Giant-Killing Twins

Timp Sports Weekly
June 22, 2009

Publisher's Message

This week's cover story regards an American Fork Pony League story that could have been a plot for one of the the Bad News Bears movies in the 1970's. We also look at Colt League and Utah Baseball Academy League action during the past week. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Giant-Killing Twins Blast Way Into Championship Showdown with Pirates in AF Pony League Playoffs
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Twins player Andy Maxwell epitomized his American Fork Pony League team in its June 18 playoff game against the Giants, the league's defending champs. Though he struck out three times while at bat on Bus Manning Field, he still slugged a seventh-inning, one-out single that reeled Treven Hendry for a RBI that helped the Twins win 16-7 over the Giants and lift the team to a June 22 showdown with the Pirates for the AFPL playoff pennant.

Twin Coach Brent Bateman said, "We had a rough year. We lost quite a few games, and we finished second to last in the regular season. It was great to see our guys to come back to be able to play in the championship game."

With the Twins having finished so low in regular season standings, it was unfathomable to imagine that they would be able to make it to the June 22 championship series. Yet, they were still in the tradition of the fictional Bad News Bears and the 1989 American Fork Angels, two teams with dismal records that still made it to championship games.

Having lost a game earlier in this year's league tournament, the Twins battled their way through the single-elimination bracket to face off with the Giants for the right to play the Pirates, this year's regular season champs. The Twins never trailed in the June 18 game.

In the top of the first, a Jackson Flood sacrifice groundout scored T.J. Sumner, and Alex Fender singled in Sam Bateman to improve the Twins' lead at 2-0.

Pitcher Hendry held the Giants scoreless during the first three innings. Singling in the top of the third, Flood came home on a passed ball, sparking a six-run rally for the Twins. Sumner contributed a two-run double to the rally.

The next inning's top half saw the Twins load the bases on one out. Though pitcher Brig Murray picked Caleb Clark off at first, Hendry stole home while narrowly beating a throw fired at it.

The Giants finally got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Sam McGeary tripled in two runs, then came home on a Tanner Neilsen single.

In the fifth, Twin Connor Thomas hit a one-run single to spark a three-run rally. The Giants kept the Twins from putting the game away that inning. The Giants went on to hold the Twins scoreless in the sixth.

The sixth saw Giant Tyler Dutson double in a run and come home on a Kolbey Cordova single to cut the lead to 12-5.

The Twins picked up four insurance runs in the top half of the seventh. Fender singled in Bateman while Hendry whalloped a two-run triple. Though the Giants did put Maxwell out at second after he had singled Hendry in, they found themselves in a losing battle to retain their league title.

Each singling in the bottom of the inning, Neilsen and Rick Elliot each stole home plate, but the Twins quickly shut the Giants down and moved on to get ready for the June 22 championship series, scheduled to be played at Bus Manning.

AF 16-U Team Flatten Orem 18-8 in UBAL Game June 16
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Tiggers, the Orem Tigers usually have much of a bounce. However, their 16-under division team couldn't bounce away with a win from the American Fork Cavemen's home diamond during Utah Baseball Academy League action June 17. That was because the Cavemen flatted the Tigers 18-8 during a nine-run rally in the bottom of the sixth.

Orem sprung onto the scoreboard first in the top of the first. That inning, Orem's Brett Tittle and Nolan Gray both came home on passed balls after pitcher Blake Brailsford had walked them.

The Tigers held the Cavemen scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Brailsford got even by not letting Orem players get on base during the second and third innings. Brailsford's actions allowed the Cavemen to take firm control of the game during those two rounds.

Spurred on by an Orem error in the bottom of the second, Cade Hill singled in Jeremy Reynolds to spark a seven-run rally for the Cavemen. The next inning, Caveman Taylor Frost hit a left-field single to advance J.D. Evans into scoring position. Evans soon stole home, improving American Fork's lead at 8-2.

The Tigers proved in the fourth that they could still bounce back into the game. In the top of that inning, Dave Mella and Sammy Wright each singled in a run. Wright also scored on an error that occurred seconds after Mella's one-run single.

With Orem now within 8-5, the Cavemen attempted to rebuild their big lead. Even though American Fork loaded the bases on two outs in the bottom of the fourth, they couldn't make any more runs that inning after a Frost walk had scored Tyson Heaps.

Orem kept American Fork's lead stuck at 9-5 in the fifth. The next inning, the Tigers bounced really close to tying the game. In the sixth's top half, Wright hit a two-run double, then came home on a Ty Denning single to cut the lead 9-8.

American Fork Coach Andy Lewis said, "Our bats fell asleep in the fifth, but they came awake in the sixth and came through for us."

Hit into left during the sixth's lower half, a Heaps triple tipped the momentum back into American Fork's favor. Reynolds singled in Heaps to start the decisive rally. It climaxed with Evans hitting a three-run double that ended the game.

PG Angels Fly Away With 10-5 Win Over AF Dodgers In Colt League Play
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In an American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League game at American Fork's Rotary Park June 17, the Pleasant Grove Angels flew away with a 10-5 win over the American Fork Dodgers.

Spurred on by Riley Smith double, the Angels grabbed a 7-4 lead over American Fork during the first three innings. In the bottom of the third, the Dodgers scored two runs on a Pleasant Grove error, and Cam Buck came home on a passed ball to put American Fork within 7-4.

Two American Fork errors permitted the Angels to pick up two runs in the fourth. American Fork loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, and Dodger Janzen Frampton came home on a passed ball. That was the last American Fork run that Pleasant Grove allowed to occur.

Juan Diego Pitcher Uses The Force Effectively Against PG In 17-U Division Game June 19
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In watching the Juan Diego Soaring Eagles win 9-2 over the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' 17-under team in Utah Baseball Academy League action in Draper June 19, spectators could not help but want to rename the home team pitcher Luke Skywalker.

Acting like a Jedi Knight using the Force, pitcher Luke West struck out 10 Pleasant Grove batters and didn't let the Ferocious Vikings score any runs until the fifth inning. West's performance at the mound allowed the Soaring Eagles to build up a 5-0 lead in the first four innings.

After West had posted three strikeouts in the top of the first, the inning's lower half saw A.J. Begay hit a one-run single that spark a three-run rally for the Soaring Eagles. Hitting a one-out double in the second's lower half, Brock Garn came home on a Viking error at first. In the third, Begay slugged another one-run single, only to become ensnared in a Viking double play that ended the inning.

The Vikings finally got a hit in the fourth when Calder "Blue" Bonnett hit an infield single at the start of the inning. Bonnett got thrown out in a fielder's choice play, and the Vikings had to wait until the fifth to get onto the scoreboard. Hitting right-field single at the start of the fifth, Stevie Rockhill soon scored the Vikings' first run during an error at third.

