Awesome AF Caveman Wins at Skyline

Timp Sports Weekly

July 30, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's road wins against the Skyline Eagles, AKA the Chirpers. We will also look at Utah Baseball Academy League playoff games involving my Awesome Cavemen. As they say at Skyline, let's swoop in on the stories of those games. 

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavemen Quiet Skyline Chirpers 11-0 in 5-Inning Game July 22

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In recent Utah Baseball Academy League action, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen quieted the Skyline Eagles, AKA the Chirpers, 11-0 in a 17-under age division played at Skyline. 

If the Chripers losing to the Lehi Froggies the week before was nightmarish, they found out that getting clobbered by American Fork was even worse. The combined pitching Craig Brailsford and Austin Pitcher held the Chirpers scoreless through all five innings, and Skyline made only three hits in the game. Those two hits were singles hit by Riley "Sky" Hennings, Bridger "Beaver" Nielson, and Dimitri "Gummy Bear" Sak.

The game unfolded with Emmitt "Greenie" Green and Kody "Coco" Hall each slugging a single. Pitcher knocked in Green, but Hall got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second. Pitcher scored on a passed ball.

In the second inning, Green tripled in two runs, and in the third, Pitcher scored on an error. The Chirpers used a double play to hold the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the fourth.

A nephew of American Fork High wrestling John "Superstud" Bartholomew, Andy Bartholomew doubled in Koy "Squeeze Toy" Dibb to set off a decisive scoring rally. During it, Logan Flinders singled two runs. Riley tripled in two Awesome Cavemen, and he came home on a Green single to end American Fork scoring. In the bottom of the fifth, reliever Pitcher struck out Adam "Sweet Swede" Beckstead. Sak and Frenchie Andy Bourois flew out, ending the game early.

AF Caveman 16-Under Team Wins 10-4 at Skyline July 23

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 16-under age division team finished their regular season with a 10-4 win at Skyline during Utah Baseball Academy League action July 23.

AKA the Chirpers, the Skyline Eagles controlled the game for only the first two innings. In the top of the first, Awesome Caveman Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead singled in Kastan Rasmussen for the game's first run. Loading the bases on one out in the bottom of the first, Skyline tied the game at one on a Saint Nick Scott walk. The next inning, pitcher Scott struck out Ryan "Rhino" Thompson and Gunner Lamb while forcing Jaden Fox to ground out. During the bottom of the second, Hunter Wack singled in Ethan "Digger" Ritchie to put the Chirpers ahead.

In the top of the third, Greg Knight bunted a single that loaded the bases on no outs. Rasmussen singled in Spencer "Rooney Shelton to set a five-run rally for American Fork. During the rally, Holmstead singled in two run, and he came home on a Jaden Fox sacrifice groundout. Right afterwards, Gunner Lamb chopped a single, and he stole into scoring position, but the Chipers got him stuck at third.

Singles from Sammy Chapman and Kyle Evans enabled the Chirpers to load the bases, but center fielder Rasmussen intercepted a Ritchie fly ball to end the inning. 

The Awesome Cavemen held the Chirpers scoreless during the next four innings. For in example, in the fourth, right fielder Buster "Bunny" Hardman's catch of a Wack fly ball kept Brenden Lacey stuck on base after he hit a two-out single.

Meanwhile, American Fork extended its lead. In the fourth, a Jace Ibarra sacrifice fly scored Kelly Sobotka. In the fifth, a Knight single scored Thompson, who had singled on two outs into left. In the sixth, Lamb chopped a second straight single to bring home Ibarra who had doubled on one out. Thompson knocked in Fox to complete American Fork scoring for the night.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wilson "Corporal" Battle doubled in a run, and then came home himself while American produced a double play that ended the game.

Awesome AF Caveman Varsity B Team Drops UBAL Playoff Game to Bingham Pickers July 25
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's varsity B team couldn't survive the first round of the Utah Baseball Academy League's postseason tournament July 25. In a 17-under age division playoff game in South Jordan that day, the Bingham Pickers buried them alive by a score of 4-2.

Both teams played extremely good defense, knowing that any small mistake could cost them a chance for their age division's age state pennant.

During the top of the first, Awesome Cavemen Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood and Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead got on base through a walk and an error respectively. Bingham kept them stranded on base, however.

On one out in the bottom of the first, Picker Landon "Wally" Walbeck singled into right, but the Awesome Cavemen pinched him in a forceout at second. Second baseman Holmstead grounded out Sean "Senator" Keating to end the opening inning in a scoreless deadlock.

Efforts to break the 0-0 tie proved futile in the second inning. Awesome Jake Norton, for example, whacked a two-only single into left, only to see pitcher Walbeck ground out Seth "Needles" Taylor. Bingham got a one-out single from Makord Larsen in the bottom of the second, but the Awesome Cavemen kept him stuck on base.

The scoreless deadlock continued until the bottom of the third. Having bunted a one-out single, Picker Brayden "Fiddle" Diddle came home on a two-out single that Walbeck blasted into left. Tyler "Zipper" Zupon tripled in Walbeck to send the Pickers with a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning.

In the fourth, Sir Turner Knight slugged a one-out single to move Taylor "Guard Dog" Gardner to third. After reliever Keating accidently beaned A.J. Jones, Justin "Time" DeMarco singled in Gardner. Keating averted an American Fork rally by retiring Mic Madsen and grounding out Norton.

Through his throws to first base, Holmstead didn't let any Pickers get on base during the fourth's lower half.

In the top of the fifth, a Gardner single and a Kolby Willis walk gave American Fork a chance to slip ahead. However, the next three Awesome Caveman batters all got out before their team could score a run that inning.

Singling into center field during the bottom of the fifth, Beardon came home on a balk called against reliever Jones. Diddle came home on a Cody "Frying Pan" Kitchen sacrifice fly.

With Knight singling into center during the top of the sixth, Jones batted him in, only to become ensnared in a double play that undermined the Cavemen's attempt to catch up to the Pickers.

Keating opened the sixth's lower half with a left-field single. However, like Jones, he got ensnared into a double play, which also claimed Colin "Gordy" Gordon. Right afterwards,  Jones struck out Tanner Burr, a "distant cousin" of Canuck actor Raymond Burr, who played TV attorney Perry Mason in the late '50's and early '60's.

Walked by Keating at the start of the seventh, Madsen had a good chance of getting a rally going for his Awesome Cavemen. However, Madsen got called out when a Norton single beaned him in the left leg as he made a run towards second. The Pickers exploited that fatal single by getting the next two Awesome Cavemen out.

Awesome AF Cavebatters Survive Taylorsville Road Warriors in 2nd Round of UBAL Playoffs
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a second-round game of the playoffs for the Utah Baseball Academy League's 17-under age state title, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen came from behind to triumph 3-2 at home against the Taylorsville Road Warriors July 26.

American Fork Coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll said, "We didn't execute like we should have early in the game. We did get some good bunts that turned the game around for us near the end."

The Road Warriors were supposed to play the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, in a first-round game July 25. However, the Tweeties chickened out rather than dare to go against the Road Warriors. In having won the first-round contest by default, Taylorsville had its top pitcher Jordan "GoGo" West fresh and ready to do battle against the Awesome Cavemen on the 26th.

The game opened with pitcher Craig Brailsford striking out Darius Sisneroes. Things turned scary for the Awesome Cavemen as Brailford walked Nate "Fabio" Cook and gave up a single to Kenny Atwood. Shortstop Kody "Coco" Hall grounded out Jordan West, and Brailsford retired Ryland "Bedrock" Shimrock.

