Ferocious PG Viking Win Over Bad Old Brighton Puddy Tats

Timp Sports Weekly

July 30, 2013

Publisher's Message

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

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

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

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lone Peak Loners' 5-4 Win Over Jordan Plowboys

Timp Sports Weekly

July 16, 2013

Publisher's Message

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

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

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

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

American Fork's Win Over Highland Lambs

Timp Sports Weekly

July 8, 2013

Publisher's Message

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

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

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

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AF City League Playoffs and Utah Baseball Academy League Action for July 2

Timp Sports Weekly

July 2, 2013

Publisher's Message

This week's issue looks at games in the American Fork Pony League and Timp Colt League playoffs, especially the showdown between the Pirates and Rockies in the AFPL title game June 28. We will also look at accounts of some of the latest games played in the Utah Baseball Academy League's recently started season. Let's get to those games.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Taylorsville Road Warriors Post 7-3 Win in Away Game at American Fork June 24

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a June 24 Utah Baseball Academy League game at American Fork, the Taylorsville Road Warriors' 17-under division team drove past the Awesome American Fork Cavemen 7-3.

Neither team could score in the first inning. In the top of second, Road Warrior Zach "In" Stepp singled off pitcher  Jake Norton, but the Taylorsville player got stuck on base before he could score the game's first run. In the bottom of the second, Colt "Blades" Shear scored the game first run on a Road Warrior error at first.

In the top of the third, Nate "Fabio" Cook hit a one-run triple, and he then stole home. Singles from Buster "Brown" Hardman and Kastan Rasmussen gave American Fork a chance for tying the game, but Taylorsville held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless in the third.

In the top of the fourth, the Road Warriors improved their lead at 4-1 on an error and a Nate "Herman" Hess single.

A distant relative of former American Fork High hot rod enthusiast Ken DeMarco, Justin DeMarco hit an infield single, and a Ty Gardner single moved him into scoring position. Norton doubled DeMarco and Gardner in, slashing the Road Warriors' lead to 4-3. With Hardman grounding out to end the fourth, the Awesome Cavemen lost their last best chance to catch up to Taylorsville.

In the top of the fifth, Kenny Atwood homered in Cook. The next inning, Hess doubled in Pat Oaf to conclude Road Warrior scoring for the night.

Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood hit a single in the bottom of the fifth and another one in the seventh in hopes of stirring up an American Fork comeback. Even though American Fork also got a single from Rasmussen in the seventh's lower half, the Road Warriors didn't let the Awesome Cavemen make a fourth run.

Rockies Win 7-5 to Stay Alive in American Fork Pony League Tournament Action

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In American Fork Pony League playoff action at Bus Manning Field June 25, the Rockies defeated the Yankees 9-5 to stay alive in the city league tournament.

Pitcher Alec Grieve held the Yankees scoreless during the game's first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Rocky Chris Hugely tripled into right, and he came home on an error at first. Grieve soon stole home afterwards. On two outs in the second's lower half, Jackson Peagram singled in Andy "Moon River" Mathis to improve the Rocky lead at 3-0.

The Yankees dominated the third inning. A two-out double hit by Zach Nelsen set the stage for a go-ahead rally for the Yankees that round. The rally started with Chris "Oughta" Yamada tripling in Nelsen and Scotty "Bowling Pins" Buhler, the son of former American Fork High wrestling legend Frank "The Tank" Buhler. Rily Bezzant knocked in Yamada to tie the game at three. Bezzant scored a tie-breaking run on a single hit by Jake Bernardo, who scored the fifth Yankee run on an error at first.

The Rockies shut the Yankees down after the Bernardo run. The Yankees couldn't score any more runs, despite a fifth-inning double and a seventh-inning single smacked by Nelson, who went 4-4 at the plate for the night.

In the fourth's lower half, Ty Hardy slugged a one-run single to start the Rockies' comeback. In the fifth's bottom half, Peagram doubled into left, and he stole home, narrowly beating a throw from the mound. Grieve doubled in Hugely to put the Rockies back ahead 6-5. The Rockies improved their lead at 7-5 on a Mathis single that brought home McCrae "Captain" Morgan, concluding the game's scoring.

Awesome AF Cavebatters Harvest 5-1 Win Over Jordan Plowboys June 27

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 17-under age division team posted a 5-1 win at home against the Jordan Beetdiggers, AKA the Plowboys, in Utah Baseball Academy League action June 27.