In the sixth's top half, Pleasant Grove's Jordan King and Keaton Secretan each slugged a single, but the Soaring Eagle defense made them become stranded on base.

In the bottom of the sixth, Soaring Eagles Frankie Sutera singled and Mitch Moncur doubled, setting the stage for destructive work carried out by Garn. He doubled in Sutera and Moncur. Garn then came home on a passed ball, concluding Juan Diego scoring for the night.

Hitting a seventh-inning single into left, Viking Bo Caldwell soon moved into scoring position on a Rockhill single. Caldwell then raced home on a passed ball during two outs. Shortstop Garn grounded out Terry Cardon to shut down Pleasant Grove's remaining chances for rallying back.

AF Cavebatters Fall to Las Vegas Longhorns at Bruin Classic
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The American Fork Cavemen got eliminated 7-6 by the Las Vegas Longhorns in a semifinal game of the Bruin Classic, played June 20 at Salt Lake Community College's Cate Field in West Jordan.

American Fork Coach Jarod Ingersoll said, "Our guys have a great commitment level this year than they did this year. More of them are making the decision to show up at our games more often. Colton Dunn and Jeremy Reynolds played really good in the tournament. Dunn today went 2-3 at the plate, and Reynolds played really good defense.

"We had won our pool play to earn the right to be the championship bracket. We posted a 2-1 record in our pool, losing only to Kearns. We shot ourselves in the foot in the Kearns game, because we blew a four-run lead in the final inning. The teams we did beat in pool play were Uintah and the Utah Elite."

In the5-3 win against Utah Elite, Jake Blackhurst hit a double for the Cavemen while Taylor Tonks slugged two singles.

The Las Vegas team that American Fork took on in the June 2o game was an American Legion outfit. The Longhorns' pitcher, Jim Allen, held the Cavemen scoreless in the second, third, fifth, and sixth. Allen's handiwork permitted Las Vegas to stay ahead for the entire game.

In the top of the first, shortstop Reynolds grounded out leadoff batter Chase Skinner. Pitcher Dunn walked Speedy Ortiz and gave up a single to Austin Christensen. Seconds after American Fork had nailed Ortiz in a fielder's choice play at home, Zach Monticelli hit a one-run double, and Joey Lauria singled in two runs.

With Jake Blackhurst getting on base through an error in the bottom of the first, Ben Beddes tripled him in. Pierce Skinner's one-run single in the second improved the Longhorns' lead at 4-1. It grew to 5-1 in the fourth through Ty Thurston's scoring on a sacrifice groundout.

On two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Dunn singled in Reynolds and Ryan Draper. Dunn got stranded on base.

Las Vegas loaded the bases on one out in the sixth, and after a Pierce Skinner walk had scored a run, Ryan Hall took over pitching duties for American Fork. First baseman Dunn turned up a double play to prevent a long Longhorn rally.

For the seventh, Longhorn Don Glover singled into center, and Monticelli batted him in for the final Las Vegas run.

Singles from Dunn and Colton Whatcott spark a rally for the Cavemen in the bottom of the seventh. As soon as an Aaron Hill walk had loaded the bases, Las Vegas pulled Allen and had Monticelli pitch. The pitching change didn't stop a American Fork rally. Hall singled in Dunn to begin the rally. After a Blackhurst sacrifice fly had scored Whatcott, Hall came home on a passed ball. Monticelli struck out Ben Beddes to end the game.

In Utah Baseball Academy League action at Riverton June 19, the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA Silverpups, defeated the Cavemen 5-4 in an eight-inning affair. American Fork took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, but the Sivlerpups pulled ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the inning. Dunn scored sixth-inning run to force the game into an eighth inning.

During the loss at Riverton, Reynolds hit a double while Hall and Dunn each slugged two singles.

Preseason Summer Baseball Tourney

Timp Sports Weekly
June 16, 2009

Publisher's Message

While we do look at some Colt League baseball action in last week's action, much of this week's issue is focused on the American Fork Cavemen's participation on a preseason tournament, sponsored by the Utah Baseball Academy. Let's get to those stories right now.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

AF Cubs Pull Out 10-5 Win Over AF Cardinals in AF-PG Colt League Play
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League action at American Fork's Rotary Park June 8, the American Fork Cubs clubbed the Cardinals 10-5.

The contest was a grand contrast to a June 6 game in which the Cubs had to play the Lehi Pirates for three hours before finally scuttling them in the 10th inning.

On one out in the top of the first, Cub Kaden McMurtry doubled into left, and teammates Caden Taylor and Jim Davis soon joined him on base through walks. Derek Durfey singled in McMurtry and Taylor, only to get thrown out at second. Davis soon scored a run on a passed ball.

The bottom of the first opened with C.J. Miller doubling into left. Soon a Jordan "Salty" Saltmarsh sacrifice groundout scored Miller. That was the only run that the Cubs let the Cardinals make that inning.

With two runners on base and one out, Cub leadoff hitter Aki sinlged MarkMcDonald in, setting off a five-run rally. With three of their four second-inning batters striking out, the Cardinals couldn't score any runs in the round.

Hitting a third-inning single into left, McDonald soon came home on a passed ball. A Taylor Tonks sacrifice groundout scored Brett Miller for the final Cub run soon afterwards.

In spite of holding the Cubs scoreless through the rest of the game, the Cardinals couldn't turn the contest around to their favor. The Cardinals did have a good fourth inning, though. In the bottom of it, Matt Ludlow and Tyler Romney each scored a run on a passed ball after having gotten on base through a single and a walk respectively. C.J. Miller singled in Regan Grossgebauer, then came home on a Devin Anderson double.

Hitting a double into left in the bottom of the fifth, Taison Smith attempted to turn his hit into a triple, but the Cubs tagged him. The next batter, Ludlow doubled into left, and he went on to score the Cardinals' final run through a Skyler Davis single.

AF Cavebatters Fall to Bingham in Preseason Tournament Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

With light rain constantly falling, the American Fork Cavemen began a Utah Baseball Academy-sponsored tournament with a loss at home June 9. AKA the Pickers, the Bingham Miners shut American Fork out 1-0 in that game.

It went down as a pitching duel between Bingham's Mason Marshall and American Fork's Jeremy Reynolds. Giving up no hits to American Fork, Marshall stuck out nine batters. While giving up five, Reynolds posted eight strikeouts.

The pitching duel was so tight that no scoring occurred until the top of the seventh. That inning, Bingham's Derrick Whitney tripled into right, and Billy Anderson's sacrifice groundout scored him for the game's only run.

Both sides played exceptionally great defense. Bingham, for instance, slugged American Fork with a fourth-inning double play. American Fork shortstop Kai Clayton turned up a double play of his own in the top of the sixth.

