in Timp Sports Weekly
August 12, 2014
Publisher's Message
This week's issue focuses on three Utah Baseball Academy League tournaments that my Awesome American Fork Cavemen played in last week. American Fork won one of those tourneys. To find out which one of them it was, we are going to be looking at the stories of all the Awesome Cavemen's playoff games last week. By the way, I was going to cover the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, after their 17-under division team had won on Wednesday, but they chickened out in their tournament's quarterfinals. Let's now delve into the stories of the Awesome Cavemen's recent UBAL playoff games.
Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
magnanovelist@gmail.com
Awesome AF Cavemen Beat Spanish Fork Dons 7-5 in 16-Under Playoff Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher
The Awesome American Fork Cavemen opened the playoffs for the Utah Baseball Academy League's 16-under state title with a 7-5 win over the Spanish Fork Dons, AKA the Gaytowners, in a game played Aug. 4-5 at American Fork.
A nephew of former Timpanogos Timberpup boys' basketball coach Mark Hardman, Buster "Bunny" Hardman belted a first-inning, two-out single that moved into scoring Chandler "Crazy Horse" Wood, who had recently retired from high school football. Dylan Johnston struck out before he could bat Crazy Horse in.
On two outs in the bottom of the first, Spanish Fork's Jackson "Pee Wee" Higgison got on base through an error. Before the Gaytowners could capitalize on it, Bridger Baum, a grandson of Awesome Caveman sports legend Steve Dean, struck out.
Singling in the top of the second inning, Awesome Caveman Spencer "Roonie" Shelton moved into scoring position on an infield single hit by Ryan Hardman, a nephew of former American Fork High basketball player Robert Rasmussen. Shelton soon stole home. American Fork's 1-0 lead came under a serious threat during the bottom of the second.
Its lower half opened with Don Braden Bradford singling into left, but he got picked off by a throw from catcher Shelton to second base. Fellow Spanish Forker Jade Christensen also got put out at second. The inning ended with Braden Christiansen striking out.
The top of the third opened with Crazy Horse Wood striking out. In response to the strikeout, McCade Norton singled into left. Beaned by a Bradford pitch, Buster "Bunny" Hardman soon joined Worthen on base. Spanish Fork put Worthen out at third, and Bradford struck out Johnston.
A Colt Larson single gave Spanish Fork a big break in the bottom of the third. Larson came home on a passed ball to tie the game at one. Doubling on two outs the next inning, Christiansen stole home to put put Spanish Fork ahead 4-1.
American Fork retook the lead in the top of the fifth. After having been denied a chance to capitalize on Kobe Lindemann's two-out single in the fourth, the Awesome Cavemen went on a scoring rally in the fifth. The rally opened with Dakota "Black Hills" Colby coming home on an error. Crazy Horse also scored on an error, and Worthen came home on a passed ball.
In the bottom of the fifth, a two-out, Nick Harrison double helped to prolong the game into the next day. As the weather turned rainy, a Bradon Archibald singled in Harrison, then came home on a Baum single to tie the game at four.
A lightning storm and heavy rain prevented American Fork from breaking the 4-4 draw in the sixth, for the umpire suspended the game.
It renewed the next afternoon. The two teams played only one inning for the right to travel to Riverton to play the Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups, in a second-round game. Shelton smacked a one-run single that sparked a three-run rally for the Awesome Cavemen. Spanish Fork produced only one run in the bottom of the inning.
The Awesome Cavemen hit the road right afterwards for the game against the Silverpups. However, a heavy rainstorm prevented the game from being played that day. The next day, American Fork Coach Tyler Adams said, "We came out fired up. We took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but we soon had a bad inning that allowed Riverton to take a 9-2 lead over us. We battled back within 9-7, but we couldn't get any closer. Dylan Johnston pitched really well for us."
Riverton Silverpups Win 3-2 Over Awesome AF Cavemen's 17-Under B Team Aug. 5
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher
The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 17-under B team fell an inning short of surviving second-day action of the Utah Baseball Academy's playoffs. AKA the Silverpups, the Riverton Silverwolves howled past the Awesome Cavemen 3-2 in an Aug. 5 game played at American Fork.
The Awesome Cavemen's 17-under A team lent three players to the B squad: Hagen "Speedster" Holmstead, Tyler "Guard Dog" Gardner, and Sir Turner Knight. Their services helped to keep the game close all the way through.