Pitcher West didn't let a single Awesome Caveman get on base in the bottom of the first. In fact, he didn't let American Forkers make any hits until the bottom of the third. In the meantime, a strong Awesome Caveman defense prevented the Road Warriors from capitalizing on a Grayson Johnson double slugged in the top of the second.

On two outs in the bottom of the third, Hall slugged a center-field single that moved Emmett "Greenie" Green to third. In trying to pick Hall off, West lobbed a bad throw past first base. Green zipped home.

American Fork's lead didn't last for long. In the top of the fourth, the Awesome Cavemen slipped behind Taylorsville quicker than you could say Ali Lamb Chop, for Pat Oaf batted a fly ball deep into left, letting West and Shimrock race home on two outs.

The Road Warriors' 2-1 lead turned the game into a desperate battle of survival for the Awesome Cavemen. Unlike Utah High School Activities Association baseball tournaments, UBAL playoffs follow a single-elimination format. So with their backs against the proverbial wall, the Awesome Cavemen staged a valiant comeback try.

Though American Fork didn't let the Road Warriors put any runners on base in the top of the fifth, its lower hall saw West hold the Awesome Cavemen scoreless. The situation became more desperate for American Fork in the bottom of the sixth. The Awesome Cavemen didn't snap under the immense stress of that inning. An error by first baseman Cook let Koy "Squeez Toy" Dibb get on base, and Brailsford bunted a single that moved his teammate into scoring position. A close relative of American Fork High wrestling legends John "Superstud" Bartholomew and Rick "Dr. Death" Bartholomew, Andy singled in Dibb and Brailsford. Although West shut American Fork down right after that big hit, he couldn't repair the damage done by Bartholomew's single.

In the top of the seventh, reliever Autstin Pitcher struck out Johnson, Oaf, and Nate "Herman" Hess to seal the win for American Fork.

During the quarterfinals the next morning, the Awesome Cavemen came out with a 5-2 win at home over the Spanish Fork Dons. The Don players made a convincing case in the quarterfinal that Spanish Fork boys were as manly as their town's girls. (Spanish Fork girls are so masculine that messing with them is risking a week's stay in a hospital.) Anyhow,  American Fork Coach Scott Jeppson said, "We were ahead 2-0. Suddenly, Spanish Fork scored two runs in the fifth to tie the game. We scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to win the game.

"Austin Pitcher threw the first six innings for us. Hayden Wood then threw for us in the seventh. Wood struck out two guys, gave up a single, and made a batter pop out.. Craig Brailsford knocked in three RBI's for us, including a one-run single and a two-run, double clear to the center-field fence. Koy knocked hit a one-run double for us."

Awesome AF Cavemen's 16-Under Team Squeezes Out 1-0 Win Over Vicious Viewmont Vikings In Second-Round UBAL Action July 27
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Even though the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 5-2 win over the Spanish Fork Dons in a 17-Under Age Division quarterfinal was thrilling, it's excitement could not surprise the 1-0 win that American Fork had posted over the Vicious Viewmont Vikings' 16-under team in a second-round game of the Utah Baseball Academy League's playoffs.

The game was so tight that its outcome had to be decided by an error and a passed ball in the fourth inning.

Having sunk the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings the night before, the Vicious Vikings showed up at American Fork on July 27 ready to make short work of the Awesome Cavemen. However, Viewmont got served a surprise when pitcher Buster "Bunny" Hardman proved to be way more difficult than the Vicious Vikings had expected. Hardman didn't let them make any hits until the top of the third. That inning, Vicious Viking Ashton "The Electric Organ" Hammond hit an infield single. Although Hammond did steal second, he became stranded on base.

The opening of the third's lower half opened with a strong hope of Gunner Lamb chopping a hit deep into left. However, he flew out, and Viewmont kept denying him chances for chopping a big hit for the rest of the game.

In the top of the fourth, Jake "Blackie" Marks got on base through an error in left field. The error could have proved fatal to American Fork, but Hardman grounded out Alex "Al-Rod" Rodiguez, and then caused the next two Vicious Vikings to fly out into deep field.

During the bottom of the fourth, Awesome Caveman Kastan Rasmussen got on base through an error at first. A Hardman sacrifice bunt moved Ramussen to third. On two outs, Rasmussen came home on a passed ball. Teammate Scotty Hughes also got on base through an error, but the Vicious Vikings kept him stuck on base.

The next three innings became nerve-wracking moments for fans as they watched to see which team would make a fatal mistake or register a big hit. Both teams played incredibly great defense during those last three innings. In the fifth, for example, speedy outfielders intercepted fly balls that Jake "Bang Bang" Bangeter and Bulldog Connor hit in hopes of reeling in Brayden Hearse, who Hardman had walked that inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mike Hugley smacked a left-field single for the only Awesome Caveman hit of the game. Although the Vicious Vikings prevented American Fork from capitalizing on Hugely's hit, Rasmussen had already done the damage to end Viewmont's season. It concluded with American Fork pinching Bo Ty in a squeeze play between first and second.

Ferocious PG Viking Win Over Bad Old Brighton Puddy Tats

Timp Sports Weekly

July 30, 2013

Publisher's Message

With the Utah Baseball Academy League's summer season winding down, we're going to be looking at  some of the games played in the last full week UBAL action. One of the ones that stand out in my mind is the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' 12-2 win at home over the Bad Old Brighton Puddy Tats. While we also be looking at some other game stories from the past week, Pleasant Grove's win over Brighton will be our cover article. Let's get to that story.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Ferocious  PG Vikings Win 12-2 Over Bad Old Brighton Puddy Tats July 19

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a 17-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy July 19, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings defeated the Bad Old Brighton Puddy Tats 12-2.

In the top of the first, pitcher Easton Walker gave up one hit to the Bad Old Puddy Tats, but he held them scoreless. In the bottom of the first, Walker knocked in a run to start off a five-run stampede for his Ferocious Vikings. During that scoring rally, Peyton Henry and Brody Blackhurst each doubled in two runs.

Walker gave up a single to Bad Old Puddy Tat Taylor Prokopis, but he continued keeping Brighton from picking up runs. The Ferocious Viking pitcher held those Bad Old Puddy Tats scoreless until the sixth, even though Brayden Bagley singled off him in third and C.J. "Papa Goose" Orchard hit a fourth-inning double off Walker.

In the meanwhile, the Ferocious Vikings continued building up their lead. In the second, Walker hit one-run double, and he then came home on a Jade Smoot single. Gavin "Grizzly" Bahr hit a solo omer in the third, and in the fourth, Walker singled Matt Wilde in.

The Bad Old Puddy Tats held Pleasant Grove scoreless in the fifth. In the sixth, Prokopis and Zach Conner each hit a two-out, one-run single for Brighton. Its comeback attempt collapsed with Adam Wright flying out to center field.

In the bottom of the sixth, Wilde clubbed two-out single into center. Walker singled him in. Soon, Jade Smoot tripled in Walker and Peterson to win the game for the Ferocious Vikings.

Lehi Froggies Corral Cottonwood Ponies 10-2 in UBAL 16-Under Age Division Game July 20
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a 16-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy League July 20, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, corralled the Cottonwood Colts, AKA the Ponies, 10-2 at home. The game closed out the Froggies' home season.

