him in with a right-field single. A Craig Brailsford double advanced Green to third, but he got struck there as he watched the Pickers ground out Andy Bartholemew, a very close relative of American Fork wrestling legends Rick "Dr. Death" Bartholemew and John "Superstud" Bartholemew.

In the top of the fifth, Kade "Steel Blade" Cloward and Tyler "Zupe" Zupan struck out. After Cody "Chef" Kitchen had singled into left, Shortstop Kody "Coco" Hall grounded out Aaron "Mr. Harsh" Marsha to keep the Picker lead stuck at 4-2.

The next inning opened with Trevor "Long Mile" Carlile singling into right, but he got stuck on base as he watched next three Picker hitters get out.

Getting on base through a seventh-inning walk, Landon Walbeck, related to the Walbecks who played sports for the Alta High Tweeties a few years ago, came home on a passed ball. American Fork soon fell apart that point. A Zupan singled knocked in a run, fueling a five-run rally for the Pickers. During the scoring spree, Brayden "Fiddle" Diddle contributed a one-run single that helped to put the game away for the Pickers.

In the bottom of the seventh, Bartholemew hit a two-out single into left, and Logan Flinders singled him in. Flinders tried stealing second, but he got thrown out at that base.

In the second game's first inning, the Pickers loaded the bases on a Walbeck walk, an error, and a Marsh single. Nicknamed "Chief" because of his Navajo heritage, Hayden "Woody" Wood prevented the Pickers from going on a scoring spree that inning. First, he threw to catcher Ty Gardner to get Walback out at the plate. Wood then caused Zupan and Tony "Moddy" Moderno each to fly out.

The bottom of the first opened with shortstop Cloward grounding out Emmett "The Hitting Machine" Green. In response, Bartholemew singled into left, and the Pickers kept him quarantined on base.

The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the first. On two outs, Wood singled into left, and Slick Mick Madsen batted him.

The third opened with a Marsh single hit into left. Trevor "Never Late" Tait singled him, and the Pickers soon loaded the bases on no outs. An American Fork throwing error allowed two Pickers to reach home plate safely. Bingham picked up another two runs on a Carlile sacrifice fly and a second Caveman error.

In the bottom of the bottom of the third, Bartholemew doubled into left, and Dallin Searle, twin brother of American Fork soccer player Audrey Searle, tripled him in.

American Fork held Bingham scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. The game's most thrilling defensive play occurred in the top of the fifth when the Awesome Cavemen pinched in a squeeze play Zupan, who had opened the inning with a single.

With the bases loaded on two outs in the top of the sixth, Cloward singled in Kitchen and Landon "Meeese" Measom. However, Marsha got forced out at third, preventing the Pickers from going on a long scoring run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bartholomew completed his impressive performance at the plate by hitting a center-field single for his third straight hit for the game. Searle hit a left-field single to join him on base. However, the two Awesome Cavemen got stuck on base. After the sixth, the Awesome Cavemen couldn't put any more runners on base. 

In the top of the seventh, Tait and Zupan each slugged a single. Moderno doubled them in. Moderno soon scored a run himself as Hall turned up a double play. It practically shut Bingham down. The Pickers still took home two wins for that Saturday.

Awesome AF Cavekickers' 2-1 Win Over Lehi Froggies

Timp Sports Weekly

April 23, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we have as our cover story the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 2-1 soccer win on the home field of the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. Played April 18, the game was the Cavemen's first league win after going 0-3 in the first three weeks of Region Four play. We will see how riveting -- correction, ribbiting that game was. We will also look at the Awesome Cavemen's April 20 baseball doubleheader played against the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' junior varsity team. We will also have a summary of the Froggies' three-game varsity baseball series against the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners. As they say in Lehi, let's leap straight to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavekickers Boot Lehi Froggies 2-1 to Pick Up First Win in Region 4 Boys' Soccer Play April 17

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having gone 3-3 in recent preseason play, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen dropped their first three region games. American Fork's 0-3 league record presented the impression that the Awesome Cavemen would not have a prayer of going to state this spring. 

Nevertheless, the cellar-dwelling American Forkers reminded traditional boys' soccer powerhouse Lehi in an April 17 game that they were still a team to be taken seriously, for the Awesome Cavemen defeated the Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 2-1 on Lehi's home swamp.

