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.
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.
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