It opened with pitcher Tua Ward walking Silverpup Stony "The Pony" Gibbons. That Silverpup got put out by a throw from catcher Gardner to second baseman Holmstead. Ward struck out Jake Barlowe, then walked Casey Framer. Third baseman Ryan "Rhino" Thompson grounded out Quinn "The Adventurer" Robbins to hold Riverton scoreless.
During the bottom of the first, Holmstead and Buster "Bunny" Hardman each singled. A Ward sacrifice groundout scored Holmstead.
Silverpup Kaden Wilson singled at the start of the second inning, but the Awesome Cavemen pinched him in a fielder's choice play at second base.
Unable to place any players on base in the bottom of the second, the Awesome Cavemen counted on going far with Jace Ybarra's third-inning single, but Riverton put him out at second.
Hit in the top of the fifth, doubles from Wilson and teammate Jake "Shaky Tail" White almost sparked a rally for the Silverpups. Gardner tagged Wilson in a fielder's choice play at home, and Holmstead turned up a double play that left American Fork's 1-0 lead intact.
Getting on base through an error in the bottom of the fifth, Ybarra soon stole home. After the fifth, the Silverpups did not let the Awesome Cavemen make any more runs.
In the top of the seventh, the Awesome Cavemen's B team's state title hopes went poof. The inning unfolded with Frame and Robbins each blasting a single. Wilson doubled them in, and Ryan "Alpha Bulldog" Edwards singled him in to put the Silverpups ahead 3-2.
During one out, Dylan Johnston got on base through being hit by a pitch, giving American Fork a chance of at least tying the game at three. That opportunity vanished as Thompson and Sobotka both struck out.
Lone Peak Loners Beat Awesome AF Cavemen's 17-Under A Team 9-3, Only To Chicken Out of UBAL Playoffs Next Day
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher
In second-round action of the Utah Baseball Academy's 17-under age division state playoffs, the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, won 9-3 on the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's home field during a game played Aug. 5-6. However, the next day, the Loners didn't bother to show up for a quarterfinal game hosted by the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups.
A cousin of American Fork Red Sox player Gunner Lamb, Awesome Caveman pitcher Dallin Searle held the Loners scoreless in the top of the first. During the bottom of the first, Kody "Coco" Hall hit an infield single. After teammate Hagen "Speedster" Holmstead struck out, Searle smacked a left-field double to move Hall to third. A Sir Turner Knight sacrifice fly scored Hall, and Alex "Razor" Baeza singled Searle in to give American Fork a 2-0 lead.
American Fork's defense fell apart in the second inning. It opened with Tater Hansen singling off Searle. A Chandler Goekeritz single soon permitted the Loners to load the bases on one out. Two American Fork errors fueled a four-run rally, which saw Matt "General" Lee single in a run.
A Mick Madsen single enabled the Awesome Cavemen to load the bases on one out in the bottom of the second. American Fork's golden chance of rallying back vanished through Justin DeMarco, a grandnephew of my former schoolmate Ken DeMarco, hitting into a double play.
Doubling into left during the start of the third inning, Nate Call scored a run as fellow Loner Payton Freeman got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second. Lee doubled in two runs, and he then came home on a passed ball during two outs. After Loner Avery Goeckeritz got thrown out at first, a heavy rainstorm forced the game to be suspended until Aug. 6.
The renewal of play the next afternoon didn't bring American Fork any luck, even though the Awesome Cavemen did play a little better on the Sixth.
In the fourth inning that day, American Fork kept the Loners from capitalizing on a Blaster Thompson single.
During the top of the fifth, Lee hit a one-out single, and Nick Larson batted him in. American Fork didn't let the Loners make any more runs that inning. In the bottom of it, one-out singles from Hayden "Chief" Wood and Seth "Needles" Taylor led to American Fork loading the bases. Just as Awesome Caveman fans started hoping that their 17-under A team was about to charge back into the game, pitcher R.J. "Hard Nuts" Hazen caught a Kolby "Koba" Willes pop fly and converted the catch into a double play.
In the top of the sixth, Hansen hit a two-out single into center, but the Awesome Cavemen pinched him in a fielder's choice play at second.
Taking over pitching duties in the seventh, Madsen gave up a left-field double to Hazen, but the Awesome Cavemen kept that Loner chained to second, preventing Lone Peak from improving on its 9-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, American Fork loaded the bases on two-out singles hit by Gardner, Wood, and Taylor. DeMarco singled in Gardner in hopes of stirring up a rally, but Willes flew out to center.
American Fork Coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll said, "This summer showed us in which things we need to be sharper in, if we're to do better in the spring season. After a brief break, we're going to be busy with playing fall ball at either the Y or UVU."
