American Fork Red Sox Versus PG Marlins in Colt League Play

Timp Sports Weekly

June 4, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at a Timp Colt League game played between the American Fork Red Sox and the Pleasant Grove Marlins. Played at Pleasant Grove's Manila Park May 31, the contest was a thriller that showed why people tended to love baseball. The reason was a great defensive performance by both teams. Let's take a hit at that story.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Pleasant Grove Marlins Swim Past AF Red Sox 2-1 in Timp Colt League Action May 31

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Timp Colt League action at Pleasant Grove's Manila Park May 31, the Pleasant Grove Marlins squeezed past the American Fork Red Sox 2-1.

While the Marlins employed Chandler "Bison" Bice as their only pitcher in the game, American Fork used four pitchers, who together scattered four Pleasant Grove hits and struck out 10 batters.Chandler, meanwhile, fanned 12 batters and gave up only two hits.

Chandler opened the game by striking out Kolby Houston. The pitcher then walked Koy Dibb, and Kyle Paulsen doubled off Chandler. Before American Fork could get on the board first, Chase Durfey struck out, and Pleasant Grove pinched Jensen Whittaker in a groundout play at first.

On one out in the bottom of the first, Marlin Logan "Buff" Bice singled into left. A two-out single clubbed by Chandler reeled Logan in for the Marlins' first run.

Even though a Jeremy Chain, two-out single moved Marlin Campbell "Yonkers" Donkers into scoring position in the bottom of the second, pitcher Treyson McMurtrey struck out Wyatt Boudane to keep the Marlin lead stuck at 1-0.

In spite of giving up a second-inning single to Caleb Clark, Chandler's pitching kept American Fork off the scoreboard during the first three innings. As Red Sox fans had to deal with heartbreaking scenes such as Clark getting pinched at third during a second-inning putout play, they wondered whether American Fork would ever pick up a run in the game.

Well, that question did get answered in the affirmative. However, before the Red Sox finally pick up a run, Chandler hit a solo homer over the left-field fence in the bottom of the third. After that homer, American Fork did not let the Marlins make any more runs. In the meantime, during the top of the fourth, Houston scored a run on a Dibb sacrifice groundout.

The Red Sox came really close to tying the score at two during the top of the seventh. Having gotten on base through a walk, Paulsen stole his way around to third on one out. Chandler held up well under much pressure through striking out two of the next three batters that American Fork sent against him.

Awesome AF Cavemen at Memorial Day Baseball Tournament

Timp Sports Weekly

May 28, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's performance in 16-Under Age Division games of the annual Memorial Day Invitational, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball. We will look at two particular games that the Awesome Cavemen played on their home diamond May 25. As they say in baseball, let's take a swing at the accounts of those contests.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavemen Outlast Vicious Viewmont Vikings 13-12 in May 25 Baseball Thriller

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

On their home field May 25, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen survived a close contest during a third game of play for the 16-Under Age Division of the Memorial Day Invitational, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball. In that third game, American Fork staved off the Vicious Viewmont Vikings 13-12 to maintain a unbeaten pool play record of 3-0.

In pool play over in Heber City May 24, the Awesome Cavemen had had swatted the Juab Sting 7-1 and grounded the Weber County Red Gulls 18-0. The Red Gull game, for example, saw a great hitting performance by American Fork, especially in the fourth inning, when the Awesome Cavemen scored 10 runs to have the game called in the fifth. That same game saw Taylor Sabotka, Gunner Lamb, and Hagen Holmstead each club a double for the Awesome Cavemen.

In the Viewmont game Saturday morning, Jade "Sliver Blade" Fox hit two doubles and a single while going 3-4 at the plate for the Awesome Cavemen. Buster "Bunny" Hardman went 2-3 at the plate while scoring three runs for Ameriican Fork.

American Fork took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, only to see the Vicious Vikings charge back to tie the game at four in the bottom of the second. The Awesome Cavemen picked up two third-inning runs to pull ahead 6-4. A fourth-inning run improved their lead at 7-4, but Viewmont rowed back within 7-6 in the bottom of the fourth.