The Ponies kept the game close during the first two inning. In the top of the first, for instance, Jeff "Matador" Borguez singled into right, and on one, McKoy "Do the Hustle" Williams singled him in. Before the Ponies could improve their 1-0 lead, pitcher Zane Longman, a brother of Lehi baseball Dakota Longman, caused Drew "Clue" Staley to put out to second base and Chris "Ginzu" Okamato to ground out.

The Froggies hopped all over the Ponies in the bottom of the first as everyone on the Lehi batting order took a turn at the plate that inning. A Kayden Henderson single resulted in Lehi loading the bases on no outs. Ty James doubled Henderson and Logan "Wazzy" Wassmer in. On two outs, Mouse Russon singled in Broc Hansen, and then scored Lehi's fourth run on a passed ball.

Hit by a Longman pitch in the second inning, Cam "Big Bam" Barlowe soon came home on one out. That turned out to be the closest that the Ponies could get to the Froggies, even though Cottonwood did hold Lehi scoreless in the bottom of the second. In retaliation for Barlowe's theft of home plate, Longman caused Beanie Feeney to ground out and Donnie Corley to strike out. Cottonwood did continue making hits in the game, though. Okamato produced a single at the start of the fourth. Staley singled for the Ponies in the sixth, and so did Sarge Carter in the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Froggies continued hopping way ahead of the Ponies. In the third inning, for example, Longman stole home while a Henderson single reeled in Stockton "Stock" Birch. In the fourth, Kelton Higgins doubled in Hansen, who had hit a right-field single at the start of the inning's lower half. The Froggies' next two fourth-inning runs came on a Russon sacrifice groundout and a passed ball. In the fifth, Lehi scored its 10th and final run as shortstop Staley turned up a double play.

The Ponies held the Froggies scoreless in the sixth to prolong the game to the seventh. The prolonging couldn't save the Ponies from getting corralled by their croaking hosts.

Lehi Coach Rick Russon said, "Our key are our fielding and hitting. We have a lot of good hitters, and when we field the ball good, we can hold our ground. Our fielding kept Cottonwood at bay."

Lehi's Hopes for a 15-Under Division State Title End on a Baad Note, Thanks to Highland Lambs
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having to stay home from the Utah High School Association's 5-A baseball tournament last spring, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, were counting on making up for the lost opportunity through doing awesome in the Utah Baseball Academy League's post-season playoffs for the 15-under age division pennant.

However, the successful season that they had enjoyed this summer couldn't turn out to be the springboard that the Froggies needed for hoping all the way to the 15-under age division state championship game. In an opening-round game at Lehi July 20, the Highland Rams, AKA the Lambs, butted Lehi out of the tournament by a score of 7-3.

The Froggies had to be given credit for playing some great defense. During the course of the playoff, they slapped the Lambs with a grand total of three double plays that all ended at home plate.

During the top of the first, the Lambs got singles from E.J. "Big Swig" Parkin and Nate "Rippin' Roddy" Rodderick. Lehi pitcher Trent Rigby struck out three out of the next four Lamb batters to hold Highland scoreless that inning.

On out in the bottom of the first, Kayden Henderson singled into right. He soon attempted to score on a Broc Hansen double. However, Henderson got tagged at home. As the Highland Lambs would declare, that play at home went down as a baad omen for the Froggies.

Doubling into left at the start of the second, Abe Olsen soon came home on a Parkin single. Lamb pitcher Trent "Stingray" Gregg held Lehi scoreless in the first two innings. Finally in the bottom of the third, Braden Olsen, a "distant cousin" of Superman comic book character Jimmy Olsen, singled into left, and on two outs, River "Chivalry" Chivera singled him in.

Parkin answered that RBI by slugging a one-run single right after Lehi had slugged the Lambs with a fourth-inning double play.

In the top of the fifth, Poppin' Jaden Brown slugged a left-field double, but the Froggies snagged him in a double play. Reliever Tanner Russon struck out Wooly Brent to retire the Lambs to the field. Highland kept Lehi from capitalizing on fifth-inning singles hit by Chivera and Trent.

Holding the Lambs scoreless again in the top of the sixth, the Froggies finally caught up with them in the bottom of the inning. Singles from Russon and Birch raised Lehi hopes for hopping from behind. Braden Walker singled them on no outs. Brown promptly took over pitching duties at that point, and he kept the Froggies scoreless for the rest of the game.

The Lambs loaded the bases on no outs in the top of the seventh. Brown singled in two runs, setting off a four-run rally that broke Lehi's efforts to pieces, despite a right-field single that Chivera slugged in the bottom of the inning.

Lehi Froggies' Croakin' 8 Defeat Skyline Chirpers 17-12 in UBAL 17-Under Age Division Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Despite having eight players turn out for a road game at Skyline July 17, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, still hopped past the Skyline Eagles, AKA the Chirpers, 17-12.

It took the Froggies, AKA the Croakin' Eight, four innings to take control of the game. Despite a first-inning slugged by Froggie Cam Grace, Lehi couldn't pick up any runs in the first two innings. Meanwhile, the Chirpers built a 2-0 lead in those two opening innings. In the first inning's lower half, Chirper Abe "Black Bear" Yagi slugged a two-out single to drive in Jake "The Jumpin' Dutchman" Vanamen. The next inning saw Chirper Levi "Mummy" Mumford single in Nick "Great" Scott.

The Croakin' Eight finally caught up with the Chirpers in the top of the third. On one out that inning, Ryan Absher tripled in Caiden "Diggin's" Higgins. A Grace single scored Absher for a tying run. Skyline flew back out in front 3-2 through Yagi doubling in Demitri "Gummy Bear" Sak.

The Chirpers' 3-2 lead could not survive the heat of the fourth inning's top half. It opened with Terry Paxton singling into left. After Grant Dixon flew out to center fielder Riley "Big Sky" Hennings, Higgins singled in Paxton to unleash a six-run rally for Lehi. It had much to croak about that inning. What were some of the things that made the Froggies croak proudly about it? Well, there was a Ryan Barnes, one-run double. There was also Ty James' two-run single that occurred right after Lehi had loaded the bases on one out. Finally, a two-out, one-run single hit by Dixon created an 8-3 lead that left Lehi quite happy -- correction, quite hoppy.

Skyline had to be given credit for tying to make a comeback after getting drenched in a flood of Lehi runs that inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Bridger "Valley" Nielson doubled into left, and he soon stole home. A Chris "Rugs" Shraegh sacrifice fly scored Scott. Lehi prevented the Chirpers from making any more runs in the fourth.

In the sixth, Barnes doubled in James on one out to unleash another six-run flood for Lehi. During that rally, Higgins singled in a run and Absher tripled in another two.

The Chirpers made sure that the Froggies' 14-5 lead would not spell an early end for Skyline. After soon as the Chirpers had loaded the bases on two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Hennings tripled in three runs, and he came home on a Nielsen single. Nielsen soon stole home to cut the lead to 14-10.

In the sixth's top half, James singled into left, only to get pinched in a fielder's choice play at second. On two outs, Barnes scored on an error at first. Lehi soon loaded the base afterwards, and Absher knocked in a run. Skyline didn't let the Croakin' Eight make any more runs after the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, one-run singles, hit by Vanamen and Sak, moved the Chirpers within 17-12. The next inning, they loaded the bases through a Yagi double, a Nielson single, and a Scott walk. Just as the Chirpers appeared destined to stage a fly-from-behind win, Brock "Four Tops" Kennick flew out to center field, ending the game.