Acting American Fork head coach Corey Clayton said, "I was pleased with our defense. We just didn't make any hits. I was impressed with our pitching. We had no errors tonight."

Cavebatters Wash Away Northridge Knights 13-0 in Preseason Tourney Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In second-day action of a preseason tournament sponsored by the Utah Baseball Academy, the American Fork Cavemen posted a 13-0 win at home June 10 against the Northridge Knights, AKA the Iron Studs.

American Fork Coach Jarod Ingersoll said, "We came out and hit the ball really good. Both of our pitcher, Colton Dunn and Kyle Wright, threw really well. We did some really great things on defense, and we ran the bases well."

In the top of the first inning, Dunn struck the first three Knight batters. The starting Caveman pitcher would go on to post five strikeouts for the night.

Northride second baseman Larry Lyons grounded out the first three Caveman runners in the bottom of the first.

After Taison Smith had flown out to first baseman Austin Meyers in the bottom of the first, Kai Clayton hit an infield single. Dunn singled him in, only to become ensnared in a double play a short time later.

Having singled into center at the start of the third's bottom half, Wright came home on a Nick Searle single. Jake Blackhurst hit doubled Searle in, and he then came home on a passed ball. American Fork soon loaded the bases on one out soon afterwards, giving the impression that the third-inning rally was going to continue. However, pitcher Clint Bialack struck out Colton "Fig" Whatcott, then grounded out Dunn to keep American Fork's lead stuck at 4-0.

Despite giving up a single to Searle in the fourth, Bialack held American Fork scoreless that inning. The fifth inning went down as long, real-life nightmare for Northridge's pitching staff. No matter which hurlers the Knights put on the mound, Layton could not shut American Fork down, once a Tyler Flinders single had brought in a run. The ensuing rally yielded nine runs for the Cavemen while Reynold and Derek Durfey each hit a two-run double for American Fork.

Cavebatters Decimate Layton 9-3 in Preseason Tourney Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having a June 11 game against the Brighton Bengals, AKA the Bad Old Puddy Tats, canceled because of rain, the American Fork Cavemen won 9-3 at home June 12 against the Layton Lancers, alias the Stickers, in a preseason tournament sponsored by the Utah Baseball Academy.

American Fork acting head coach Lynn Anderson said, "In both of the innings that we scored, our rallies began with bunts. We built our lead upon them."

American Fork pitcher Taylor Tonks threw all seven innings, posting nine strikeouts during the course of the game.

Layton loaded the bases on two outs in the top of the first. Ty Accianne hit a two-run single to open the game's scoring. As the Lancers' starting pitcher, Accianne preserved their 2-0 lead during the first two innings, even though he gave up a second-inning single to Zach Robinson.

In the bottom of the third, Jeremy Reynolds bunted a single, resulting quickly in American Fork loading the bases on one out. Colt "Fig" Walton singled Reynolds in to start the Cavemen's first rally. After a Taison Smith sacrifice fly had scored Derek Durfey, Kyle Hall came home on an error, putting the Cavemen ahead 3-2.

Accianne held American Fork scoreless in the fourth and fifth, even though Nick Searle did slug a fourth-inning single off him.

At the start of the fifth, Tonks walked Juan "Jack" Paiz got on base. However, the Cavemen forced Paiz out at third right after Chris Kaysan had hit a double. Carson Hardison singled Kaysan for a tying run, but got stuck on base.

The game stayed tied at three until the bottom of the sixth. Bunting a single off a pitcher from reliever Paiz, Robinson soon moved into scoring position. With Paiz walking Searle next, American Fork commenced acquiring the moment it needed for pulling off a decisive rally. After Paiz had grounded out Jeremy Reynolds, Kai Clayton singled Robinson and Searle in. Hall and Walton each whacked a one-run single to keep the rally going. Taison Smith hit a two-run double to send Layton severely damaged into the final inning.

In the top of the seventh, Tonks grounded out Paiz and struck out another two batters, putting the game away for American Fork.

Pony-Colt League baseball

Timp Sports Weekly
June 8, 2009

Publisher's Message

With the high school sports seasons over until fall, we are now focusing on summer baseball action. For this issue, we will be looking at stories about games played recently in the American Fork Pony and American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt leagues. We will also look at the return of American Legion baseball to American Fork. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Pirates Win American Fork Pony League Through Sinking White Sox 16-4 June 2
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In what was a tight battle for the American Fork Pony League's regular season championship June 2, the Pirates staged a 12-run rally in the fifth inning to sink the White Sox 16-4. The explosive rally earned the Pirates a regular season pennant.

Last year, the Giants beat the Pirates for both the regular season and post-season pennants.

Pirate Coach Brian "Bucket" Parker said, "We won the league outright tonight. We haven't lost game all year. We were able to take the game tonight in spite of missing four key players."

The first four innings went down as one of the tightest battles for the Pirates this spring. Taking only one league loss into the June 2, the White Sox looked as though they would have an awesome chance of winning the regular season title.

The White Sox's first pitcher, Emmett Green, opened the game by striking out Ken "Bam Bam" Thomas. After No. 2 hitter Brock Tanner had singled off Green, he worked his way around to third base, only to see Riley "Beatie" Smith ground out to the pitcher, ending the first's top half.

Pitching for the Pirates in the bottom of the first, Thomas walked Jake Ingerson and Jade Lucker. Though the pitcher tagged Ingerson at the plate soon afterwards, Lucker beat a throw to home, scoring the game's first run.

The next inning, the Pirates loaded the bases on two outs. Tanner singled in Riley "Fun Side" Cox, and Pirate Colby "Foot Long" Walker scored the tie-breaking run on an infield error.

The White Sox didn't let the Pirates enjoy their 2-1 lead for long. Reliever Lucker didn't let a single Pirate get on base during the top of the third. Walked by Thomas in the bottom of the third, Brandon Wright came home on two errors. Thomas fanned three straight batters, though, to delay the White Sox from retaking the lead.

Singling into left during the fourth's top half, Tanner stole his way around to third. On two outs, Smith singled Tanner in to put the Pirates ahead 3-2. Lucker shut them down briefly by striking
out Cox.

The lead once more slipped from the Pirates' grasp during the bottom of the fourth. On one out, Tommy Nelson singled Green in, and he scored a go-ahead run to give the White Sox a 4-3 advantage.

"In the fifth, we decided it was to time to show them our potential. When we had the bases loaded on one out, Keaton ["Big Foot" Whittern] hit a big, two-run double that got a rally going for us. It snowballed from there," Parker said.

Whittern's two-run hit put the Pirates ahead 5-4, and they never looked back. A two-run double hit by Tanner helped the Pirates rack up 13 runs in the ensuing rally, which caused the White Sox to go through three pitchers.