Hit by a Craig Brailsford pitch in the top of the first, Plowboy Caleb Knight got doubled in by Seth "Honey" Butterfield. The Plowboys' 1-0 couldn't survive the first inning. On two outs in the bottom of the first, Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher tripled into left, and Koy "The Toy" Dibb singled him in. Dallin Searle flew into right field before Pitcher could score a tie-breaking run.

In the second inning, Brailsford struck out Butterfield and Hunter Jones. Plowboy Jaden Hughes almost made it to second base when American Fork's first baseman lost his glove while missing a throw. With no time to pick up the glove, the first baseman scooped up the ball and threw to second, igniting a squeeze play that pinched Hughes.

In the bottom of the second, Jordan beaned American Fork with a double play that kept the game tied at one, despite Andy Bartholemew and Brailsford hitting a double and a single respectively for American Fork.

With the Awesome Cavemen keeping the Plowboys from putting any runners on base during the top of the third, they thought they were going to profit from Emmett Green's one-out single in the bottom of the inning, but he got picked off at second. Kody "Coco" Hall drilled a single into center, only to get stuck at second.

The deadlock finally ended in the bottom of the fourth. Tripling into center, Dibb scored the tie-breaking run on a Dallin Searle sacrifice fly. Hit by a pitch, Logan Flinders scored the third Caveman run during a Craig Brailsford sacrifice groundout. In the bottom of the fifth, Hall tripled in Emmett Green and then scored a run while Dibb got snared in a hot box play.

No more scoring occurred after the fifth inning.

American Fork Coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll said, "Craig Brailsford pitched all seven innings, and he held lots of runners on base while he kept tossing strikes. He's a go-to pitcher."

AF Yankees Dry Up Lehi Cardinals' Season in June 27 Timp Colt League Playoff Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Timp Colt League playoff game at American Fork's Rotary Park June 27, the American Fork Yankees dried up the Lehi Cardinals 8-4 to stay alive in the two-week post-season tournament.

The Cardinals dominated most of the game. In the top of the first, for example, Cardinal Parker Wagner doubled into left, and Collin Anderton singled him in on two outs, opening the game's scoring. Anderton tried stealing second, but American Fork threw him out at at the base.

Getting on base through a Lehi error in the bottom of the first, Yankee Gavin Phillips soon came home on another Lehi mistake to tie the game at one. The son of the Beautiful Angie Manning, a former AF High wrestling stat girl, Ricky Smith hit a one-out triple out into left, and he soon stole home to put the Yankees ahead 2-1.

Lehi pitcher Blake Cleveringa held American Fork scoreless in both the second and third innings, despite the Yankees getting third-inning singles from Smith and Jordan Dutson.

Hitting a one-out double in the top of the second, Landon "High Tree" Birch soon stole home to score a tying run for the Cardinals. They pulled ahead 4-2 on a passed ball and a Cleveringa single in the third inning.

Taking a turn on the mound in the top of the fourth, Yankee Jaden Luker held Lehi scoreless, even though the Cardinals did load the bases on two outs.

Cleveringa walked Jacob Godwin on no outs in the bottom of the fourth. That walk came back to haunt Lehi, for Godwin soon scored on an error at first base. The Cardinals then suffered a fatal blow when Phillips accidently bumped into Lehi's first baseman while the ball dropped onto the play area side of the first baseline. The accident allowed Coulson Tucker to come home. Seconds later, an overthrow past third allowed Lou Figerora to come home.

As the scoreboard showed American Fork now leading 5-4, members of the Lehi team argued with the the umpires, demanding that Phillips be called out for interference. The umpires brushed off the demand and ordered a renewal of play. Davey Britey singled off Cleveringa, and Smith hit an in-the-park home run to send his teammate home, putting the game's final score at 8-4.

Pirates Flatten Rockies 9-0 in AFPL Championship Game June 28
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In the American Fork Pony League championship game at Bus Manning Field June 28, the Pirates flattened the  Rockies 9-0 to repeat as the conference champion for a second straight year.

Pitching all five innings of the game, Pirate Spencer "Rooney" Shelton posted 12 strikeouts while scattering three hits. Pirate Coach Brian "Bucket" Parker said, "Spencer has been our best pitcher in the last few seasons. He was really worth the money tonight.."

With Shelton keeping the Rockies from making any hits the top of the third, the Pirates managed to take firm control of the game during the bottom of the first.