During the fifth's top half, Hardman doubled in two runs on no outs. A Jace Iberra single moved Hardman to third. As Major Scotty Hughes hit into a double play, American Fork's rally seemed to be short-lived. However, the Awesome Cavemen picked up three more runs, and they kept their 11-6 lead intact while they kept the Vicious Vikings from capitalizing on Stockton "Stock" Oviatt's right-single hit in the bottom of the fifth.

Getting on base on a sixth-inning walk, Lamb scored a run on a Gardner sacrifice fly. Holmstead singled in Ryan "Mountain Lion" Thompson, improving the Awesome Caveman lead at 13-6. The Awesome Cavemen found out in the bottom of the sixth how much more they needed to do to wrap the game up.

On no outs, Ashton "The Organ" Hammond doubled in Devin Tanner, and then came home on a Scotty "Oh So" Young single, fueling a six-run rally. It climaxed with Oviatt's two-run single that put the Vicious Vikings within 13-12. The rally suddenly stopped the moment Tanner struck out.

The close call in the Viewmont game served as a warning to the Awesome Cavemen that their 3-0 pool record shouldn't be taken as a sign that they were invincible in the tournament. The Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups, would make that all the more clear during American Fork's pool game, played in the afternoon of the 25th.

Riverton Silverpups Defeat Awesome AF Cavebatters 5-4 in Memorial Day Invitational Game May 25

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's unbeaten streak of pool wins ended on the afternoon of May 25 when the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups, outlasted them 5-4 in a fourth-round game of the Memorial Day Invitational, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball.

The game was one of the most nail-biting contests of the invitational's 16-Under Age Division showdowns May 25.

American Fork pitcher Buster "Rabbit" Hardman opened the game by striking out Brayden Morrill. Mason Warr and Keaton "Big Kim" Kimball each singled off the pitcher, giving the Silverpups ideas that their team would get on the board first. However, after Warr got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second, Mallo Landon grounded out before Riverton could score a run.

Pitcher Caden Brown didn't let a single Awesome Cavemen get on base during the bottom of the first. The next inning, though, a Scotty Hughes single enabled American Fork to load the bases on one out. After Brown struck out Mikey Hugely, Gunner Lamb chopped a two-run double to put American Fork on the first.

American Fork stayed ahead 2-0 until the top of the fourth. (American Fork had hoped that Hagen Holmstead's third-inning double would enable it to extend its lead, but he got picked off at second before the Awesome Cavemen could get a rally going.)  A "distant cousin" of Hollywood actress Megan Fox, Jade Fox replaced Hardman at the mound in Inning 4. The Silverpups played the pitching change to their advantage. Doubling into left, Warr soon stole home, and Austin "Bango-Pango" hit a one-run single that set off a five-run rally, highlighted by Caden "Tail Gunner" Brown's one-run triple.

American Fork held the Silverpups scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Awesome Cavemen still had trouble with trying to recover from the fourth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Fox came home on a Hughes sacrifice fly. Having gotten on base through a walk, Hardman stole home. Kasten Rasmussen attempted to keep the rally going by singling into left. He then stole second while narrowly evading a squeeze play. Rasmussen's thrilling escape couldn't save the Awesome Cavemen, for Taylor Sabotka struck out, ending the game.

First State Girls' Lacrosse Title for Awesome AF Cavewomen

Timp Sports Weekly

May 21. 2013

Publisher's Message

This issue covers a big achievement in Awesome American Fork Cavewoman athletics. On May 18, the Awesome Cavewomen took home their first-ever state girls' lacrosse state championship trophy. It's the fifth state championship trophy won by the Cavewomen over the past 20 years. The other three sports that they have taken state in include volleyball, track, basketball, and swimming. To get add the state title trophy to their awards collection, they had to play the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, in the girls' Division II title game at Copper Hills in West Jordan. As they say in Lehi, let's stroke straight to the story to learn how the Awesome Cavewomen drained Lehi in the championship game.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavewomen Soak Up Lehi 11-7 in State Girls' Division II Lacrosse Title Game May 18

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

It was indeed appropriate that the Division II girls' state lacrosse championship, played at West Jordan's Copper Hills High, went down as a classic battle between two longtime rivals. When the all prior rounds of state playoff action had concluded, the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen and the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, were the final two teams left to square off the championship trophy.