In the bottom of the inning, the White Sox couldn't put any runners on base.

Highland White Sox Sock AF Dodgers With 17-1 Loss in Colt League Action June 5
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Through belting out 11 hits, the Highland White Sox socked the American Fork Dodgers 17-1 in AF-PG Colt League action at American Fork's Rotary Park June 5.

Singles from Jory Bowers and Jordan Rasmussen empowered Highland to take firm control of the game during the top of the first. After Rasmussen's single had reeled Bowers in, the White Sox scored their next two runs on American Fork errors.

Three strikeouts in the bottom of the first prevented the Dodgers from rallying back, even though they did put Mitch McGeary on base through a walk.

American Fork held Highland's lead to 3-0 until the top of the third. With that inning opening with a Rasmussen triple hit into center, the White Sox quickly turned the game into a rout. Preston Jensen singled in Rasmussen, and Highland became very difficult for American Fork to shut down. The Dodgers went through a string of pitchers while the White Sox jacked up the score through clubbing seven hits, including Austin Arnett's three-run double.

On one out in the bottom of the third, Jensen Frampton singled in Colby Massa for American Fork's only run for the night. Frampton attempted to turn his single into a double, but Highland forced him out at second.

Singling on one out in the top of the fourth, White Sox Josh Bezzant soon stole home, opening another rally. As soon as Taylor Jensen had reached third base on two errors, Rasmussen singled him in. Rasmussen then stole home, concluding the evening's scoring.


AF Cubs Take Down PG Angels 9-2 In Colt League Action June 2
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In June 2 American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League action at Rotary Park in American Fork, the American Fork Cubs fell the Pleasant Grove Angels 9-2.

Known only as Aki, American Fork's leadoff batter epitomized the hitting power that the Cubs displayed that devastated Pleasant Grove during the six-inning game. In going 2-3 at the plate, Aki smacked two doubles into left field. However, he didn't drive in any runs. By the time the game ended, American Fork had racked up 11 hits.

Neither team could score during the first inning. In the top of the second inning, Angel Tony Pitts hit a single into center, but American Fork soon pinched him for a second out during a fielder's choice play at third.

Cub Jim Davis opened the second's lower half through singling into left. As soon as a Caden Taylor single had moved Davis to third, Kaden McMurtry hit a two-run single. McMurtry attempted to steal home, but catcher Mitch Carr tagged him. Brayden Schneider hit a triple, only to become stranded on base.

American Fork held the Angels scoreless during the game's first four innings.

In the third inning, Derek Durfey singled Aki in to open a long rally for the Cubs. Taylor Taylors tripled Durfey in, then stole home. Soon Burt Miller hit a two-run double, then came on an error.

Matt Yates' fifth-inning double opened the way for the Angels to fly onto the scoreboard at last.
On one out, Ryan Dumas doubled Yates in, then came home on a Scott Call sacrifice fly. American Fork soon slapped the Angels with a double play that retired them into the field. The Cubs didn't let Pleasant Grove make any more runs after the fifth.

During one out, Tonks singled Kyler Houston in, but got thrown out at second while attempting to extend the hit into a double. Davis singled into left, but Pleasant Grove kept him stranded on base.

The Cubs got even by not letting any Pleasant Grove player get on base in the sixth.

Morgan Trojans Bounce Past AF Cardinals in Both Games of American Legion Doubleheader
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly

The return of American Legion baseball to American Fork June 4 got spoiled by the Morgan Trojans, who defeated the American Fork Cardinals in both ends of a doubleheader played at American Fork's Rotary Park. Morgan won both games by scores of 8-7 and 6-2.

With one out in the top of the first game's opening inning, the Trojans bounced ahead 2-0 on singles from Lantzen Toomer and Curtis DeYoung.

While Morgan was basically a team staffed with players who had seen action in the recent 3-A baseball season, the team that the Trojans took comprised mainly of lads who didn't play for the American Fork Cavemen's baseball team this year. Though also a team in the American Fork-Pleasant Grove Colt League, the Cardinals proved, however, they could hold their own against Morgan.

Opening the bottom of the first with a double, Cardinal C.J. Miller soon got forced out at third. Singling into right, Devin Anderson, American Fork's No. 2 hitter, also got forced out. However, Jordan "Salty" Saltmarsh soon stole home for the only Cardinal run of the inning.

The next inning, Morgan's Tanner Earl doubled Graham Mortensen in and scored a run himself on Cormick Beshears' sacrifice fly in right field.

Morgan's 4-1 lead vanished abruptly in the bottom of the second. As soon as pitcher Garrison Alder had walked Regan Grossgebauer and Matt "Huck" Finn, Miller hit a three-run homer over the left-field fence to tie the game at four.

On two outs in the third, Toomer tripled into right, and Kade Dearden singled him in. Dearden then went on to steal home

Singling into right in the bottom of the third, Cardinal Taison Smith soon scored on an error at third. Morgan didn't let American Fork go on a scoring rally that inning, though.

Getting on base through being hit by a Smith pitch in the fourth, Earl tried stealing second, but American Fork put him out there. Reliever Smith didn't let Morgan make any runs in the fourth.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Anderson singled in Finn to tie the game at six. Morgan retaliated by slapping American Fork with a double play.

It turned out to be one of two crucial events late in the game. The other crucial event was Morgan's loading the bases on one out. An Earl walk scored a run, and Beshears hit a one-run single to conclude Trojan scoring for the game.

Singles from Smith and Matt "Lugnut" Ludlow resulted in the Cardinals loading the bases on two outs in the bottom of the fifth. A Grossgebauer walk scored Smith, but Alder struck out Miller to end the inning.

With American Fork keeping the Trojans from capitalizing on Jordan Wombsley's sixth-inning single, the Cardinals received a sweet opportunity at pulling back out in front. However, after Smith had hit his third straight single to go 3-4 at the plate, Alder struck out Ludlow.

Getting on base through an error in the top of the first, Earl soon came home on a passed ball, triggering athree-run rally, highlighted by Wombsley's one-run single.

Morgan held American Fork scoreless during the first three innings of Game 2. During those same three rounds, the Trojans made all of their runs. In the second inning, Beshears singled Earl in. The next inning, Morgan picked up two runs on an error and a Toomer sacrifice fly.

Getting on through an fourth-inning walk, Anderson scored the first American Fork run during a fielder's choice play at second. In the fifth, the night's scoring concluded with a Miller sacrifice fly scoring Ty Roberts.

Throwing for six innings during the game, Cardinal Jim Davis posted 10 strikeouts.