Awesome AF Caveman 15-Under Team Survives Aug. 6 Win Over Spanish Fork
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher
The Awesome American Fork Cavemen survived an Aug. 6 game during second-round action of the Utah Baseball Academy's 15-under division state playoffs. American Fork defeated the Spanish Fork Dons, AKA the Gaytowners, 6-5 at American Fork in that Aug. 6 showdown.
The game was supposed to have been played during the final week of July, but rainy weather caused it to be moved back to the first week of August. The UBAL then moved the game's location to American Fork, even though the Awesome Cavemen would remain the visiting team.
AKA Gaytown, because it's such a happy town to live in, Spanish Fork gave the Awesome Cavemen quite a challenge. The Dons didn't let the Awesome Cavemen score any runs or make any hits during the first three innings. The Awesome Cavemen had to rely on valiant defense to keep the Gaytowners at bay. In the bottom of the first, Don Ty "Fjord" Sorensen singled in Brady Brooks for the game's first run. American Fork didn't let the Dons make any more runs until the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the fourth, Clay Park singled into left, and Ryan Hardman, a little brother of former Awesome Cavewoman volleyball legend Jenn "Munchkin" Hardman, singled him in. Treyson Norton singled in two other Awesome Caveman runners, and he scored during a put-out play play at second, which claimed Ryan Reid, a grandnephew of basketball coaching legend Duke Reid, who had skippered the Brighton Bad Old Puddy Tats' boys team in the 1980's and the UVU Wolverines in the 1990's. In the bottom of the fourth, Erik Stauffer singled in a run to cut the lead to 4-2.
In the top of the fifth, Griffy Larsen singled in Marty McCoy, and teammate Ike Garlick scored a run as Larsen got pinched in a fielder's choice play at second.
In the bottom of the sixth, Parker Harrison smacked a single and Logan Jensen a double. An American Fork error allowed in both Dons to race home.
In the top of the seventh, a Reid single enabled the Awesome Cavemen to load the bases on two outs. However, the Dons prevented them from going on a scoring rally. Another American Fork error let the Dons make a fifth run. American Fork didn't let them tie the score, though. As Harrison grounded out, the Awesome Cavemen braced for a semifinal showdown against the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, the next day.
Awesome AF Cavemen Sweep Aside Bingham Pickers 10-3 in Semifinals of UBAL's 15-Under Age Division Playoffs
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher
The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 15-under A team crunched the Bingham Miners, AKA Kemp as well as the Pickers, 10-3 in a Utah Baseball Academy League semifinal played at American Fork Aug. 7.
Two-out singles from Carter Sefonia and Nick Waldeck gave Bingham of scoring in the top of the first, but the Awesome Cavemen grounded out J.D. "Suds" Dial before the Pickers could score that inning.
A little brother of UVU volleyball player Jen "Munchkin" Hardman, Ryan Hardman bashed a two-out single in the bottom of the first, but Treyson "Squirrel" Norton struck out.
In the top of the second, Squirrel Norton had a rough go on the mound. After he struck out Parker Anderson and Bracken Miles, he walked Scott Kyle. The Pickers capitalized quickly on Kyle's walk. A Derek Soffe single and a Ty Kemp walk loaded the bases for Bingham. Sefonia singled in Kyle, and Soffe stole home. A distant cousin of the Waldeks who play for the Alta Tweeties' baseball program, Noah Waldek singled in Kemp to improve the lead at 3-0. The rally ended with Dial popping out to third baseman Hardman.
After the third, the Awesome Cavemen did not let the Pickers make any more hits or runs in the game.
In the third's lower half, Ryan Reid, a very close cousin of former BY Zoo coaching Roger Reid, belted a single in hopes of stirring up a comeback. However, Ryan got chained on base as the next three American Fork batters got out.
On one out in the top of the third, Picker Tanner "Rough Hide" LaPierre got on a base, courtesy of an error. American Fork kept him restricted to base.
The Awesome Cavemen used an Ike Garlick single as a stepping stone for a big comeback in the bottom of the third. Both a "distant cousin" of Dark Shadows character Barnabas Collins and a nephew of American Fork High boys' soccer legend Shane Jackson, Brett Collins Jr. punched a two-run single that proved devastating to Bingham. Collins soon came home to tie the game at three. American pulled out in front 6-3 on one-run doubles hit by Norton, Marty "The Real" McCoy, Easton "Easty" Adamson"
The score stayed at 6-3 until the bottom of the fifth. Singles from Norton and The Real McCoy enabled American Fork to loaded the bases. A McKay Sobotka sacrifice fly scored Norton.
