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.
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.
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