Memorial Weekend Baseball Tournament

Timp Sports Weekly
May 26, 2009

Publisher's Message

With the high school sports season now history, we will be turning our attention to the world of summer baseball. Through the next several issues of this magazine, we will be covering games played by northern Utah County's high schools' teams. We will also be devoting coverage to teams playing in the American Fork Pony and Timp Colt leagues. For this issue, we look at how the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings and Lone Knights, AKA Loners, fared in last Saturday's action of the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball's Memorial Day Tournament. Let's get to the action!

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Ferocious PG Bounces Back to Beat Riverton Silverpups After Losing to Lone Peak
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After losing a close game to the Lone Peak Gold Knights, AKA Loners, in a May 23 game at Lone Peak, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings bounced back to win 10-4 over the Riverton Silverwolves, alias Silverpups, in a second-round game of the 18-under age division of the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball's Memorial Day Weekend Invitational.

Spurred by Nate Hardman's three-run homer in the first inning, the Vikings secured a 5-0 lead. It received a severe cut the next inning. In the bottom of the second, Riley Slaymaker hit a one-run single to spark a four-run rally, fueled by two Pleasant Grove errors and a Colton Pickering single.

Though unable to score in the bottom of the second, the Vikings settled down in the top of the third to keep the Silverwolves from catching up with them. Mitch Dahl's pitching kept Riverton from picking up a fifth run in the game.

The Vikings, meanwhile, pulled away in the bottom of the third. As soon as Viking Bo Caldwell had hit a one-out single that inning, Stephen Rockhill doubled him in to launch another five-run rally. Rhett Rickenbach fueled it with a one-run single. Soon, Keaton singled him and Rockhill in. Pleasant Grove then loaded the bases. With Colby Croft getting accidentally hit by a pitcher, Keaton scored the 10th Viking run.

Although Riverton held the Vikings in check after the third, the Silverwolves couldn't recover from that inning.

Pleasant Grove Coach Brian Belliston said, "This game taught us that we need to maintain our focus and intensity. We lost both of those things in the Lone Peak earlier this morning."

In the game against the Black Knights, Pleasant Grove took a 6-2 lead in the first two innings. However, the Vikings let up after the second inning. Singles from Brayden Matheson and Travis Thomas sparked Lone Peak into rallying back. Staging a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth, the Black Knights went on to defeat the Vikings 9-8.

Rickenbach produced two singles and two runs for Pleasant Grove in that game. Secretan contributed a single to the Vikings' losing effort.

Lone Peak Black Knights Battle Northridge Knights to 8-8 Draw
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly

At a May 23 game for the 18-under division of the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball's Memorial Weekend Invitational, the Lone Peak Black Knights, AKA Loners, battled to an 8-8 draw the Northridge Knights, alias the Iron Studs.

Played at Lone Peak, the game saw scoring open in the bottom of the second when Northridge's Ty Gabile doubled in Gavin Farr.

Hitting a one-out, infield single in the top of the third, Matt Olson soon came home on a Logan Leavitt sacrifice fly. Knight Kyle Hannemann soon singled in Rhett Reiber to put Lone Peak ahead 2-1.

A fourth-inninng balk called against Northridge pitcher Colton Mahoney scored Dakota Murdock, who opened the round with a left-field single. Josh Stephan's sacrifice groundout scored Mike Draper. Keyan Norman singled in a run to improve Lone Peak's lead at 4-2

In the bottom of the fourth, Dominic Taylor hit a solo homer, The Gold Knights didn't let Northridge make any runs in the fifth and sixth innings. During those same two innings, Gold Knight Dane Petersen scored on a fifth-inning steal at home, and teammate Mark Simpson, no relation to TV's Bart Simpson, came home on a passed ball.

After clubbing the Gold Knights with a seventh-inning double play, the Northridge boys capitalized on Lone Peak mistakes in the bottom of the seventh to stage a four-run rally fueled by singles hit by Mahoney, Mike Goodrich, and Clint Lilac.

With the score tied at six, the game went into extra innings. Each team scored a run in each of the extra innings. Because of the tournament scheduled, the umpires declared the game a draw after the ninth.

Riverton Silverpups Defeat Lone Peak Gold Knights 4-3
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After the 10-4 bruising that the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings had served them earlier on May 23, the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA Silverpups, came back to win 4-3 over the Lone Peak Gold Knights in a Rocky Mountain School of Baseball Memorial Invitational game at Lone Peak.

Neither team could score during the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Riverton's Nate Hartley hit an infield single, and he soon came home on a passed ball. Having singled earlier in the inning, Taylor Bell came home on a passed ball, and teammate Bo Davison hit a one-run single to improve the Silverpups' advantage at 3-0.

In the bottom of the inning, Gold Knight Keyan Norman hit a two-run double, and in the fifth, Josh Scoresby's one-run single tied the game at three.

Lone Peak's comeback attempt crashed the next inning. In the top of the sixth, Bell singled into left, and Riley Slaymaker doubled him in. Bell followed up his tie-breaking run through striking out three straight Gold Knights in the bottom of the inning to clutch the game for Riverton.


Lone Peak Black Knights Shut Out Davis Darts 3-0
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having come from behind to beat the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings 9-8 in a first-round game for the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball Memorial Day Invitational's 18-under division, the Lone Peak Black Knights, AKA the Loners, shut out the Davis Darts 3-0 in a second-round game at Lone Peak May 23.

Black Knight pitcher Travis Thomas threw a one-hitter during the five-inning game. The only Dart to hit off him, Jayce Day smacked a single into left, only to become stranded at second.
Thomas posted three strikeouts during the game.

In the bottom of the first, Brayden and Ryan Savage each hit a one-out single. Ethan Sannon singled in Matheson. In the third inning's lower half, Black Knight Matt Oakman tripled into left. Matheson singled in a run, then stole home to complete the game's scoring. The fourth opened with Thomas hit a center-field double, but Davis caused him to become stranded at third.

Season Finales

Timp Sports Weekly
May 18, 2009

Publisher's Message

This week's issue covers the conclusions of the Lehi and American Fork soccer and track seasons. We will also look at the Lehi Pioneers' performance in the still on-going state 5-A girls' softball tournament. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Lehi Pioneers' Soccer Season Ends in Split of 2 Home Games
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Life dealt a hard blow to the Lehi Pioneers' dreams of finishing their 5-A soccer days with a state championship last week. A split in two state playoff games at Lehi cost the Pioneers their season.
In an octafinal state game May 12, Lehi hopped away with a 3-1 win over the Skyline Eagles, AKA the Tweeties. However, in a May 15 quarterfinal, the Vicious Viewmont Vikings scuttled the Pioneers 2-1.

The first 30 minutes of the Skyline game went down as a deadlocked battle as Lehi goalie Riley Anderson and his Eagle counterpart Matt Kershaw held their own.

Addy Rice, Scotty Nelson, Andrus Jones, and Nielsen Lofgren led the Skyline attempt at snapping the Pioneer defense. It proved unbreakable until midway through the second half.