The first's lower half opened with Pirate Weston "Wez" Shiro flying out to center. With pitcher McCrae "Captain" Morgan walking No. 2 hitter Jake "Plow" Smith, the Pirates quickly recovered from the flyout. Shelton whacked a center-field single to move Smith to third. When Cody "Oscar" Richan came up to bat, Morgan couldn't center his pitches enough to strike him out. With Morgan lobbing only four pitches, Richan walked, loading the bases. The little sister of Awesome American Fork Caveman baseball player Austin Pitcher, Erin "Ernie Banks" Pitcher doubled in Smith and Shelton.

Before the Pirates could go on a long scoring spree in the first, Morgan struck out Brady "BB Gun" Bunker and Jack "Rojo Jacklo" Lopez.

The next inning, Pirate Kallin "Bagsy" Bagley singled in Jack "Lexrst" Webb, and he then scored on an error to improve his team's lead at 4-0.

During the top of the third, Rocky Ian "Stimpy" Stimpson (not Simpson) watched Shelton strike out Andy Mathis and Skyler "Big Daddy" Northcut. So Stimpson seemed certain of getting struck out, too. However, he shocked Pirate fans by whacking a right-field single. It gave Rocky fans hopes of seeing their team rallying back quicker than you could say Ali Lamb Chop. However, Shelton struck out Chris Hugely, stranding Stimpson on base.

Singling into right during the bottom of the fourth, Pitcher soon stole home on a passed ball. Morgan walked Bagley and then caused Shiro to hit into a double play.

The fourth inning opened with Alec Grieve singling into left. The inning suddenly took a frustrating turn for the Rockies. Their next batter for them in the fourth, Denver "Mile High" Christensen flew out to second baseman Pitcher. Catcher Smith and pitcher Shelton grounded out Morgan and Seth Grieve respectively.

The fourth's lower half opened with Smith singling into right. On one out, Richan singled him in, and Pitcher soon joined Oscar Richan on base. A "distant cousin" of TV character Archie Bunker, BB Gun Bunker singled Richan and Pitcher in. Bunker then came home on a balk

On two outs in the top of the fifth, Shelton walked Mathis. A Northcut single moved Mathis into scoring position, but Shelton struck out Stimpson. The game then got called because of an eight-run rule.

Opening Week of Utah Baseball Academy League Games

Timp Sports Weekly

June 25, 2013

Publisher's Message

This week's issue will look at the opening week of the Utah Baseball Academy League's 2013 summer season. We will look at some of the games played during the week of June 17-22. We will also include story of a Timp Colt League game and a report on American Fork Pony League action. Let's swing straight to those stories, beginning with an account of the Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 12-8 win over the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, in a 17-under age division game played at Alta June 17.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavebatters Knock Down Alta Tweeties' 17-Under Team in UBAL Action June 17

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 17-under team posted a 12-6 win on the Sandy diamond of the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, in a Utah Baseball Academy League opener June 17.

American Fork came out strong offensively in the top of the first inning. In fact, the Awesome Cavemen's offensive display proved to be so strong that it was as shocking to the Tweeties as the sight of Bad Old Brighton Puddy Tats releasing orange-painted mice throughout Alta High. (Former Bad Old Puddy Tat baseball player Jason Reynolds and some other Brighton schoolmates actually pulled that prank at Alta generation ago. Hey, Brighton kids aren't known as known as the Bad Old Puddy Tats for nothing.) 

Anyway, the game opened with Emmitt Green slugging an infield single. Kody "Coco" Hall tripled Green, and he came home on Dallin Searle's sacrifice groundout. Aided by singles hit by Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher and Dandy Andy Bartholemew, American Fork soon loaded the bases. Logan "Flinnie" Flinders hit a three-run triple.

Before the Awesome Cavemen could stretch their first-inning lead any farther, pitcher Lightning Mitch Page struck out Riley Winter and Treyson McMurtrey.

For the start of the first's lower half, Parker "Sorroco" Chatwin belted a left-field single. Chipper "Zipper" Lucero doubled into left. C.J. Packer singled them in, starting a three-run rally. It ended with Luke "Scooby" Christensen flying out to left fielder McMurtrey. 

Hitting his second straight single during the top of the second, Green scored on a Hall sacrifice groundout. Even though Pitcher hit a two-out triple soon afterwards, Page struck out Bartholemew to prevent another long American Fork rally. Even though Blackie "Sea" Gull doubled off Green in the bottom of the second, the Awesome Cavemen didn't let the Tweeties make any runs that inning or in the third.