American Fork Coach Nate Lowe said, "We played five minutes of offensive soccer. For the other 85 minutes, especially the second half, we played from a defensive posture. Lehi had possession the majority of the time, but they only finished once. It's not enough to have the ball most of the time. You got to able to finish often, also."

Paced by Aaron Caprio, Cade Ramos, Bosco "Big Boss" Muhire, and Chad Prisendorf, the Froggies put extreme pressure on American Fork goalie Jacob "Red Snake" Brazel. He denied them several fine chances for  goals in both halves. Lowe said, "Brazel came up with some great saves for us, especially in the game's final 15 minutes when they applied a lot of pressure on us."

The Awesome Caveman goalie was not the only American Forker who performed well on defense. Justin "Rooster" Rootstat and Johnny Corliss came up with up some thrilling steals for the Awesome Cavemen in halves of the game. Not related to British TV comedy Red Drawf character Litster, Isaac Litster came up with steals that he turned into big attacks for the Awesome Cavemen.

Froggie goalie Taylor Watkins kept the Awesome Cavemen scoreless for the first 35 minutes of the opening half. Watkins' efforts provided the Froggies with lots of chances for building up a huge lead over American Fork. As a matter of fact, the Froggies hopped ahead 1-0 on a shot that Coop Rios booted into the Awesome Caveman goal net midway through Period 1.

Lowe said, "In the last five minutes of the half, a Lehi player knocked Logan [Redhair] down in Lehi's penalty box. We had Tyler Staten take the penalty kick. It tied the game at 1 for us."

The deadlock didn't last long. Within two minutes after the penalty kick, Awesome Caveman Mike Bown broke the tie. Lowe said, "The scoring of that goal was an individual effort on Mike's part. What made us appreciate that goal of his was the fact that tonight was the first time he had gotten play in weeks. He had gotten hurt in the preseason, so he had to sit out until tonight."

After Bown had made the decisive goal, the rest of the game became a thrilling defensive battle, which saw the Froggies miss some close shots on corner and indirect kicks, especially in the second half.

Now that the Awesome Cavemen know what it's like to win a region game, it will be interesting to see how they will fare through the rest of this season. For right now, though, they want to grunt for joy over upsetting their longtime arch rivals.

Lone Peak Loners Split 3-Game Baseball Series With Lehi Froggies
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Region Four baseball action last week, the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, split a three-game series against the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. In April 16 action, the Froggies leaped past the Loners 5-4. However, the Loners drained Lehi 14-5 in an April 17 game at Lone Peak, went on a 10-run rally in the sixth to gallop home with a 13-6 win.

The nephew of former American Fork pitching legend Brandon "Grand Slam" Devereaux, Braxton Devereaux held his own against the Loners in the April l6 game. Meanwhile, Ryan Absher hit two doubles for the Froggies. Britt Stokes, Nolan Padilla, and Taylor "Full" Nielsen each slugged a double for Lehi. On the Loner side, Grant Lyman slugged a home run whle Braxton Barnes and Hunter Christensen each produced a double for Lone. The game was so tight that its outcome was not decided until a Froggie scored the winning in the bottom of the seventh.

However, the Loners took sweet revenge on April 17 when they bounced back to soak up a 14-5 win at home against the Froggies.

In the April 19 game, the Froggies took a 2-0 lead over the Loners in the third inning. The fourth saw the Loners charge ahead 3-2. Even though the Froggies retook the lead during a three-run rally in the fifth, the Loners didn't fall apart. In the sixth inning, they went on a hitting spree. During it, Mason Hayes slugged a triple while Lyman, Christensen, Hunter Trowbridge, and Tanner Smith each whacked a double for their Loners. Smith's double, for instance, reeled in two runs. Casey Lundquist got base on an error, which allowed two Loners to come home.

The Froggies produced only one run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Hayes hit a double, but he got ensnared in a double play that retired the Loners to the field. During the bottom of the seventh, they didn't let any Froggies get on base.

Tanner Norton got named the winning pitcher of the game.

Deveraux and Colt "45" Sampson each slugged a double for Lehi. Meanwhile, Nielsen and fellow Cody Webb each produced two singles.