Meanwhile, Ryan Curtis, Austin Tuckett, and Ben Prisendorf directed an unrelenting series of Pioneer attacks deep into Eagle territory. Curtis, for example, came really close to scoring the game's first goal when he produced a breakaway play in the middle of the first half. Kershaw intercepted Curtis' shot, however.

Ten minutes before halftime, Prisendorf passed the ball to Spencer Gray to put Lehi ahead 1-0. The Pioneers couldn't improve on upon their lead, though.

Anderson did keep it intact just before halftime. Shortly before the referee whistled the start of halftime, the Pioneer goalie picked off a direct shot kicked by Nelson.

The Eagles became more aggressive on offense in the second half. Anderson managed to keep their shots from fly across the goal line -- until 18 minutes into the period.

Taking a pass from Jim Madsen, Lofgren scored a tying goal. As Lehi attempted to break the 1-1 deadlock, sweeper Graham Empy frustrated the Pioneers with steals. Empy's efforts turned out to be vain, though.

Pioneer Zach Morgan broke the tie during a breakaway a play. Morgan kicked in a successful shots before Kershaw could get to him.

Skyline received a chance for tying the game at two when Madsen made an indirect kick. A small contingent of Pioneers rushed together to keep Madsen's kick from flying into the net.

With eight minutes left, Tuckett connected a pass to Curtis for a third Pioneer goal. It put the game away.

The win gave Lehi the right to host the Vikings in the quarterfinals. In the May 15 game, Ian Ramos scored the game's first goal. Lehi couldn't improve upon its 1-0 lead. Viking Jared Peterson tied the game at one, and midway through the second half, Viewmont's Brandon "Donald" Trump kicked in a tie-breaking goal, which was his way of saying, "Lehi, you're eliminated!"

The Pioneers will be spending next spring playing in a 4-A league.

Lehi Softball Team Wins Over Skyline, But Loses at Syracuse
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Lehi Pioneers split two games in the first two rounds of their state 5-A softball tournament. At Lehi May 13, they won 5-4 over the Skyline Eagles, AKA the Tweeties. Lehi dropped a road game May 15 in Syracuse, when the Titans, alias the Midgets, shut them out 2-0.

In the Skyline game, Lehi had five hits and had no errors. Whitney Cook hit two homers, including one that broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth to give Lehi the win.

Skyline posted a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the May 13 game, and the Eagles stretched their advantage to 3-0 on a third-inning run. Cook hit her first homer in the bottom of the third, but Skyline picked up a run in the fourth. Lehi tied the game at four in the bottom of the fourth.

In the Sryacuse game, Lehi pitcher Ariel Zimmerman fanned 11 Titan batters. Zimmerman's performance became overshadowed by Titan pitcher Ashley Ostler in the bottom of the third. That inning, Ostler hit a one-run triple, and she came home on a wild pitch to end the game's scoring.

Local Tracksters Finish Season Through Placing High at State Meet
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

At the State 5-A track, hosted by Brigham Young University May 14-15, northern Utah County athletes finished their season with placing high in 17 events.

Lone Peak's Angie Kaplar finished her prep career by winning a third straight state championship in the girls' 100-meter hurdles. She said, "Going out with a third straight state title in the 100 hurdles was a great way to finish my high school career."

She went on to finish seventh in the girls' 200-meter dash and 300-meter hurdles. She was also on the Lone Peak girls' 1,600-meter relay team that finished second in the finals. Lone Peak Coach Misty "Windy's Blackmailing Sister" Jorgensen said, "By placing second today, our girls' 4x400 relay team set a new school record of 3:56."

Kaplar's teammates on the squad included Megan Smith, Megan Mower, and Taryn Toolsen.

Lone Peak also finished fourth in the girls' 400-meter relay.

With a score of 40, Lone Peak finished fourth in the girls' division, and the Loners also finished 11th in the boys' after picking up 18 points. American Fork and Lehi each made 12 points in the boys' division to tie for 18th place. Posting five points, the American Fork Cavewomen tied the Copper Hills Grizzlies and the manly Spanish Fork Lady Dons for 21st in the girls' division.

Finishing fifth in the boys' 1,600-meter run, Lehi posted a new school record of 3.26.08. Lehi Coach Matt Rowe said, "For these four guys to do it was quite an accomplishment. Three of them are seniors. Preston Yardley is the only one we'll have back next year."

Yardley's departing teammates included Mikey Babcock, Zeke Rojas, and Jesse Tyson.

Rowe added, "I am proud of our two boyshot put throwers who placed."

In the shot put, Pioneer Jose Galindo took third and Dave Thompson seventh.

American Fork's Hannah Dehmel flung herself to a sixth-place finish in the girls' shot put. Teammate Taylir Garrison took seventh in the girls' high jump.

American Fork Coach Art Taylor said, "We're a young team. We will have most of our kids back next year."

Lone Peak's Steve Morrin finished second the boys' 3,200-meter run and third in the boys' 1,600-meter race. Also in the boys' 3,200-meter run, American Fork's Austin West and Robby Lee finished third and fourth respectively. in the boys' 1,600-meter run, Lee took eighth and West 12th.

"Our goal for the boys is to earn at least 30 points," said Ferocious Pleasant Grove Viking Coach Glenn Larsen. "The goal for our girls' team is to score in double figures."

The Vikings achieved both aims through the efforts of Levi Williams, Scotty Matheson, Julie Mazeika, and Autumn Robertson. Pleasant Grove picked up 34 points to finished fifth in the boys' division, and in the girls' competition, the Vikings earned 11 points.

Pleasant Grove's Levi Williams finished second in both the boys' 110- and 300-meter hurdles. Teammate Scotty Matheson took second in the boys' long jump and third in the high jump.

Mazieka finished seventh in the girls' 3,200-meter race, and Robertson took second in the girls' high jump.

Region Four Finales

Timp Sports Weekly
May 12, 2009

Publisher's Message

With the high school spring sports seasons winding down this month, this issue will be looking at the end of regular season schedules of American Fork and Lehi's softball, baseball, and soccer teams. This issue will also look at the recent Region Four track meet, hosted by Pleasant Grove. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

AF Lady Cavebatters End Season with Home Loss to Lone Peak While Lehi Splits 2 Home Games
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In last week's softball action, the American Fork Cavewomen and Lehi Pioneers finished their regular season schedule for this year. While American Fork got trampled 11-1 by the Lone Peak Knights, AKA Loners, in a Region Four finale at home May 6, Lehi split two home games.

The Cavewomen went into their last season game with another piece of bad luck. Hayley Holmstead, one of their leading hitters, had to end her season early because of knee surgery the week before. So an already handicapped American Fork found itself pitted against a Lone Peak team desirous to take out on the Cavewomen frustration that the Knights had been having since Lone Peak's one-run loss at Lehi five days before.