Even though Alta prevented the Awesome Cavemen from picking up any runs in the third's top half, they did renew scoring in the fourth. On one out in the top of the fourth, Hall whacked his second one-run triple which scored Green. Hall then scored on an error at first base.

On two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Chatwin hit a solo homer over the left-field fence. Soon, Lucero doubled into center, and he came home on a Packer single to cut the Awesome Caveman lead to 8-5. Packer got put out at second, ending the inning before his Tweeties could fly closer to American Fork.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, McMurtrey singled into right, hoping that he could re-start American Fork scoring. However, the Tweeties pinched him in a fielder's choice play at second. American Fork couldn't pick up additional runs until the top of the seventh, despite Searle slugging a sixth-inning double.

Meanwhile, in the bottom of the fifth, Page tried stealing home, but catcher Bartholemew tagged him at the plate, ending the inning. The next inning saw Tweetie Taylor Joss single on two outs into left, only to get tossed out in a fielder's choice play at second.

Doubling at the start of the seventh, Craig Brailsford came home on Riley Winter's one-out single hit into right. After Winter came home on an error, Hall hit a one-run double, and he scored on another Alta goof at first base. The Tweeties shut American Fork down, then tried to stage a desperate rally in the bottom of the seventh. With two runners on base, Jake Comstock hit a one-run single that he hoped would save the Tweeties' fortunes. However, American Fork reliever McMurtrey forced Christensen to ground out to third baseman Flinders to end the game.

AF Cardinals Fly From Behind to Defeat PG Angels in Pony League Thriller
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Pony League action at Bus Manning Field June 18, the American Fork Cardinals flew from behind to defeat the Pleasant Grove Angels 15-11.

By the way the first inning looked, the Cardinals appeared destined to get finished off in three innings like they did in their 19-1 loss to the American Fork Pirates, winners of this year's AFPL regular season pennant. Paced by Jaxon Brown's two-run double, the Angels moved ahead 11-0 at lightning speed in the top of the first. A distant relative of former American Fork High drama student Charles "Zebo" Mottsinger, Skyler Mottsinger set the stage for the 11-run rally by getting on base through a walk, and he soon stole home. He later joined Dane Amussen in hitting singles to keep the rally going strong. A three-run triple hit by Ernie Acevedo left the Angels blowing their horns about their 11-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Weston Birchall, a "distant relative" of former American Fork soccer Nate Birchall, got on base through a walk, and he scored on Nick Thang's sacrifice groundout. Birchall's run was the only one that American Fork could make in response to Pleasant Grove's long rally.

The Cardinals' morale could have vanished after the end of the first inning. However, they held the Angels scoreless during the next three innings. Moreover, Pleasant Grove couldn't make another hit until Coop "Quick Draw" DeGraw slugged a fourth-inning single, only to get stuck on base.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals made an incredible comeback. In the bottom of the second, Chase Gregory got on base via a walk, and a Nick Jex single moved him into scoring position. Gregory stole home, setting up a 10-run rally. Tony Moore gassed it up with a three-run triple that he whacked into center. Slick Dane Petersen and Weston Birchall each contributed a one-run single to the rally.

With it ending in an 11-11 deadlock, the Angels realized that the Cardinals were no longer going to be door mats for them. In the bottom of the third, Swifty Preston singled into left, and he came home on Moore's tying one-run single. Birchall whacked a tie-breaking one-run double, and he came home on Petersen's one-run single. Petersen scored on Gregory's sacrifice fly to conclude the game's scoring.

Lone Peak Loners Shoot Down Alta Tweeties 11-6 in UBAL Action June 19
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Utah Baseball Academy League action at Lone Peak June 19, the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, defeated the Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, 11-6 in a 17-under age division game.

On one-out in the top of the first, Tweetie Jesse Emery singled in Parker Chatwin, and then stole home to give Alta a 2-0 lead. It didn't survive the first inning.

During its lower half, Mason "Mortar" Hayes hit a two-out, one-run single that set off a three-run rally for the Loners. Lord Sterling Larson singled in Hayes, and then scored the tie-breaking run on a Ty "Chocolate" Hirsch single.

The Loners held the Tweeties scoreless in the top of the second, and a Tavin Lemuli single set the stage for another Loner scoring rally. On two outs, Lyman knocked in Lemuli, and he then got home on a Trevor Laharogue single.

The Tweeties refused to remain grounded. Getting on base through a third-inning walk, Chatwin scored a run on a C.J. "Chirp" Packer double. Jake Comstock's two-run single tied the game at five. Lone retaliated with a double play.