Loner Coach Jason Turley said, "Our guys didn't press. They stayed calm as they did the little things that they needed to do to play well. I know by the way they hit in in the first inning, they were going to explode with runs. They got balls to drop onto the field. We finally put the game away in the sixth with our 10-run rally."

Awesome AF Cavebatters Sink Ferocious PG Vikings in Jayvee Baseball Showdown April 20
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a junior varsity baseball game played at American Fork April 20, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen sunk the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings 8-4.

The Saturday showdown between the two junior varsity teams was originally supposed to be a doubleheader. American Fork jayvee coach Jay Holmstead said, "We had to move the starting time back to 1 p.m., because of the rainy weather. We then agreed with Pleasant Grove to have a nine-inning game instead of two games."

The format change gave the jayvee players a taste of what they would experience if they were to move on to play collegiate baseball. Like professional baseball games, collegiate ones last nine regular innings.

The Awesome Cavemen showed that they could last nine innings against the Ferocious Vikings or any other traditional high school powerhouse team.

During the top of the first, pitcher Craig Brailsford, aided by trusty infielders, prevented any Ferocious Viking from getting onto first base.

The bottom of the first opened with Ferocious Viking pitcher Oakaely "Dokely" Craghead striking out Emmett "Bullet" Green. In retaliation, Koy "Big Joy" Dibb rifled double into right. Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher and Dallin Searle soon joined him on base through walks. A nephew of American Fork wrestling legend John "Superstud" Bartholemew, Andy Bartholemew singled in Dibb and Pitcher in. Before the Awesome Cavemen could go on a long rally, Logan Flinders hit into a double play.

The Ferocious Vikings came really close to going on a scoring rally in the top of the second. Brailsford beaned Brody "Toadie" Blackhurst and Brayden "Blue Sox" Cox. Third baseman Fllinders kept American Fork's 2-0 lead intact by grounding out Brandon "Puffs" Coombs.

The second's lower half opened with Sir Turner Knight getting on base through an error. American Fork tried capitalizing on it, but Craghead vaporized the Awesome Cavemen's efforts through striking out Dibb to end the inning.

American Fork's 2-0 lead didn't make it through the tops of the third and fourth innings. In the third, T.J. "Whirl" Wind doubled into right, and he soon came home on a Gavin "Grizzly" Bahr sacrifice fly. Singling at the start of the fourth, Ben "Zen" Eldredge scored a tying run on a Payton Henry sacrifice fly. Chase Merrell clubbed an infield single in hopes of making a tie-breaking run for his Ferocious Vikings, but he got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second, retiring Pleasant Grove to the field.

"I think the thing that broke the game wide open for us was our scoring six runs on two outs in the bottom of the fourth.

During that inning's lower half, Craghead walked Flinders and beaned two straight batters to load the bases. Flinders scored a tie-breaking run as Pleasant Grove pinched Riley "Young Man" Winter in a fielder's choice play at second. Dibb doubled in two runs. That two-bagger cost Craghead his job at the mound. Pleasant Grove jayvee coach Ty Eastman, a former Awesome Caveman, replaced Craghead with Keaton "Buster" Turner. The pitching change didn't stop the rally. Pitcher singled in a run, and moved into scoring position on a single hit by Dallin Searle, a son of former American Fork softball legend Ali  "Lamb Chop" Searle. Bartholemew tripled Pitcher and Searle in, putting the score at 8-2. Shortstop Eldredge shut down the rally by grounding out Flinders.

American Fork made strong attempts at picking up additional runs during the next four innings. However, the Ferocious Vikings prevented the Awesome Cavemen from extending the 8-2 lead, despite fifth-inning singles from Kody "Coco" Hall and Winter.

American Fork put the Ferocious through much frustration during the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. On one out in the fifth, for example, Wind slugged a second straight double, only to become stranded on base. Eldredge got stranded on base, too, after smacking a sixth-inning single. As a "reward" for belting a one-out single in the seventh, Merrell got snagged in a double play. The eighth saw American Fork the Ferocious Vikings with another double play.

On one out in the top of the eighth, singles from Bryce Jones and Jade "Air Raid" Smoot enabled the Ferocious Vikings to load the bases. Pleasant Grove picked up two runs on a Blackhurst walk and a Henry sacrifice fly. Right fielder Dibb shut the Ferocious Vikings down by catching a Merrell fly to end the game.