The game was the latest showdown between two club teams whose home schools had shared a rivalry dating back four generations. The Awesome Cavewomen and the Froggies showed the ferocity of that rivalry during the game. It ended with the Awesome Cavewomen soaking up Lehi 11-7.

With occasional outbreaks of rainfall, Nikki "Quickie" Fitz, Shea "Sting Ray" Munger, and Ashlyne "Major Crack Shot" Sanders guided the Froggies in dominating the first quarter of the game. Lehi didn't get on the board first. American Fork sophomore Haley "Right Hook" Cook zipped in the game's first successful shot past goalie Laramie "The Clever" Leaver.

The Froggies didn't let Cook's goal go unanswered for long.  Munger zipped deep into Cavewoman territory and tied the game at one on a shot she lobbed into the goal net from barely outside the goal circle. Megan "The Killer Bee" Freeman put the Froggies ahead 2-1 just before the first quarter ended.

The period's conclusion gave the impression that the Froggies would be croaking until next May about being state champs. Suddenly, Suddenly, they drew a foul in their penalty area early in the second quarter. Awesome Cavewoman Brooke "Rapids" Jones tied the game at two. Recovering a ground ball, Morgan Greening zipped away and put American Fork ahead 3-2 on a breakaway play. A scoring spree ensued for the Awesome Cavewomen. During that scoring spree, they built up a 7-2 lead on shots from Cook, Leslie Riggs, and Emily-Kate Esplin. Shortly before the end of the first half, Sydnie "Syd" Sampson connected a pass to Addie "The Piercer" Pearson for a goal, cutting American Fork's lead to 7-3.

With Cook scoring the eighth American Fork goal on a third-period, free possession, the Awesome Cavewomen kept Freeman and Sanders from doing any damage on the field. Meanwhile, Esplin connected a pass to Riggs for a goal. Esplin then scored a goal herself to improve American Fork's lead at 10-3.

As if American Fork's seven-goal lead were not frustrating enough for Lehi Coach Greg Freeman, he heard Lehi spectators shout all sorts of disparaging things to players and officials on the field. Finally, the Lehi head coach shouted, "Lehi parents, stop with saying those things. Honor the game!"

During the final quarter, the Froggies held the Awesome Cavewomen to one goal, which was scored by Leah Durrant. Megan Freeman scored a goal on a free possession stirring up a Froggie comeback. Sanders scored three straight goals to give Lehi some momentum in the game's final five minutes. In the game's final 30 seconds, American Fork used up the clock by passing the ball around.

American Fork Coach Lindsay Gomm said, "My girls proved today that they can do anything. After our last game, I learned what to do to have my girls guard Megan Freeman and Ashlyne Sanders. I had a large number of girls take turns at guarding those two Lehi players, especially Sanders, Lehi's biggest scorer. Though much has been made about Haley Cook, who's been playing for year, I have a large staff of girls who can do a good job in filling in for each other on the field."

Riggs and Cook each tossed in three goals to lead American Fork in scoring while Esplin produced two goals and two assists. Also, Riggs produced five recoveries of ground balls for American Fork.  Lehi's top scorer, Sanders tossed in three goals while Fitz came up with five ground-ball recoveries for Lehi.

Lone Peak Loner Win Over Lehi Froggie Soccer Team

Timp Sports Weekly

May 14, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at the Region Four boys' soccer finale between the Lehi Pioneers (AKA the Froggies) and Lone Peak Knights (AKA the Loners). The game was expected to be another outstanding performance for the Froggies, but it turned out to be something that they did not want to croak about. Let's see why that was so. As they say in Lehi, let's swim straight to that story.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Lone Peak Loners Gallop Away With 4-0 Win Over Lehi Froggies in Region 4 Boys' Soccer May 8

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Lehi-Lone Peak boys' soccer game May 8 was supposed to have gone down as one of the Pioneers' greatest performances, especially when it was the last Region Four game for this year. For one thing, the Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, had finally clinched the Region Four championship, and they ware to be awarded the league trophy right after the game. However, the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners spoiled the Froggies' night through drying them up by a score 4-0.

The Loners wasted no time in taking advantage of Lehi Coach Jerry Priesndorf's decision to have his 11 seniors start the game. With some of the regular Froggies watching from the sidelines, Lone Peak exploited Preisendorf's decision to the hilt. 