Awesome AF Cavemen Defeat Lone Peak Loners 8-3 in UBAL 17-Under Age Division Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Utah Baseball Academy League game for the 17-under age division, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen defeated the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, 8-3 at American Fork July 15.

During the top of the first, the Awesome Cavemen turned up a double play that held the Loners to one hit and scoreless. In the bottom of the fourth, the Awesome Cavemen went on a four-run scoring run.

In the top of the second, Tate Hansen rifled a single in hopes of setting off a Loner comeback. The Loners did deliver a big slash to the Awesome Cavemen's lead that inning. Nick "Buzzer" Larsen singled in Mikey Evans, and he scored a run on an error. In the bottom of the second, Emmitt Green slugged a single in hopes of getting another Awesome Caveman rally going, but the Loners kept him stuck on base.

American Fork chucker Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher held the Loners scoreless during the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. That didn't stop Chandler Goeckeritz and Connor Boyd from whacking a third-inning single and a fifth-inning double respectively.

In the bottom of the third, an Andy Bartholomew single moved Koy "Squeeze Toy" Dibb into scoring position. Dibb soon scored a run while Bartholomew got tossed out during an attempted steal to second.

The Awesome Cavemen didn't pick up any more runs until the bottom of the sixth. Aided by a Dibb single, American Fork went on a three-run rally through Logan Flinders, Riley Winter, and Bartholemew each singling in a run.

One of the two Gockeritz triplets playing for the Loners, Brooks Gockeritz scored an seventh-inning run while the Awesome Cavemen beaned Lone Peak with a double play. Larsen flew out to center before his Loners could score any more runs in the seventh.

Bingham Pickers Dig Out 15-4 Win Against Awesome AF Cavemen in July 15 UBAL Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen got caved in 15-4 by the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, in a July 15 game for the Utah Baseball Academy League's 17-under age division. Played at American Fork, the game showed why the Pickers had maintained a long tradition of quality baseball.

That fact was shown in the top of the first. Ty Zupon singled in Cody Kitchen to set off a four-run rally for the Pickers that inning. One-run singles from Sean "Senator Kenny" Keating and Colin "Gordy" Gordon kept the rally going strong. By the time, the Awesome Cavemen finally shut down the rally, they could be seen scratching their heads in figuring out how to club their way back into the game.

Pitcher Kitchen held them scoreless in the bottom of the first. The next inning, though, Mic Madsen doubled in Taylor "Guard Dog" Gardner and Coleman "Lantern" Shearer. Though an A.J. Jones double enabled American Fork to load the bases soon afterwards, the Pickers didn't let the Awesome Cavemen deliver any more cuts to Bingham's 4-2 lead.

The Pickers prevented American Fork from making any runs during the next four innings, despite a Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead double in the sixth.

In the third, Keating singled in Zupon, only to get stuck on base. On one out in the fourth, Parker Littlewood doubled into center, and a Bridger Jensen double brought him home. Jensen then came on a Spencer "Summer in the Streets" Esty single.

American Fork kept the Pickers from scoring any runs during the fifth and sixth innings. The Pickers made up for the two-inning scoring drought in the seventh's top half. Singling at the start of it, Zupon came home on a Gordon sacrifice fly to set off an eight-run rally, which saw Kitchen whack a grand slam.

Despite the thumping administered to them in the top of the inning, the Awesome Cavemen still managed to pick up runs in the bottom of the seventh. On one out, Madsen doubled in Gardner, and Shearer scored on a Jake Norton sacrifice fly. The rally collapsed through Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood striking out.

'Baad' Weather Forced Loner-AF 16-Under Age Division Game to End in Scoreless Tie
By Dean Von Memmott 
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

As Lone Peak Coach Rob Lamb might say,  a case of baad weather forced the July 16 Awesome American Fork Caveman-Lone Peak Knight game to end in a scoreless tie.

Played at American Fork, the game saw the Awesome Cavemen unable to make any hits during the four full innings that the action lasted. American Fork made up for that problem by playing great defense each inning.

In the top of the first inning, for example, the Knights, AKA the Loners, got singles from Kennon Kelshaw and Seth "I'm not Richard" Correy. Nevertheless, pitcher Jaden Fox stuck out Caden Lundquist and Jackson McChesney. Ben "Buckshot" Rasband flew out to left Gunner Lamb, who couldn't chop any hits in the game.

Gunner's cousin Talmage Lamb chopped a second-inning single, but he got pinched in a double play turned out by shortstop Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead.

When the fourth inning ended in a scoreless deadlock, heavy rain set in and made the field unplayable. The contest will not be replayed until next year.

Awesome AF Cavemen's 16-Under Team Suffers Home Loss to Spanish Fork July 18
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Even though it's easy to dismiss the Spanish Fork Dons' boy athletes as being very girly, it has to be remembered that they have been known to be as tough as their town's manly girls. (Hey, never mess with a Spanish Fork girl. Very muscular, she will knock you out cold with just one punch.)

The Dons showed their toughness in a 16-under age division game that they played on the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's home diamond during Utah Baseball Academy League action July 18. Spanish Fork defeated American Fork 6-2 in the game.

Walked by pitcher Jace Ibarra in the top of the first, Don Nick Harrison scored the game's first run on a Quickly Nolan Golish sacrifice groundout. American Fork received a great chance at erasing the Dons' 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Singles from Buster "Bunny" Hardman and Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead put the Awesome Cavemen in fine position that innning, but third baseman Colt Creer grounded out Jaden Fox to end the inning with the Dons still ahead 1-0.

Pitcher Zak Harrison held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the second and third innings. Ibarra kept the Dons from extending their 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth. It opened with Reno "Needle" Rivera  doubling into left. Zak Harrison doubled him in, and then game home on a Golish single.

Getting on base through a fourth-inning walk, Awesome Caveman Kastan Ramussen moved to third on a Hardman double hit into right field. A Holmstead sacrifice fly scored Rasmussen. Hardman came home a Mikey Hughes sacrifice fly. Zak Harrison grounded out Fox before American Fork could tie the game at three.

In the fifth's top half, Luke Kendrick singled in Riley Daniels on one out. The Dons extended their lead further the next inning when Golish hit a two-run double into left.

American Fork came really close to staging a rally in the bottom of the sixth. That inning, the Awesome Cavemen loaded the bases on singles clubbed by Rasmussen, Hardman, Greg Knight. Shortstop Devin Jamison grounded out Hollmstead, ending the inning before American Fork could at least a third run. The Awesome Cavemen never got another chance to score any more runs.

Lone Peak Loners' 5-4 Win Over Jordan Plowboys

Timp Sports Weekly

July 16, 2013

Publisher's Message

Our cover story for this week's issue will be the 5-4 win that the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, posted on the Sandy diamond of the Jordan Beetdiggers, AKA the Plowboys, in a 17-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy League. Let's take a swing at that story.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Lone Peak Loners Plow Jordan Plowboys Under 5-4 in 17-Under Age Division Game for UBAL July 8

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Although the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, are still figuring out where they are going to get their next head baseball coach for the 2014 season, they already know that they have a squad of good hitters and fielders quite capable of pulling off dramatic come-from-behind victories at any unexpected time. 

The Loners proved that July 8 when they came from behind to win 5-4 over the Jordan Beetdiggers, AKA the Plowboys, in a 17-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy League. Played at Jordan, the game took various surprising turns during the course of its seven innings.