Awesome AF Cavemen Vs. Lehi Froggies in JV Baseball; Awesome AF Cavewoman Softball Win Over Timp View

Timp Sports Weekly

April 16, 2013

Publisher's Message

Saturday, April 13, 2013, was a great day to be an Awesome American Fork Caveman and Cavewoman. Two stories for this issue will bear that fact. One account deals with the Awesome Cavemen draining Lehi completely dry in both games of a junior varsity baseball doubleheader played at American Fork. The other story covers the Awesome Cavewomen's softball triumph over the Timpview Thunderbirds, AKA the Millionaires. As they say in Lehi, let's stroke straight to those stories  to see why the Cavemen and Cavewomen were so awesome last Saturday.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavemen Soak Up Lehi in Both Ends of April 13 Jayvee Baseball Game

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a junior varsity baseball doubleheader at American Fork April 13, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen drained the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, by scores of 13-3 and 14-4.

It was not that the Froggies had a godawful pitching staff. In fact, they kept the first four innings of both games quite riveting -- correction, ribbiting. What did Lehi in during both games was the Froggies' experiencing one terrible inning. That was particularly true in the first game.

While the Awesome Cavemen held them scoreless during the first four innings of Game 1, the Froggies frustrated American Fork in trying to extend a 4-0 lead that the Awesome Cavemen had created during the first two innings. As American Fork got plagued with the problem of leaving runners on base during the third and fourth innings, the Froggies anticipated hopping back into the game.

Finally, in the top of the fifth, they finally had something to croak about. Ryan Barnes doubled in two runs to spark a three-run rally. With the game entering the bottom of the fifth, score indicated that the Awesome Cavemen might crack under the pressure of the Froggie comeback. That didn't turn out to be so. 

With the bottom of the fifth opening on a Koy "Big Joy" Dibb single, the Awesome Cavemen soon loaded the bases on no outs. After Brayden "Foxy" Oxburrow struck out, Kyle "Coco" Hall slugged a one-run single that ushered the beginning of Lehi's doom. Emmett "Bullet" Green and Kyle Poulsen each clubbed a one-run single that powered a nine-run rally that caused the game to end in the fifth.

Austin Pitcher paced American Fork with a double and two singles. Green also posted two singles while Logan Flinders, Poulsen, and Andy Bartholemew each singled for the Awesome Cavemen. Barnes was not the only Froggie to hit a double for Lehi. Preston Higgins and Cam Grace also each hit a double for the Froggies.

During one out in the top of the first inning for Game 2, Lehi loaded the bases on two walks and Blake "White Snake" Smith. After Colt Sampson popped out, Cam Grace batted in two runs, but the Awesome Cavemen snagged Paxton Terry in a hot box between second and third. 

Despite a two-out single hit by Dibb in the bottom of the first, third baseman Kalton Higgins grounded out Austin Pitcher before the Awesome Cavemen could get on board.

The second inning unfolded with Coy Smith and Kelton Higgins clubbing singles for the Froggies. The Awesome Cavemen didn't let those Froggies jump around the diamond to home base. In frustration, the two Lehi players stayed stuck on base as they watched the next three batters all get out.

Starting the second's lower half with a single that he slapped into right, Craig "Big Peg" Brailsford got doubled in by Sir Turner Knight, a grandson of American Fork football coaching legend Sir Davis Knight. After second baseman Morgan Soper snatched a Hall fly, Hagen Holmstead singled in Sir Turner to tie the game at two. Third baseman Kalton Higgins grounded out Tyler Gardner to keep the game tied at two.

Soper hit a one-out single in the top of the third in hopes of getting reeled in for a tie-breaking run. However, pitcher Hayden "Chief" Wood struck out Barnes and caused White Snake Smith to ground out, keeping the game tied at two.

With center fielder Ty James intercepting a Green fly ball at the start of the third's lower half, the Froggies anticipated holding American Fork scoreless. However, Poulsen singled into right, and Dallin Searle tripled him in. A cousin of AF baseball legend Nick Searle, Dallin came home on a Dibb sacrifice fly.