The score stayed deadlocked at 5-5 until the bottom of the third when Lemuli singled Brandon Harris to open a three-run rally. In the fifth, The Loners went on another three-run rally, started by Hunter Christensen's theft of home plate.

Though the Tweeties shut the Loners down after the fifth, Alta couldn't make another strong comeback. In the sixth, though, Comstock hit a double, and scored on an error at sixth. Comstock's sixth-inning run ended Tweetie scoring for the night.

Lone Peak Coach Grant Lyman said, "We constantly hit, and played consistently good defense. Alta did test us with some strong hits, but we didn't break."

PG Angels  Scuttle AF Pirates 14-3 in Timp Colt League Play June 20
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Timp Colt League action at American Fork's Rotary Park June 20, the Pleasant Grove Angels scuttled the American Fork Pirates 14-3.

The Angels took control of the game during its first inning. At the top of it, Angel Jared "J-Dog" Jensen came on two outs during a passed ball. Soon, Hayden Glasbee doubled in Cade Engamann and Ty Wiggins.

Despite Pirate Ty McBride hitting one-out double in the bottom of the first, American Fork couldn't make any runs.

On one out in the top of the second, Logan Bullock slugged a single into center to move Peyton Simpson, a "distant cousin" of TV character Homer Simpson, into scoring position. American Fork didn't let the next two Angels get on base.

The next inning, Glasbee blasted a two-run single that set off a five-run rally for Pleasant Grove. After the rally had climaxed with Bullock's one-run single, the Angels soon found out that the Pirates could produce runs. In the bottom of the third, Andy Maxwell singled into left, and Stevie's Harmon's one-out single drove home. After Harmon got pinched in a fielder's choice play at second, Cam "Bam-Bam" Thomas stole home.

Holding the Angels scoreless in the top of the fourth, the Pirates made another chip in Pleasant Grove's lead. On two outs, Chris "Skippy" Stephson got on base through an error. Braden Griffiths singled him in.

Pleasant Grove loaded the bases on no outs in the top of the fifth. A Wilson walk brought Zack Johnson home, setting off a decisive rally. A Chandler May sacrifice fly scored two runs. Engamann doubled in two runs, and Simpson hit a one-run single, making his "distant cousin" Bart Simpson very happy.

Pitching for the Angels in the bottom fifth, Simpson walked Zach Tubbs, but struck out the next three Pirates to end the game.

Awesome AF Cavebatters Corral Cottonwood Ponies 16-3 in 17-Under Age Division Game For UBAL June 21
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Played at Cottonwood June 21, a 17-under age division game for the Utah Baseball Academy League saw the Awesome American Fork Cavemen defeat the Cottonwood Colts, AKA the Ponies, 16-3.

During the game's first three innings, the Ponies kept the Awesome Cavemen scoreless, even though Kody "Coco" Hall slugged a first-inning single for American Fork. In the meantime, the Ponies galloped out to a 2-0 lead. During the bottom of the first, for example, Cottonwood got singles from Greg Teahon and Dougie "Peach" Orchard. A Colby "Pine Needles" Hugelly sacrifice groundout scored Teahon. In the bottom of the next inning, Chris "Okie" Okamata hit a two-out single to drive in Mason Backer.

The Ponies enjoyed their 2-0 lead until the top of the fourth when it got pulverized into nothing by a seven-hit rallied carried out by the Awesome Cavemen. The son of former Awesome American Fork Cavewoman soccer player Ali "Lamb Chop" Searle, Dallin Searle doubled into center, and he soon stole home after teammate Andy Bartholemew, a nephew of former AF High wrestler John "Superstud" Bartholemew, had singled into center. After Craig Brailsford had singled Bartholemew in, Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood triple into runs to break a 2-2 tie. Doubles from Searle and Riley Winter rived up the rally. By the time that the scoring run had ended with Wood flying out to center field, the Awesome Cavemen commanded a 10-2 lead.

The game now became contest to see whether the Ponies could make it last until the seventh. The Awesome Cavemen arrived really close to winning the contest in the fifth. In the top of it, Hall clubbed a one-out single into left, and on two outs, Searle singled him. Bartholemew grounded out before American Fork could score the needed 13th run to pound the proverbial final nail into Cottonwood's coffin.

Even though Brailsford hit a one-out double in the top of the sixth, he became stranded on base.

The seventh inning opened with Logan Flinders singling into center. Hall soon joined him on base through slugging a left-field double. Pitcher singled them in, and he came home on a Searle single. A Bartholemew single kept the rally going. After Searle stole home, Brailsford doubled in Bartholemew to conclude American Fork scoring for the night.