The Loners found Plowboy pitcher Drew "The Disk" Lisk quite a challenge during the innings that he threw against them. In the top of the first, for instance, he struck out Trevor LaHargoue and Lord Sterling Larsen while causing Grant "Plymouth Rock" Lyman to ground out. Though Lisk walked Hunter Christensen that inning, the pitcher still held the Loners scoreless.

In the bottom of the inning, Lisk flew out to center fielder LaHargoue. A "distant cousin" of Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway and Beverly Hillbillies character Jane Hathaway, Kale Hathaway singled hit a one-out single into left field. Before the Plowboys could profit from that hit, shortstop Christensen turned up the first of three double plays that he initiated in the game.

The Loners received a golden chance for getting on the board first when they loaded the bases on two outs in the second's top half. However, Austin Walker got pinched in a fielder's choice play at second, retiring Lone Peak to the field.

The second's lower half opened with third baseman Lyman intercepting a Seth "Coconut" Butterfield line fly. In response, Cody Davis singled off pitcher Jack "Hammer" Bateman. A "distant cousin" of late US Senator Everett "Ev" Dirkson, Jake "The Rake" Dirkson doubled in Davis, and then scored a run himself just before the Loners nailed teammate Hunter "Safari" Jones in a squeeze play between first and second.

The Plowboys' newly created 2-0 lead received a big slash in the top of the third. Smacking a one-out single into left, Christensen soon came home on a two-out Larsen single. Larsen tried turning his hit into a double, but the Plowboys tagged him second, retiring the Loners to the field.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hathaway and Seth "Coconut" Butterfield smacked singles off Bateman. Christensen's second double play damaged the Plowboys' chances for extending their lead that inning. It ended with left fielder Zach Hales catching a Davis fly ball.

The Plowboys finally lost their lead in the top of the fifth. On two outs that inning, Larsen doubled in LaHargoue, who had belted a left-field single a few minutes before. Larsen then raced home on a passed ball to put his Loners ahead 3-2.

Having hit a one-out, infield single in the bottom of the fifth, Dirkson scored a tying run, courtesy of a Cade "Prince" Butterfield double. Cade got stuck at second, because of Hales' catch of a Lisk fly ball.

The sixth opened with Braden Harris singling into center. Harris soon came home on a Hales sacrifice fly. The Loners' 4-3 lead stayed intact through Bateman not letting any Plowboys get on first base during the bottom of the sixth.

Singling into left at the start of the seventh, Lyman got forced at second. With LarHargoue grounding out to Lisk, the Loners seemed certain of not being able to pick up an insurance run. Singles from Christensen and Larsen kept alive the Loners' hope of gaining a fifth run. That hope came true, because Bateman knocking in Christensen. Bateman tried to turn his one-run single into a double, but the Plowboys forced him out at seecond.

After singling into left during the bottom of the seventh, Davis soon scored a run on a passed ball. With Parker Anderson waiting on base, the Plowboys seemed certain of at least forcing an eighth inning. Christensen prevented the occurrence of an extra inning. First, he grounded out Dirkson. Christensen then snared a Jones pop fly to turn up his third double play for the night.

Lone Peak Coach Roger Lyman said, "The defense we played tonight was exception. We kept focused on catching flies and recovering groundballs. We made three double plays in very crucial moments. Jack is not our usual pitcher, but he did really good in throwing strikes tonight. He kept throwing pitches that were solid and smooth. He stayed consistent on the mound."

Jordan Plowboys Harvest 9-8 Win Over Ferocious PG Vikings' 16-Under Age Division Team UBAL Play July 9
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Plowboys, the Jordan Beetdiggers harvested a 9-8 win at home against the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' 16-under age division team in Utah Baseball Academy League play July 9.

Though the Ferocious Vikings scored a run in the top of the first, they lost complete control of the game in the bottom of second. Spurred on by Cade "Prince" Butterfield's double, the Plowboys went on a four-run rally in the second inning. They picked up two runs in the third inning and another three in the fourth.

Held scoreless in the second and third innings, the Ferocious Vikings finally scored their second run in the top of the fourth. A two-out single hit by Iron Reed Norman in the top of the fifth gave Pleasant Grove a chance of going on a rally, but Tristan "Bacon" Makin flew out to left field.

Though Plowboy Brett Randall got on base at the start of the fifth's lower half, he got stuck on base as he watched Skeeter Layton fly out to center field while  Beverly Hillbilllies character Jane Hathaway's "distant cousin" Tate "Meteor" Hathaway got grounded out with Austin Zacherson.

Having kept the Plowboys' 9-2 lead from swelling in the bottom of the fifth, the Ferocious Vikings proceeded to slash away at it in the top of the sixth. It opened with Cam Howe hitting a single, only to get pinched in a fielder's choice play at second. That setback didn't stop Derek Wall from doubling Jake Jensen, starting a long rally. During it, Staley Hangsen singled in Wall on two outs. Ethan Coombs and Iron Reed Norman each slugged a two-run double to put the Ferocious Vikings within 9-8. Suddenly, Makin struck out, stopping Pleasant Grove's shocking comeback cold.

Ferocious Viking Coach Mark Norman said, "In the sixth, their pitcher couldn't stay on his mark with his throwing. That allowed us to make big hits into deep pockets, making it possible for us to come back within one run."

Awesome AF Cavebatters Dig out a 4-2 Win Over Bingham Pickers in UBAL 17-Under Age Division Game July 10
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 17-under age division B team posted a 4-2 win over the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, in a Utah Baseball Academy League game at South Jordan's Bailey Santisvan Field July 10.

If things had gone the way I had planned that Wednesday, I would have been covering at American Fork a baseball doubleheader. The first game was supposed to have the Awesome Cavemen's 15-under age division team against the Lehi Froggies' No. 2 team. The doubleheader was to close out with a showdown between the Awesome Cavemen's 17-under age division A team against the Vicious Viewmont Vikings. Guess what happened. When I showed at the Awesome Cavemen's baseball diamond around 3:30 p.m., neither Lehi nor American Fork's 15-under age division teams were present. The only players there were varsity Awesome Cavemen getting in some batting practice.

An American Fork granny showed up at the facility in hopes of watching her 15-year-old grandson play in the first game of the supposed doubleheader. She left with a disappointed look.

Rather than wait around for the American Fork-Viewmont contest, scheduled for 6 p.m., I went with members of the Awesome Cavemen's varsity B team to South Jordan for a game against the Pickers.
When we got within a few blocks of Bingham High, American Fork assistant varsity coach Jay Holmstead, an uncle of high school baseball umpire Slim Holmstead, received a call on his cell phone. After Jay got down talking, he said to me, "It's a good thing you came with us. That was Viewmont's head coach. He said he couldn't get enough guys together to come down to play our older varsity team."

The backstory I've just presented demonstrates how life can spring surprises. The Pickers found that out  in their July 10 game against my Awesome Cavemen. Bingham led American Fork for the first five innings, creating the impression that the Pickers would post a narrow win. However, a four-run rally staged by the always Awesome Cavemen shattered Bingham's victory hopes in the sixth. Since you're itching for all of the exciting details of the game, I am going to delve into them right now.

For one thing, the game went down as an amazing pitching duel between Awesome Caveman AJ Jones and Picker Jaden Anderson.

Even though Anderson gave up a single to Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead in the top of the first, the Bingham pitcher struck out Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood and Justin DeMarco while causing Seth Taylor to ground out to third baseman Connor Goff.