Lehi came close to tying the game in the fourth. Walked by Wood, Colt Sampson stole home on two outs. With American Fork leading by just 4-3, Wood grounded out White Snake Smith, saving the Awesome Cavemen's lead.

Getting on base through a fourth-inning error, Brailsford soon stole home, setting off another long rally for the Awesome Cavemen. The Froggies went through three pitchers while trying to shut the Awesome Cavemen. Most of American Fork's nine fourth-inning runs came on walks, though Mick Madsen did smack a one-run double for the Awesome Cavemen during the long rally.

Singles from Preston and Kalton Higgins enabled the Froggies to load the bases in the top of the fifth. A Dixon Grant sacrifice fly brought Preston Higgins home, giving the Froggies hope of pushing into a sixth inning. That hope vanished in the bottom of the fifth when Wood slugged a one-out single to score A.J. Jones for the winning run.

To keep the Froggies from dominatiing in both games, American Fork jayvee coach Jay Holmstead said, "We kept putting pressure on Lehi. It paid off. Hayden Wood threw mainly strikes in the second game. His throwing kept Lehi from maintaining control all through the second game."

Awesome AF Cavewomen Win 9-8 Over Timpview Millionaires April 13

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Bulldog Invitational Tournament game played at Timpview April 13, the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen's softball team defeated the Timpview Thunderbirds, AKA the Millionaires, 9-8.

The top of the first opened with Awesome Cavewoman Shaney Robinson catching a pop fly smacked by Tiffany Nixon, no relation to the late Tricky Dicky "I'm Not a Crook" Nixon. No. 2 hitter Cassie Bishop singled into left, and Keisha Johnson doubled her in. On two outs, Olivia Halloway singled her in, but got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second.

The Millionaires held the Awesome Cavewomen scoreless in the bottom of the first. The next inning, Bishop hit a two-run single, and Timpview soon picked up its fifth run on an American Fork error. The three-run rally got shut by catcher Ali Winter turning up a double play.

In the bottom of the second, Nya Harper tripled into right. Teammate Kayla Cannon fired a one-run single to put American Fork on the board. The Awesome Cavewomen then scored their second run on a Millionaire error. It enabled them to go on a six-run rally, powered by a Hailey Jackson double.

The Awesome Cavewomen's 6-5 lead didn't survive the top of the third. Encouraged by a standup double hit by Halloway, Meg Robinson bashed a tone-run double that tied the game at six. Bishop singled Robinson in, and Sarah Vogtman came home on an error to improve Timpview's lead at 8-6.

American Fork capitalized on an error in the bottom of the third to stage a decisive three-run rally. An outbreak of a heavy rainstorm sealed the win for the Awesome Cavewomen.

American Fork Coach Christy Crane said, "We had great performance from our pitching staff, and our offensive effort enabled us to come back in both the second and third innings."

Spring Break Baseball Games for 2013

Timp Sports Weekly

April 9, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at prep baseballs game that the Awesome American Fork Cavemen and Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings played during spring break. Those contests show what great potential that the two schools' baseball programs have this season. Let's take a swing at the stories about those games.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavebatters Pluck Alta Tweeties 21-5 In Sophomore Baseball Game April 2

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen plucked the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, clean 21-5 in a sophomore exhibition game played at Alta April 2.

The Tweeties could never put together hitting attack together during the course of the game. As for their defense, it constantly got pulverized by the Awesome Cavemen's hitting, especially during the first and seven innings.

In the first inning, for instance, American Fork sophomore coach Jay Holmstead said, "Jake Laycock hit a three-run triple over their center fielder's head. In spite of that big hit, the Alta center fielder came up with some good plays against us. Still, we kept putting the ball into play. We did throw too many balls that could have benefited Alta very much. Alta's defense didn't play well either.""

Laycock's three-run triple powered a six-run rally for the Awesome Cavemen. The Tweeties answered that rally with a run in the bottom of the second. In the top of the second, American Fork picked up a run. The Tweeties held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the top of the third, and Alta then picked up its second run in the third's bottom half.

With the Awesome Cavemen improving their lead at 9-2 in the top of the fourth, they seemed destined to end the game in five innings. The Tweeties loaded the bases on no outs in the bottom of the fourth, and a Josh "The Talon" Scott walk scored a run for Alta.