The Knights got onto the scoreboard first when a Raven King sacrifice groundout scored leadoff batter Lauren Gourdin, who had gotten on base through a walk. One-run singles by Jeni "Jedi" Keller and Racheal Schomacher stretched Lone Peak's lead to 3-0 during the first inning.

In the bottom of it, pitcher King struck out Alexis Morris and Annie Christensen while Megan Hansen grounded out to second base.

King kept Lone Peak's 3-0 lead intact until the Cavewomen loaded the bases on two outs in the bottom of the third. A wild pitch let Abby Pace race home. That run turned out to be the only one that the Knights let the Cavewomen have in the game.

With Janessa Ludlow singling in a run in the top of the fourth, the Knights quickly put the game away.

Over in Lehi that same day, Whitney Cook hit a two-run homer in the fifth to lift the Pioneers to a 5-3 win over the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings. Lehi Coach Leslie Warr said, "We had a 2-0 lead in the first two innings. PG scored two runs in the third, and we got a run in the bottom of the fourth. PG tied it at three in the fifth, and Whitney hit her two-run homer in the bottom of that inning. The win gave us a second-place finish region."

During the course of that thrilling game, Lisa Castleberry hit a single and homer for the Vikings while teammate Kenzi Jardine chipped in two singles. Shelby Lund contributed a single and a double to Lehi's winning cause. Ariel Zimmerman finished the game as its winning pitcher.

Lehi's last scheduled home game ended in a 6-4 loss to the Manti Templars, AKA the Fightin' Turkeys.

A Zimmerman double gave the Pioneers took a 1-o lead in the second dinning. Manti tied it at one in the fourth, and the Templars pulled ahead 5-1 on a four-run rally in the fifth. Lehi trimmed the lead to 5-4 in the sixth, but Manti picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, a Templar error let Zimmerman get on base, giving Lehi hope of least tying the game. However, after Casey Romero walked, Zimmerman got pinched in a fielder's choice play at third. That play virtually smashed Lehi's cause.

Besides her second-inning double, Zimmerman also belted a home run for Lehi. Lund hit two singles for the Pioneers during the game.


AF, Lehi Baseball Teams End Seasons With Losses
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The American Fork Cavemen and Lehi Pioneers each suffered two straight losses as they wrapped up their Region Four baseball schedules.

The Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings defeated American Fork 4-3 at home May 4 and 8-7 on the Cavemen's diamond May 6.

Besides pitching in the May 4 contest, Josh "Rim Hanger" Mooney hit a home run for the Cavemen. They took a 1-0 in the first inning. Pleasant Grove tied the game at one in the third. American Fork sneaked ahead 3-1 in the fifth. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Johnny Burton hit a three-run homer to give the Vikings the win.

For the May 6 thriller, American Fork grabbed a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Though Pleasant Grove picked up a run in the top of the second, the Cavemen stayed ahead during the first three innings. American Fork scored two run in the third, but the Vikings shut American Fork down during the final four innings.

Pleasant Grove picked up its third run in the fourth, then tied the game at seven on a four-run rally in the fifth. The Vikings finally scored their tie-breaking run in the sixth.

American Fork got doubles from Kyle Hall, Ben Beddes, and Bo Fisher. Nate Hardman and Colby each belted a double for the Vikings.

While the Cavemen had to deal with suffering narrow losses in their final week of baseball action, Lehi got hammered in both of its games against the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners.

In the May 4 game at Lehi, Lone Peak soaked the Pioneers up by a score of 16-4. Lehi scored all of its runs in the sixth inning. By then, though, the Knights had already acquired a 13-0 lead. Seven of the Knights' runs occurred in the top of the fifth. Dillon Robinson and Jake Hannemann each hit a double for the Knights during the blowout.

During the May 6 at Lone Peak, the Knights grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and they never looked back. The umpires called the game after the fifth, because of the Knights' 13-3 lead. Lehi scored all of its three runs in the third.

T.J. Russon and Bronson Anderson each hit a double for the Pioneers in the game. Lone Peak got doubles from Robinson, Mike Draper, and Jed Goeckeritz. Adam Kelsch hit a homer for the Knights in the blowout.


Cavekickers Finish Soccer Season With Two Wins; Lehi Scores 2 Win to Become Region 4 C0-Champ
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekley

Region Four soccer ended last week, producing contrasting results for the American Fork Cavemen and Lehi Pioneers.

American Fork lost two straight games, costing the Cavemen a chance for going to state. Lehi, on the other hand, won two games at home, securing a piece of the Region Four championship.

In a May 7 game at American Fork, the Timpanogos Timberwolves, AKA the T-Pups, destroyed the Cavemen 4-1. Timpanogos scored two goals in the first half and another two in the second. American Fork made its only goal during the second half. The T-Pups' goals were made by Parker Brown, Josh Jensen, McKay Steggell, and Stevie Chapman.

Officially known as the Lone Peak Knights, the Loners defeated American Fork 1-0 at Lone Peak May 8. Brody Berry scored the game's only goal.

The win came in the aftermath of a 3-0 loss that the Loners had suffered on the Lehi Pioneers' home field May 6.

Lehi Coach Steve McMurdie said, "Neither team could score in the first half. Austin Tuckett scored the first goal in the opening minute of the second half. He soon scored another one right afterwards by dribbling past three or four Lone Peak players. Ian Ramos made the third goal on a free kick."

Lone Peak Coach Eric Stevens said, "We played great defense in the first half. We made some mistakes in the second half that let them score. We had the ball moving quite well, but we couldn't put it in. We weren't as focused in the second half, as we were in the first half. We had great offensive performances from Craig Petersen, Ben Wayman, and Tyler Bair, and Matt Petersen.

McMurtie that his Pioneers didn't play as well in a May 8 against Spanish Fork as they had done against Lone Peak. The Lehi coach said, "We played just good enough to win."

Lehi took a 4-0 lead in the first half through shots from Ryan Curtis, Zach Hancock, Ian Ramos, and Hensen Keetch. Ryan Holt scored the game's final goal in the second half to give Lehi a 5-0 win over the Spanish Fork Dons.

Lehi-Lone Peak Softball Action

Timp Sports Weekly
May 6, 2009

Publisher's Message

This week's cover story concerns the tight softball game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Lone Peak Knights, AKA Loners. The game reflected the fierce rivalry shared between northern Utah County's high schools. Besides the cover story, we'll look at the latest action in boy's soccer and baseball. We'll also tell who placed in what at the recent BYU Invitational. We'll then finish out with an essay on what can happen when a person doesn't call it quits. Let's get to those items.