Singngling into right during the bottom of the first, Hayden "Hay Bales" Cloward soon came home a two-out single rifled by Trevor "Tremor" Carlile. Third baseman Colby Willis grounded out Tait Trevor to retire the Pickers to the field.

In the top of the second, Mic Madsen hit a single and Buster "Bunny" Hardman a double for American Fork, but both Awesome Cavemen got stuck on base. Jones didn't let any Pickers get on base during the bottom of the second.

On the two outs, Speedster Holmstead hit his second straight single in the top of the third, only to see DeMarco pop out to first baseman Carlile.

Cloward's two-out double couldn't stir up a rally for the Pickers in the third, for Jones struck out Goff to end the inning.

The problem of leaving runners on base continued plaguing both teams through the course of the game. That proved particularly frustrating for Picker Austin "Super Spy" Flores, who opened the fourth's lower half with a left-field single, and the next three Bingham players all got out before he could score the Pickers' second run of the night.

Although Wood's two-out, fifth-inning single failed to generate a scoring rally for the Awesome Cavemen, that hit still proved to be a source of encourage for them. Finally in the sixth, they staged a decisive rally. It began with Madsen singling in Taylor on one out. Hardman double in Madsen, and then came home on a Jones single. A Jace Ibarra single brought Jones in for the final Caveman run.

American Fork continued holding Bingham scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. Unable to have picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh, the Awesome Cavemen hoped to make short work of the Pickers in the bottom of the inning. Its lower half unfolded with Jones striking out Tanner Burr and right fielder Taylor picking off an Anderson fly ball. Just as the Pickers appeared done for, Sam "Mont" Montmorcy and Ward Larsen each singled off Jones. Montormorcy came home on a passed ball.  It scared American Fork fans. Center fielder Wood saved American Fork's tail, though, catching Cloward fly ball to end the game.

Awesome AF Cavebatters Defeat Bingham Pickers' 16-Under Division Team in UBAL Play July 11
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Playing in  light rain on their home field July 11, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen defeated the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, 6-5 in a game for the Utah Baseball Academy League's 16-under age division.

A "distant relative" of Riverton Silverpup girls' basketball legend Morgan Littlewood, Parker Littlewood got on base through a walk. After pitcher Buster "Bunny" Hardman struck out Parley "P" Yazzie, Nolan "Thunder" Anglebauer singled Littlewood in. First baseman Ryan Thompson grounded out Logan "Bullwhip" Leatherwood and Stockton "Stock" Clark, keeping the Picker lead stuck at 1-0.

In the bottom of the first, American Fork got off to a bad start. No. 1 hitter Jaden Fox grounded out to shortstop Tanner "Big Max" Maxfield, and No. 2 hitter Hardman flew out to right fielder Yazzie. Jace Ibarra and Mikey Huegley each rifled a single in hopes of getting a two-out rally going. Pitcher Brock Beardon sabotaged that effort through striking out Spencer "Rooney" Shelton.

The Pickers stayed ahead for the first 2 1/2 innings. American Fork did receive a good chance at getting onto the scoreboard when Gunner Lamb chopped a second-inning double on one out. However, Lamb became stuck on base as he watched Beardon strike out Greg Knight and caused Kaleb Greening to fly out to left fielder Anglebauer.

On two outs in the top of the third, Anglebauer doubled in Parker "Silver" Hammer. A Leatherwood single moved Anglebauer to third, but catcher Shelton grounded out Clark to prevent a long Picker rally.

During two outs in the bottom of the third, Beardon walked Hardman and Ibarra. Huegley doubled in his two teammates, and he then scored a go-ahead run on a Shelton double.

Bingham tied the game at three through Porter Richards coming home on an American Fork, third-inning error at first. The 3-3 deadlock lasted until the bottom of the fifth. Its lower half opened with Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead singling into left. A Hardman sacrifice bunt scored Holmstead. Huegly singled in Ibarra, and he then came home on a Shelton single.

The next inning, Clark and Richards each singled. Their hits soon gave American Fork much worry, for both Clark and Richards soon raced home, putting their Pickers within 6-5.

Bingham held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, Yazzie and Taylor "Chiller" Burr each slugged a single, giving the Pickers a chance of at least forcing the game into an eighth inning. However, Shelton tagged a pinch runner at home to end the game. The pinch runner threw his helmet down in anger immediately after the tag, and Bingham Coach Big Bill McDonald shouted at him, "You pick your helmet up!" The pinch runner complied reluctantly.

Ferocious PG Vikings Defeat Vicious Viewmont Vikings 14-4 in 16-Under Age Division Game For UBAL
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Utah Baseball Academy League play at Pleasant Grove July 13, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings defeated the Vicious  Viewmont Vikings 14-4 in a 16-under age division game.

The Vicious Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. For the bottom of that inning, Ferocious Viking Tait Briggs doubled into center, and Cade Caldwell singled him in on two outs. Caldwell tried stealing second, but got put there.

Hitting a one-out double in the bottom of the second, Hayden Veenker, the son of former Pleasant Grove Review sportswriter Todd "The Flying Dutch Scribe" Veenker, came home on a single slugged by Derek "Banger" Wall.

The Ferocious Vikings' first lead vanished in the top of the third. With no outs, Austin "Midas" Steinke doubled in Josh "Quite Tall" Hansen and then scored a go-ahead run on Branden Varley's sacrifice groundout. Singles from Mikey Van Orden and Jake Stevens gave the Vicious Vikings hope for lengthening their 3-2 lead over Pleasant Grove. However, Pleasant Grove forced Van Orden out at second to end the third's top half.

Singling into left at the start of the third's lower half, Ethan Coombs soon came home on a Ty Wells single. Briggs tripled Wells in, and he then scored a run on a Coleman "This is Your Life" Edwards single.

In the top of the fourth, Pleasant Grove prevented a Taylor Jones double from launching a scoring rally. After having held the Vicious Vikings scoreless in the fourth's upper half, the Ferocious Vikings proceeded to thump them in the bottom of the inning. Getting on base through a walk,  Tristan "Tristy" Makin soon stole home, launching a six-run fueled by singles from Justin Francis, Logan Hooley, and Briggs.

In the top of the fifth, Steinke tripled in Hansen, but got stuck on base as he watched the next three Vicious Viking batters all get out. Because of the thumping that they had received in the fourth, the Vicious Vikings attempted to keep the game going until at least the seventh. However, Veenker delivered a devastating blow by doubled in Edwards and coming home on a Makin sacrifice grounded out. Walked by reliever Matt Nordell, Wall scored the game-ending run on a Francis single.

Pleasant Grove Coach Mark Norman said, "Our bats made up for the disappointing loss that we had at Jordan last Tuesday. We put lots of groundballs into play, and we found some good, deep holes to hit into."

American Fork's Win Over Highland Lambs

Timp Sports Weekly

July 8, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at baseball games played during the Fourth of July week. As we promise to make sure that the stories about those contests will have a lot of bang. Let's get underway with those accounts, beginning with the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 9-0 win at home over the Highland Rams, AKA the Lambs.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavebatters Shear Highland Lambs 9-0 in 17-Under Age Division Game for UBAL

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a 17-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy League July 1, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen posted a 9-0 win at home over the Highland Rams, AKA the Lambs.