It prevented the Awesome Cavemen from putting the game away in the fifth. Hitting a one-out single into left, Ty Gardner came home on a Laycock single. The Tweeties didn't let American Fork pick up any more runs that inning.

Alta's defense kept the score stuck at 10-3 until the top of the seventh. It opened with Hagen Holmstead getting on base via an error. A grandson of American Fork coaching legend Sir Davis Knight, Turner Knight singled Holmstead in to set off an 11-run rally that plucked completely away all remaining hope that the Tweeties still had left for flying back into the game. In the bottom of the inning, the Tweeties picked up two runs through singles hit by Trevor "Guy" Smiley and Jace "Outer Space" Comstock. Relief pitcher Hayden "Chief" Wood soon slapped the handcuffs on Alta, enabling his Awesome Cavemen to take home a win.

Awesome AF Cavemen Outlast Alta Tweeties 2-1 in 8-Inning Varsity Baseball Game April 3
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The varsity showdown between the Awesome American Fork Cavemen and the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, took eight full innings to determine the winners of the April 3 exhibition game played at American Fork. The Awesome Cavemen came out on top 2-1.

The contest went down as a classic pitching duel between Awesome Cavemen Riley "Ottie" Otteson and Tweetie Brett "Spider" Snyder. Otteson posted 11 strikeouts while giving up two hits. Snyder posted six strikeouts during the six innings he spent on the mound while giving up four hits.

The game opened with Otteson walking Devin "Relfie" Relf. The pitcher then struck out two of the next three Tweetie hitters, and he grounded out Cole Myers.

After Otteson flew out to left fielder Jesse "Diamond" Emery in the bottom of the first, Brock Lamb chopped a infield single, and Sean Hardman doubled him in. Snyder retaliated by striking out Zach "Willie" Willis and grounding out Alec "Sergeant" Shultz.

In the top of the second, Ottesen struck out three straight Tweeties in the top of the first to hold Alta scoreless. Snyder looked as though he, too, would pitch a perfect inning when he struck out Koy Dibb and Kody "Coco" Hall. Suddenly Skylar "The Summit" Mounteer hit an infield single, and he stole into scoring position. However, Snyder grounded out Emmett "Jolly" Green to keep American Fork stuck on its 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third,  Otteson struck out Nate "Super T" Tehan while shortstop Hall grounded out Snyder and Relf. Snyder finally demonstrated in the bottom of the third that he, too, could throw a perfect inning. The Tweetie pitcher sent down Otteson, Lamb, and Hardman all swinging.

The top of the fourth opened with Chipper "Zipper" Lucero singling into left. A throw from catcher Willis put Lucero out at second. Getting on base through getting hit by a pitch, Cole "Magnet" Myer got singled in by Kade Matthews, a "distant cousin" of White African-American rocker Dave Matthews. Matthews' RBI helped to make the game one of the most dramatic preseason contests for this year's Utah high school baseball season.

Though American Fork kept the Tweeties from going anywhere with Emery's fifth-inning, left-single, the Awesome Cavemen couldn't break the 1-1 tie during the seven regular innings. In the fifth's bottom half, for example, Mounteer hit his second straight single, but he got stuck on base. Hardman singled off Snyder in the bottom of the sixth, but he got in a fielder's choice at second. Soon afterwards, Koy Dibb hit into a double play.

In the top of the seventh, Otteson didn't let a single Tweetie get on base. Taking over at the mound in the bottom of the seventh, Lucero pitched so well that his throwing forced the game into an extra inning.

American Fork let Otteson throw in the top of the eighth. He opened the inning by striking out Snyder. After Blake Clark flew out to Hall, Otteson walked Relf. Before Alta could convert Relf's walk into a run, second baseman Hardman grounded out Lucero.

In the bottom of the eighth, Lucero walked two Awesome Cavemen on two outs. The walks proved fatal to the Tweeties. Shultz singled in a run to win the game for American Fork.

American Fork Coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll said, "We did a good job in playing in defense. We weren't as aggressive with our hitting, though. We need to be more hungry for hits.

"We weren't tempted to switch pitchers in the eighth. However, we decided to let Ottie throw in the extra inning. He did well. We're already familiar with Snyder. We have faced him in games for the past three years. So we know what we were in for when we hit against him today. Shultz has come a long way in his hitting. He held up well under the pressure to hit in the winning run today."