Dean Von Memmott
Publisher
deanmemmott@hotmail.com

Lehi Softball Team Survives 8-Inning Thriller Against Lone Peak
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Playing an eight-inning softball game at home April 30, the Lehi Pioneers won 4-3 over the Lone Peak Knights, nicknamed the Loners by the American Fork Cavemen.

Through the course of the contest, Pioneer hurler Ariel Zimmerman fanned eight batters as she became locked in a pitching duel with Rachel Schomacher, who posted six K's.

During the top of the first, Zimmerman walked leadoff hitter Lauren Gourdin, but struck out Raven King and Jeni "Jedi" Keller. Second baseman Annie Nelson grounded out McKenzie St. Clair to help keep Lone Peak scoreless that inning.

After Schomacher had struck out leadoff batter Becky White in the bottom of the first, Shelby Lund slugged a center-field single, and Bree McBride joined her on base through an error at first. Schomacher didn't let Lehi go anywhere, though. The Lone Peak pitcher fanned Nelson, then caused Zimmerman to ground out to second base.

The game stayed a scoreless tie until the bottom of the third. Singling at the start of that inning's bottom half, Casey Romero soon came home on a McBride single, slugged into center. A Lehi pinch runner scored the next run through an error.

In the top of the fourth, St. Clair and Keller each slugged a left-field single. Before the Knights could go anywhere with those two hits, Zimmerman struck out Schomacher and Lachelle Eckles, slowing Lone Peak down. The fourth ended with Lehi still ahead 2-0.

Though Gourdin singled in the fifth, Lehi kept her chained on second, preserving the Pioneers' lead. It grew to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Romero scored a run on error.

Lehi played without any errors -- until the sixth. That inning, the Pioneers committed two errors, which allowed Lone Peak to post two runs.

In the bottom of the sixth singles, from Whitney Cook and Ashley Zimmerman prompted Lone Peak to have King replace Schomacher as pitcher. The reliever struck out Lund to end the inning.

On one out in the seventh, Schomacher singled in King to the game at three and force it into an eighth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Kjersti Secretan singled in Ariel Zimmerman to give Lehi the win.

Earlier in the week, the Pioneers won 9-4 in an April 28 game on the Orem diamond of the Timpanogos Timberwolves, AKA T-Pups.

Meanwhile, the American Fork Cavewomen lasted only three innings in an April 28 game at Spanish Fork. Spurred on by a Kylee Bufton home run, those manly Spanish Fork Lady Dons shut out American Fork 15-0 in the abreviated contest.

Lehi Soccer Team Posts 2 Straight Region 4 Wins
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly

By scoring two Region Four wins last week, the Lehi Pioneers improved their chances for state 5-A boys' soccer tournament action. In an April 28 game at home, Dylan Straw kicked in a second-half goal to pace Lehi to a 1-0 win over the American Fork Cavemen.

April 30 saw the Pioneers win 2-1 in overtime on the field of the Timpanogos Timberwolves, alias T-Pups. T-Pup Caleb Porter score the game's first goal during the opening period. Ian Ramos kicked in a second-half goal to force an overtime. During it, Zach Morgan scored the winning goal.

American Fork won 2-0 on the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' home field April 30.

AF Sweeps 2-Game Series Against T-Pups; Lehi Drops Both Games Against Spanish Fork
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Last week, American Fork Caveman Ben Beddes proved to be the clutch hitter for his Region Four baseball team as it swept a two-game series against the Timpanogos Timberwolves, alias T-Pups. Beddes knocked in three run in an April 28 game at Timpanogos to give the Cavemen a 3-2 win on the T-Pups' home field. At the Cavemen's home diamond April 30, he hit a one-run single in the bottom of the seventh to lift American Fork a 10-9 win over the T-Pups.

Also during the April 30 contest, Evan Wright and Ryan Evans each hit a triple for American Fork.

The T-Pups took a 4-0 lead during the first 1 1/2 inning. American Fork scored a run in the bottom of the second, then pulled ahead 5-4 in the third. Timpanogos stayed closely behind American Fork, and the T-Pups tied the game at nine in the seventh's top half.

Lehi had a rough-time against Region Four leader Spanish Fork in games played April 28 and 30.

Lehi Coach Pat Gleave said, "We played really good at Spanish Fork, but we made a couple of costly errors that permitted them to make some runs. In the game at our place, we didn't really good. We had only one run. Tanner Martin scored it for us in the first inning. We made lots of errors in the second game, allowing Spanish Fork to beat us 12-1 in five innings."

In the April 28 game, Adam Duke had a gay old time striking out seven Lehi batters. Duke's ptiching permitted the Dons to win 7-1.

Adam and Brock Duke hit a three-run double and a home run in the April 30 game. It saw Jordy Hart hit a double for Lehi.

Six Local Tracksters Place at BYU Invitational
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Six northern Utah County tracksters placed at the BYU Invitational May 2.

In the boys' 3,200-meter run, Lone Peak's Steve Morrin finished third and American Fork's Austin West fifth. Lehi's Jake Brydson took eighth in the boys' 200-meter dash.

Lone Peak's Cody Jacob flung himself to a sixth-place finish in the boys' discus. Ferocious Pleasant Grove Viking Levi Williams took second in the boys' 110-meter high hurdles and fourth in the boys' 300-meter hurdles. Cody Jacobs of Lone Peak took fourth in the boys' discus.

Publisher's Column
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly

Thinking Things Through First Often Pays in the Long Run

Two years ago, American Fork Cavewoman Hayley Holmstead came out of the Lehi Pioneers' gym crying. No, her team didn't lose to the Pioneers. In fact, the Cavewomen won by a double-digit margin.

The reason she cried was that she had an off-night. Although she would usually score in double figures in her games, Hayley didn't set the nets ablaze in that game. In fact, the Pioneers held her to four points.

In front of me, she told her mother, Sondra, "Mom, I sucked tonight. I don't think I should play anymore. I'm going to quit."

Sondra said, "You just had a bad game. That's all."

"No, I'm not good on the court anymore. I'm going to quit."

In a soft voice, I said, "Hayley, think it through first before you do it."

I walked away, thinking Hayley might not listen to me either. On the following Tuesday, I showed early for a Cavewoman basketball game, and I saw Hayley, dressed in her game uniform, taking practice shots. Later on that night, she scored in double figures to lead her team to a victory over the Hillcrest Huskies, AKA Puppies. Soon after that game, Hayley gave me a hug after I had interviewed her coach, Corey Clayton.

Through the next two years, I didn't think what the end result of my giving Hayley that piece of unwanted advice would be. That end result was Hayley getting named as the Salt Lake Tribune's
Most Valuable Player for the All-State 5-A girls' basketball team. That shows what can happen when a person doesn't throw in the proverbial towel.