Two minutes into the game, Sir Mikey Smith scored the first Loner goal on a head shot from inside the Froggie penalty. A former Froggie, Sir Pat Fuchs scored the second goal a few minutes later. The Loners' 2-0 lead served a warning that the evening would end with Lehi having nothing to croak about the game.

Having already designed to play soccer for the Dixie University Red Storm, AKA the Partyin' Red Storm, next season, Bosco Muhire led several deep drives in hopes of getting the Froggies to hop onto the scoreboard. However, they couldn't get any shots past Loner goalie Sir Brad Clark during halves.

Froggie fans put on frustrated looks as they watched favorite players Caiden Ramos, Ty Nelson, Tanner Allgaier, Aaron Caprio, and Coop Rios put on grand displays of dribbling that got ruined by steals made by Loners like Sir Tanner "Razor" Gillette and Sir Brayden Vawdrey. 

Loner Sir Jadon Cutler tried scoring a few times on indirect kicks, but the Froggies kept deflecting his shot in both halves.

Midway through the first half, Gillette scored the third Loner goal. Froggie goalie Taylor Watkins kept the Loners from jacking up the score further until five minutes into the second half. At the 35:00 mark in Period 2, Sir Ty Allison, a "distant cousin" of the late TV actress June Alison, scored the fourth Loner goal. Lehi shut the Loners' scoring down permanently right after it. Nevertheless, the Froggies couldn't recover from the damage that the Loners had inflicted upon them in the game's first 45 minutes.

As if the situation on the field were not frustrating enough for Priesendorf, he became subjected to hearing taunts from Loner fans in the eastern bleachers. At one point, he looked over his right shoulder and yelled at those bad sports, "I know you're winning, but don't shout at my players."

Loner Coach Sir Blake Hale said, "Tonight, we capitalized on opportunities that we weren't able to in our first game against Lehi. We had a bunch of players come up with great plays for us tonight. Our back line did a pretty good job, too. Jared Nelson and Landon Wilson, for example, came up with great sweeps for us. This will be a swell way to get us ready for state on Tuesday."

Bingham Picker Soccer and Jayvee Baseball

Timp Sports Weekly

May 7, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at the Lehi-Bingham soccer game played at Lehi May 1. We will also look at a junior varsity baseball doubleheader that the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, played at the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' home diamond May 4. So let's dig into the action.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com


Lehi Froggies Leap Away With 1-0 Win Over Bingham Pickers May 1
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Froggies, the Lehi Pioneers leaped away with a 1-0 win over the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, in a Region Four boys' soccer game played at Lehi May 1.

The May 1 day game at Lehi the fate of this year's region championship riding on it. Both the Froggies and Pickers were tied for first. Fans for both teams hoped that the battle of the league championship would last for the required 80 minutes of regulation play.

True, the Froggies and Pickers did play that long for the title. However, the outcome of it got decided eight minutes into the contest.

With the Froggies showing much aggressiveness on offensive during those first eight minutes, it did not come as surprise to their fans that Lehi would hop onto the board first. Receiving a short pass, Froggie Gui "Smiley" Lemme kicked in a successful shot from inside the Picker penalty box. For about a minute afterwards, lots of joyous croaks sounded out throughout the stadium's western bleachers.

The Pickers attempted repeatedly to knot the score at one well before halftime. Mitch "Roamin'" Doman and Gabe "The Flashing Ninth-Grader" Altheman guided some deep drives, enabling Bingham to be afforded golden chances at attempting to score goals on indirect and corner kicks. However, Froggie goalie Taylor Watkins did not let one Picker shot sneak past during the entire game.

Caide Ramos, Coop Rios, Aaron Caprio, and Bosco Muhire guided the Froggies in maintaining much pressure on Bingham goalie Joe "Blitz" Christensen in both halves. However, the Picker goalie did not let the Froggies hop farther ahead. Christensen's great work during the game's final 72 minutes could not undo the damage done by Lemme's goal.

Ferocious PG Vikings Split JV Baseball Doubleheader Against Bingham Pickers May 4
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four junior varsity baseball doubleheader played at Pleasant Grove May 4, the Bingham Miners defeated the Ferocious PG Vikings 10-2 in the first game. The second game, though, saw the Ferocious Vikings bury the Pickers alive 13-6.