For the Lambs, the game went down as a baad experience for them. For one thing, Awesome Caveman chucker Austin Pitcher posted an evening's total of nine strikeouts, and he didn't let the Lambs put any runners on base during the first two innings. The older brother of Erin "Ernie Banks" Pitcher, the first baseman for the American Fork Pirates, this year's American Fork Pony League champs, Austin sheared away the Lambs' hopes in the first inning by striking out two of their first three batters and causing No. 2 hitter Ashton "Hell Fire" Brown fly out to center fielder Emmett Green.

In the bottom of the first, Austin and Awesome Caveman Kody "Coco" Hall each rocketed a one-out single into right. Koy Dibb soon joined them on base via a walk. With the bases loaded, Dallin Searle slugged a ground ball, which permitted Hall to reach home. However, Dibb got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second.

The pitching duel between Austin Pitcher and Lamb Gannon "Bricks" McNamee kept the game's score at 1-0 until the third inning. In the top of it, Austin turned up a double play that wounded the Lambs' scoring severely. Chad Carter tried to keep those chances alive through belting a left-field single. However, Hall grounded out Mikey Rojas to preserve the Awesome Cavemen's 1-0 lead.

The bottom of the third opened with McNamee striking out Green. Pitcher singled into left, and a Dibb single moved him into scoring position. With a Searle single reeling Pitcher in, a five-run rally began. Logan Flinders knocked in a run, and soon Craig Brailsford doubled in three runs on two outs.

Brown opened the fourth by blasting a single out into center. However, he got stranded on base as the next three Lamb batters all got out.

In the bottom of the fourth, Trey McMurtrey singled into center, but a throw to second nailed him before he could turn his hit into a double. That setback didn't discourage Green from singling into left. Hall batted him in, and then came home on a Pitcher triple.

Even though the Lambs couldn't get anywhere with McNamee's two-out, center-field single in the fifth, they didn't let the Awesome Cavemen make any runs that inning.

In the top of the sixth, Brown whacked a one-out single into left, and he then tried stealing second, but a throw from catcher Andy Bartholemew, a son of American Fork High wrestling legend Rick "Dr. Death" Bartholemew, put the Lamb out at second.

On one out in the bottom of the sixth, McMurtrey singled into right, and then tried making it to third on a Green double. However, third baseman Wooly Willie Curless tagged McMurtrey. Hall tripled Green in hope, and then waited for a chance to score a game-ending run. However, Pitcher flew out to center fielder Carter.

In the top of the seventh, first baseman Searle grounded out Curless while Austin struck out Zach Curtis. The game ended with third baseman Logan Flinders catching a Mark Orlandi pop fly.

Rockies Sink Pirates, Only to Scuttle Themselves in Timp Colt League Playoffs July 2
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Timp Colt League playoff action at American Fork's Rotary Park July 2, the American Fork Rockies outlasted the American Fork Pirates 13-11 in a thrilling game for the right to play in the July 9 championship contest. However, the Rockies scuttled their chance for appearing in it, because of a league bylaw violation.

"The Rockies used illegal players," said American Fork Recreations Department official Randy Spafford, the city's chief over American Fork's youth baseball programs. "So they had to be eliminated from the tournament. I kept quiet about this immediately after the game, because of the Rockies' parents. The Rockies will have to sulk about it over the weekend."

The disqualification from playing for the league's Cobra Division title didn't erase the Rockies' thrilling performance in the tournament's final one-loss bracket game.

In the top of the first, Pirate Cam "Bam-Bam" Thomas singled in Jason "Big Shots" Nelson. With Tanner "Durf" Durfey smacking a single to advance him to third, Bam-Bam tried stealing home, but catcher Kody Webb tagged him in a squeeze play, ending the inning's first half.

In the first's bottom half, Rocky Tanner Nelson singled into center, and Gavin Birch doubled him in. The Pirates pinched Birch in a fielder's choice play at third, but as soon as a Tony Pulizer single loaded the bases on two outs, Dalton Nelson hit a one-run single to tip the Rockies ahead 2-1.

The next inning, Pirate Braydon "The Pheasant" Bezzant hit a two-run triple to put his team ahead 3-2.
Despite Rocky Tanner Nelson hitting into a double play in the bottom of the second, Birch tripled in Zach Cook to open a three-run rally, which saw Taylor Nelson slug a two-run single that put the Rockies back out in front 5-3. In retaliation for that go-ahead single, a Pirate pitcher struck out Buddy Kendricks to end the second inning.

Trades in the lead continued occurring in the third. In its top half, Bam-Bam doubled in Jason Nelson on two outs to unleash a four-run rally for the Pirates. Aided by a Chris Stephenson walk, singles from Bezzant and Durfey fueled the rally which gave the Pirates a 7-5 lead.

It vanished in the bottom of the third when a Dalton Nelson sacrifice fly scored a run to set off a four-run rally for the Rockies. During that rally Tanner Nelson knocked in two runs to put the Rockies back ahead 9-7.

They held the Pirates scoreless in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of it, a Pulizer walk scored a run that opened a four-run rally.

The Pirates staged a valiant comeback attempt in the top of the fifth. The effort began with Bam-Bam rifling a triple into left, and he scored on an error. Trevin Thomas singled in a run, and then came home on a one-out Stephenson homer to cut the lead to 13-11.  Before the Pirates could catch up with Rockies, Ty McBride and Andy Maxwell struck out, stopping their comeback try.

Spafford said a post-game discovery of the Rockies using illegal players against the Pirates necessitated that the July 2 game's winners been denied an appearance in the championship game, set to be played at  Rotary Park July 9.

Awesome AF Cavemen Battle Bingham Pickers to 10-10 In July 3 UBAL 17-Under Division Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In an 17-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy League July 3, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen battled the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, to a 10-10 draw at South Jordan's Bailey Sanisteven Field.

During the game's first two innings, Awesome Caveman pitcher Craig Brailsford didn't let the Pickers place any runners on base. Also, during the first inning, he struck out Cade "Steel Blade" Cloward and Landon "Wally" Wallbeck, and Brailsford grounded out Connor "Liftoff" Goff.

Meanwhile, the Awesome Cavemen built up a 6-0 lead in the game's first three innings. A cousin of onetime Caveman baseball legend Nick "The Slick" Searle, Dallin Searle opened American Fork scoring by singling in Emmett Green and Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood during the top of the first. The second inning saw Trey McMurtrey singled in Andy Bartholemew and Hagan "Speedster" Holmstead.
On one out in the third, Brailsford singled in Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher, and Searle scored on a Bartholemew sacrificial groundout.

Until the bottom of the third, the Awesome Cavemen's 6-0 lead gave the impression that they would take home a 10-0 victory after the fifth. That did not turn out to be the case. The third's lower half opened with Tanner "Bang Bang" Burr blasting a triple into left. Brayden "Fiddle" Diddle singled him, and then came home on an Aaron "Salty" Marsh single. With Cloward homering in Marsh and Ty "Zoop" Zupon, the Awesome Cavemen realized that the Pickers had to be taken seriously now.

Goff hit a single right after Cloward's three-run homer. A throw from catcher Bartholemew and second baseman Riley Winter put Goff out. Shortstop Kody "Coco" Hall grounded out Wallbeck and Trevor Carlile.