The next inning's lower half opened with Garlick hitting a baseline single into left. Collins soon singled him in to spark another rally. During the ensuing rally, Hardman and Reid each batted in a run to put the final score at 10-3.
American Fork Coach Jeff Thomas said, "I told the guys after the top of the second, 'Settle down and stay positive.'"
Heeding his words earned them their first-ever appearance in a UBAL state championship game. They played in one hosted by Jordan on Aug. 8.
Awesome AF Cavemen Win 1st UBAL State Pennant in 15-Under Age Division Title Game at Jordan Aug. 8
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher
The near future hold a strong promise for the Awesome American Fork Cavemen winning another state championship under the guidance of their head baseball coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll. Why is that prospect strong?
Just ask Jeff Thomas, the top coach for the Awesome Cavemen's 15-under A team. It posted a 9-5 win on the home field of the Jordan Beetdiggers, AKA the Plowboys, in the championship game for the Utah Baseball League's 15-under age division on Aug. 8.
The Aug. 8 showdown marked the second time in the last seven years that the Awesome Cavemen had played the Plowboys for a UBAL state championship. The last time that those two schools meet in a UBAL championship final, which was in July 2007, Jordan defeated American Fork's 17-under age division team.
Throughout the course of the Aug. 8 championship game, the Awesome Cavemen did not play rusty during any of the innings. Of course, it had to be remembered that whereas American Fork's 16- and 17-under age division teams had to take the final week of July off because of bad weather, Thomas had his squad play in an all-star tournament sponsored by the UBAL. In playing against out-of-state, all-star teams, the Awesome Cavemen posted a 2-1 tournament record.
Applying what they had learned from that tournament, the Awesome Cavemen managed to stay alive in the UBAL playoffs long enough for a state against Jordan.
American Fork came out strong in the first inning of the title game. Singles from Griffy Larsen and Ryan Hardman enabled American Fork to load the bases on no outs in the top of the first. A Dylan Johnson walk scored Larsen and set off a four-run rally that saw Ike Garlick and Easton "Easty" Adamson each single in a run.
Having played in the league's 16-under and 17-under tournaments, pitching Johnston showed a passionate determination to shine on the mound. During the game's first two innings, for example, he struck out a total of three batters, even though he walked Forest Sherwood in the bottom of the first.
On two outs in the top of the second, Hardman doubled into center, and Johnston rocketed a right-field single. Jordan's grounding out Treyson "Squirrel" Norton snuffed out American Fork's anticipation for a two-out rally.
A grandnephew of former Brighton Bad Old Puddy Tat boys' basketball coach Duke Reid, Ryan Reid shot a right-field double, only to get pinched in a fielder's choice play at home. After Marty "The Real" McCoy grounded out, Kaden Park doubled in Adamson and Garlick to improve the lead at 5-0.
In the bottom of the third, Trapper Bridger singled into left, and before long, the Plowboys loaded the bases on no outs. Tristan "Hotdog" Schetzel singled in Bridger to open a three-run rally. During it, a Kyson walk scored Andy Fisk, but McKay "Tiller" Tilby got thrown out at home. After Carson Gage batted in a run, American Fork, under reliever Larsen, shut Jordan down. The Plowboys would not score again until the fifth.
In the meantime, American Fork went on another scoring rally in the fourth's top half. Johnston set the scoring spree in motion through tripling in Brett Collins, a nephew of AF High soccer legend Shane Jackson. On one out, McCoy singed in Johnston. Aided by a Reid single, Garlick batted in Norton. The rally ended suddenly with Caden Parduhn popping out to first.
Larsen's pitching frustrated the Plowboys until the fifth's lower half when Robby "Noose" Gallo sinled in Carson on two outs. American Fork pinched Gallo in a fielder's choice play at second to end the fifth.
Reid belted his second straight single during the top of the sixth, but Adamson's striking out kept the late Duke Reid's grandnephew stuck on base.
In the sixth's lower half, Stein doubled in Bridger on two outs, but he soon became stranded on base.
Getting on base on a seventh-inning walk, Garlick soon stole home for the final Awesome Caveman run.
Though Larsen gave up a two-out single to Gallo in the bottom of the seventh, the American Fork defense kept the Plowboys in check, clinching the UBAL's 15-under age division 2014 state pennant for the Awesome Cavemen.
Thomas said, "We jumped out early and stayed on fire all the way through the game. Our playing in last week's Prospect Games helped us to tune for this tourament. Today is great thing for our boys to build from."