Ferocious Viking junior varsity coach Ty Eastman admitted, "The biggest problem we had in the first game was that we weren't aggressive. We had no good approaches at the plate. We just hit the ball to them. We also made some errors that played to Bingham's advantage. Their lead soon snowballed. For the second game, we were more aggressive on offense. We had nice approaches at the plate and had great fielding."

Personally picked by Ferocious Viking head coach Darren "That's Bush League" Henry to throw in the second game, Brody "Black Ball" Blackhurst didn't disappoint Pleasant Grove during the six innings that he hurled from the mound. Black Ball opened the game by striking out Landon "Wally" Walbeck, a cousin of the Walbecks who had played sports for the Alta Tweeties a few years ago. After right fielder Brayden Cox intercepted a fly ball smacked by the Pickers' No. 2 hitter Landon "Meese" Measom, Kade "Steel Blade" Cloward singled into left, and a Trevor Tait single scored him.

In the bottom of the first, the Pickers did not let a single Ferocious Viking reach first base. This accomplishment gave the impression that Bingham would sweep the doubleheader like they had done the one at American Fork the Saturday before. However, the next inning made clear to them that Pleasant Grove was not going to become a door mat for them in the afternoon caper.

Even though Lightning Tony Moderno got on base through a Ferocious Viking error in the top of the second, second baseman Ben Eldredge snatched a Ty "Zupe" Zupan fly ball and produced two fielder's choice plays to keep the Picker lead stuck at 1-0.

With one out in bottom of the second, Chase Merrell drew a 1-2 count. Just as pitcher Will Anderson was about to strike him out, Merrell hit a strike over the left-fence for a solo home run. It was to prove to be an omen of how much better Pleasant Grove would be at the plate in the second game than it was in the late morning contest. Left fielder Walbeck intercepted a Brayden Cox fly ball and Anderson struck out T.J. "Whirl" Wind to prevent Pleasant Grove from pulling head in the second.

On one out in the third's top half, Measom singled into left, and a Cloward single moved him into scoring position. Measom came home on an error at third. Measom's tie-breaking run turned out to be the final time Bingham would lead in the game.

After the third's lower half opened with Blackhurst grounding out to Anderson, Logan Bullock singled into left. Though the Pickers did nab Bullock in a squeeze play, they could not stop a scoring spree that opened right afterwards. Eldredge tripled in Matt "So" Wilde, then came home on error. Easton Walker singled in Zac "Wazzie" Peterson. Jade Smoot and Merrell soon joined Walker on base through walks. With the bases loaded, Cox clubbed a one-out, one-run single that sent Pleasant Grove rowing a 5-2 lead into the next inning.

Pleasant Grove held the Pickers scoreless in the top of the fourth. With Anderson walking Blackhurst and Wilde in the bottom of that inning, the Ferocious Vikings soon loaded the bases on one out. Pleasant Grove then picked up two runs on a Peterson single and a Walkler sacrifice fly.

The fifth opened with Bradyen "Fiddle" Diddle flying out to right. After Black Ball struck out Walbeck, he accidently beaned Measom. Cloward tripled him in, but got stuck on third as Black Ball grounded out Tait.

Fifth-inning singles from Merrell and Cox prompted Bingham to have Mikey Green replace Anderson at the mound. The pitching change didn't stop the Ferocious Vikings from stretching their lead in the fifth. Green got called for balking, allowing Merrell to score a run on one out. The reliever did prevent Pleasant Grove from going on a long scoring rally, though.

Two walks and a Maderno single enabled the Pickers to load the bases on one out in the sixth. After Blackhurst struck out Zupan, he walked Diddle, allowing Bingham to pick up a free run.

Pleasant Grove didn't let the Pickers keep its lead stay stuck 8-4 during the bottom of the sixth. Walker opened a five-run rally by hitting a one-run double so hard that it popped a rubber cap out of his aluminum bat. Smoot and Cox also each contributed a one-run single to the rally. It climaxed with Wilde hitting a one-run triple.

Henry had Wazzie Peterson take over at the mound in the top of the seventh. On one out, Cloward singled into left during that inning. Cody "Chef" Kitchen slugged a standup double to reel Cloward in. However, after Moderno slugged a two-out single, Zupan struck out before the Pickers could get a rally going.