Holding the Pickers scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, the Awesome Cavemen went to work on widening their lead again. In the top of the fourth, American Fork loaded the bases on no outs. Walks by Green and Wood each brought in a run, and Sir Turner Knight scored the Cavemen's ninth run on a Hall sacrifice fly. Brailsford hit a two-out inning in the fifth, but he got stranded on base, preventing American Fork from making any runs that inning. Hit by a Zupon pitch in the sixth, Winter scored on an error at first while Holmstead made it to second. The Pickers didn't let the Awesome Cavemen make any more runs in the game.

A sixth-inning Cloward single paved the way for another Miner comeback. Wallbeck doubled Cloward in and then scored on a Carlile single. Loading the bases one out, the Pickers scored their last three runs on walks, tying the game at 10.

Despite singles from Goff and Carlile in the seventh, the Awesome Cavemen prevented them from breaking the tie in that inning.

Plate umpire Slim Holmstead called the game at that point, because of approaching darkness.

American Fork Coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll said, "Our defense sagged somewhat tonight, but our hitting saved us tonight."

Lehi Froggies Defeat Awesome AF Cavemen's 15-Under Baseball Team 7-4 July 5
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In 15-under age division play for the Utah Baseball Academy League July 5, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, hopped past the Awesome American Fork Cavemen 7-4. What made the Froggies really croak for joy about their win was that it had occurred on the Awesome Cavemen's diamond.

During the top of the first, American Fork pitcher Chandler Wood, the younger brother of varsity Caveman player Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood, walked Colby Page, the Froggies' No. 1 hitter. That walk came back to haunt the Awesome Cavemen. Kayden Henderson's sacrifice bunt moved Page into scoring position. A Mitch Evans sacrifice fly sent Page hopping rapidly home for the game's first run. Though Wood struck out Tanner Russon to retire the Froggies to the field, the damage had been already done.

For the bottom of the first, Wood singled into left, only to get pinched in a fielder's choice play at second. Teammate Dakota Colby stole around the diamond to score a tying run. Before the Awesome Cavemen could break the 1-1 draw, pitcher Evans grounded out Spencer Shelton, and third baseman Russon connected a throw to Brayden Olsen, a "distant cousin" of comic strip character Jimmy Olsen, nailing Kaleb Blaylock.

Getting on base through a second-inning walk, Lehi's Brayden "Foxtail" Walker soon scored a tie-breaking run on a River "Rio Grande" Chivira sacrifice fly. Wood thereupon struck out Trent Rigby in hopes of getting an Awesome Caveman rally going. However, Evans did not let one Awesome Caveman get on base in the bottom of the second.

With Wood holding the Froggies scoreless in the top of the third, American Fork received another fine chance at catching up with Lehi. A Weston Flinders single paved the way for Awesome Cavemen to load the bases on no outs. A Wood sacrifice fly brought Flinders home. As Colby got on base through a walk, the Awesome Cavemen seemed certain that they would club their out to a comfortable lead. However, Evans struck out Shelton and Blaylock to keep the game tied at two.

In the top of the fourth, a one-out, Olsen double scored Walker, who had reach first base through an error. The Froggies held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, then worsened American Fork's situation in the fifth.

It opened with Rigby getting on base through walk. A left-field single, hit by Taylor "Billy Goat" Roper, resulted in the Froggies' loading the bases on no outs. Evans got beaned by a pitch, which bought Rigby home. Roper came home on a Walker walk, and Page scored on a run on a passed ball. The Froggies' 6-2 lead at the end of the fifth's upper half left them croaking joyfully.

The bottom of the fifth opened with left fielder Rigby intercepting a Taylor "Durf" Durfey fly ball. A Brody Anderson single bought the Awesome Cavemen enough time to stage a brief rally. Anderson and Wood each scored a run for them that inning.

Tripling into left during the start of the sixth, Brayden Calton soon came home on a Chivira single. American Fork shut the Froggies down at that point, but the Awesome Cavemen couldn't put any runners on base that inning, dooming their comeback effort.

Lehi Coach Riley White said, "We managed to make the key hits and runs in crunch moments tonight."

Awesome AF Cavebatters Defeat Copper Hills Cubbies 10-4 in 16-Under Division Game For UBAL
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Played at American Fork July 6, a UBAL 16-under age division game saw the Awesome American Fork Cavemen batter the Copper Hills Grizzlies, AKA the Cubbies, 10-4.

American Fork Coach Kyle Hardman said, "Taylor Sobotka and Greg Knight both threw very well for us today. They usually don't pitch often. We could need them in the state tournament two weeks from now. Also, we did a good job in running the bases. We got some key hits and a lot of walks. Our hits came at timely moments."

Pitching for the Awesome Cavemen first, Sobotka caused Nick Kirk to ground out to shortstop Hagan "Speedster" Hollmstead. Also, center fielder Kasten Rasmussen intercepted fly balls slugged by Gammon Marquez and Sean Gravit, holding the Cubbies scoreless.

After the bottom of the first opened with pitcher Brayden Ogden striking out Rasmussen, Buster "Bunny" Hardman got on base through an error. Although the Cubbies pinched in Buster in a fielder's choice play at second, the Awesome Cavemen still went on a scoring spree. It opened with Holmstead coming home on a passed ball. After Scotty Hughes also came home on a passed ball, Taylor Thompson singled in a run, and he scored the fourth American Fork run seconds before Sabotka got thrown in out an inning-ending fielder's choice play at third.

In the top of the second, Taylor Cardwell whacked the first Copper Hills single of the game into right field. Cardwell tried stealing second, but a throw from catcher Hughes put him out. Though Sabotka walked Ogden, he caused Jordan "J.J." Johnson and Mason Daws ground out to Holmstead.

Ogden held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the bottom of the second. Copper Hills then started having hope it would go on a scoring rally in the top of the third when Parker Sheffield and Nick Kirk each slugged a single for the Cubbies. American Fork's defense proved to be too strong that inning for Copper Hills to make any runs that inning.

On one out in the bottom of the third, Mikey Hugley doubled in two runs, and he then stole home to improve the Awesome Cavemen's lead at 7-0. That gave the impression that the game would be over in the fifth. However, the Cubbies managed to prolong it past the fifth through Johnson and Daws each hitting one-run double for them in the fourth.

Holding the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the Cubbies delivered another slash to American Fork's lead in the fifth. During that inning's top half, Knight took over at the mound, and he walked Sheffield and gave up a single to D.J. Hill, a "distant cousin" of TV cartoon character Hank Hill. Sheffield soon came home on a passed ball, and Gravit singled in Hill, reducing the lead to 7-4.

In the bottom of the fifth, singles from Hardman and Kaleb Greening enabled the Awesome Cavemen to load the bases. Greening got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at home, but Holmstead narrowly beat a throw to first to keep the bases loaded. American Fork picked up two runs on passed balls.

The next inning, the Awesome Cavemen held the Cubbies scoreless, even though Johnson singled off Knight. In the bottom of the sixth, Thompson came home on a passed ball, and Gunner Lamb chopped a two-out single in hopes of keeping American Fork scoring going. However, Knight struck out to end the inning. Knight got even in the seventh by holding the Cubbies scoreless.

The game was supposed to have started at 11 a.m., but a Friday night rainstorm had left the field too muddy to play on. American Fork assistant varsity coach Jay Holmstead joined Hardman and assistant coach Matt "Wooly" Lamb in spending a little more than an hour getting the American Fork diamond ready for play by noon. (The same rainstorm had prevented the Awesome Cavemen's 17-under team from finishing a home game against the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups; that contest lasted only two batters.) The game opened at 12:05 p.m.