Shultz said, "It was pretty easy for me to  hold up the pressure when my teammates were backing me up while I was at bat."

The Awesome Cavemen were supposed to have hosted the Jordan Beetdiggers, AKA the Plowboys, in an April 5 game, but rainy weather forced it to be canceled. It might not be played until sometime next year.

Ferocious PG Vikings Hit Mark in 15-8 Win Over Davis Tarts in April 4 Baseball Action
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Although the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings didn't make lots of extra-base hits in their April 4 home game against the Davis Darts, AKA the Tarts, they still hit their mark through posting a 15-8 win over the guests.

In the top of the first, a Jackson "Peanuts" Peacock single enabled the Tarts to load the bases on two outs. A Ty Hall walked scored Bronson Larsen. Suddenly, Peacock got picked off at third. The pickoff play set Davis up for a bad time during the bottom of the first.

As soon as the Ferocious Vikings had loaded the bases on one out in the bottom of that inning, McKay Lewis, a former Awesome American Fork Caveman, singled in Easton Walker and Jade Smoot to open a seven-run rally. During it, Zac Petersen doubled in a run and Braydon Coombs tripled in another three. Smoot singled in Coombs on one out, but got stuck on first.

A catcher interference violation called against Brayden King in the top of the second gave the Tarts a big break. The interference call led to Zac "Brush" Fuller to park a three-run homer that reeled in Kyle "Oh My" Goddridge and Gage "The Page" Cook, cutting the lead to 7-4.

Although Pleasant Grove answered that homer with a two-out, one-run single, which Brayden Cox hit in the bottom of the second, the Ferocious Vikings still had some trouble subduing the Tarts. After Kody "Big" Day singled in Peacock on one out in the top of the third, the Tarts held Pleasant Grove scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

In the fourth, Oh My Goddridge got on base through an error at second, but he snagged in a double play, which the Ferocious Vikings had hoped would prove fatal to Davis. Nevertheless, the Tarts still loaded the bases through a Peacock single, and Hall singled in two runs to cut the lead to 8-7.

Getting on base through a fourth-inning walk, Brody Blackhurst got moved into scoring position by a Lewis single. After Lewis got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second, Blackhurst scored on a sacrifice fly.

Hit by Kaden Day in the top of the fifth, a solo homer put the Tarts within 9-8. They then held the Ferocious Vikings scoreless in the bottom of the fifth.

Second baseman Bryce Jones tipped the game to Pleasant Grove's favor in the top of the sixth. On one out that inning, Larsen got on base through a walk, and a Peacock infield single moved him into scoring position. Before Larsen could a tying run, Jones grounded out two straight Tarts to hold Davis scoreless that inning.

Its bottom half opened with Blackhurst singling into center, and he soon stole home, setting off a six-run rally that knocked the Tarts out of the game. Taking over at the mound in the top of seventh, Jones posted two straights out and caused Oh My Goddridge to ground out.

Pleasant Grove Coach Darren "That's Bush League" Henry said, "Our guys followed today our theme of going hard in games. We had only a couple of extra-base hits, but our small hits chipped away at Davis. We had 12 hits while Davis posted six. We were tempted to relax after getting that 7-1 lead in the first inning. Davis showed in the next four innings that they could back within in one run. Thank goodness our defense came through for us. We expect to have games like this one when region starts next week. We're in a really tough region."

Ferocious PG Viking Softball Team Splits 2 Home Games During Spring Break
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings split two softball games at home during spring break. On April 3, they harvested a 17-3 win over to the Jordan Beetbiggers, AKA the Plowgirls. April 4 saw the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, fly past Pleasant Grove 9-8.

In the Jordan game, the Ferocious Vikings grabbed a 7-2 lead in the first two innings, and they put the game away on a 10-run rally in the fourth. During that game, Pleasant Grove got doubles form Cassidy Carter, Jessica Nicholes, Josey Walker, and Tara Stubbs.

In the Alta game, Ferocious Viking Peyton Christiansen hit a second-inning triple, and then scored the afternnon's first run. Tweetie Tori Brooks hit a two-run double in the top of the fourth to open a five-run rally that kept her team ahead for the rest of the game.