In the bottom of the seventh, Gavin Manniko and Hayden Cooper each slugged a single. While American Fork snarred Cooper  in a double play, Manniko scored. Third baseman Flinders grounded out Okamato to end the game.

Utah Baseball Academy Preseason Tournament

Timp Sports Weekly

June 17, 2013

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at some of the games played in the recent Utah Baseball Academy's Preseason Tournament. The stories will focus on ones that involved the Awesome American Fork Cavemen and the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. As they say in Lehi, let's dive into those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Alta Tweeties Outlast Lehi Froggies 6-4 in June 12 Pool-Play Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Alta Hawks, AKA the Tweeties, defeated the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 6-4 in third-day game for the 17-under age division for the Utah Baseball Academy's preseason tournament.

The Tweeties flapped ahead 3-0 in the top of the first. On two outs in the bottom of the first, Froggie Blake Smith slugged a two-run single.

Cam Grace's one-out single gave the Froggies a chance for tying the game at three in the second inning.  However, Grace got put out at second, and Grant Dixon grounded out to pitcher Taylor Joose.

Lehi finally pulled ahead in the  bottom of the third. Smith singled in a run, and Colt Sampson stole home to put the Froggies ahead 4-3. After Inning 3, the Tweeties prevented the Froggies from scoring any more runs in the game despite a single from Dixon in the fifth and one from Ryan Barnes in the sixth.

Hitting a two-out double in the top of the fourth, Jake "Coop" Comstock soon stole home afterwards to tie the game at fourth. During the top of the fifth, C.J. Packer doubled in two runs to put the Tweeties ahead 6-4. No more scoring occurred in the game.

Awesome AF Cavebatters Defeat Lone Peak Loners 5-3 in 17-Under Division Game in UBAL Preseason Tournament Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

At American Fork June 10, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen defeated the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, 6-3 in an opening-day game of the Utah Baseball Academy's annual preseason summer tournament.

Awesome Caveman Coach Jarod "The Prankster" Ingersoll said, "We got four great innings from Craig Brailsford on the mound. Dalline Searle did well for us in throwing for us in the final two innings."

Even though Brailsford did give up a single to Loner Jack "Flash" Bateman in the top of the first, the Awesome Cavemen clubbed the Loners with a double play that held Lone Peak scoreless that inning.

Spencer Glascow showed to be as fierce as a North Briton warrior as he threw first-inning pitches that prevented the Awesome Cavemen from putting runners on base during the bottom of the first.

Springing another double play upon the Loners to hold them scoreless, the Awesome Cavemen proceeded to take control of the scoreboard. In the bottom of the second, A cousin of former American Fork baseball legend Brock "Big Ram" Lamb, Searle and teammate Koy "Big Toy" Dibb each blasted a single into left. An Andy Bartholemew sacrifice fly scored Dibb, and Riley Winter singled in Searle.

With Brailsford grounding out Loner Chandler Gockeritz at the start of the third, the Loners seemed well on their way to getting shut out by the Awesome Cavemen. Soon, Matt Lee singled into left, and on two outs, Trevor LaHorague singled in him. Brailsford answered that RBI by striking out Grant Lyman.

In the bottom of the third, American Fork loaded  the bases through singles hit by Kody "Coco" Hall, Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher, and Dibb. Before American Fork could launch a scoring rally, Hall got tagged home. Glascow struck out Logan Flinders and forced Bartholemew to hit a captured infield fly.

During the top of the fourth, Gockeritz hit a two-out, two-run single to put the Loners ahead 3-2, and he then tried swiping second, but the Awesome Cavemen pinched him for the final Loner out for the inning.

The Loners protected their 3-2 lead until the bottom of the fifth. Its lower half opened with Hall doubling into left, and Dibb smacked a one-out double to reel him in. Searle doubled him Dibb, and he came home on a Flinders sacrifice fly to put the Awesome Cavemen's new lead at 5-3.

Taking over the mound at the start of the sixth, Searle held the Loners scoreless that inning. In the bottom of it, Brailsford singled into left, but he got stranded at second as he watched Glascow post three strikeouts to hold American Fork scoreless in the inning.

Having a turn on the mound in the top of the seventh, Pitcher caused the first two Loner batters to ground out to him. A son of former Awesome Caveman baseball player Quinn Gockeritz, Brooks "Hooks" Gockertiz singled into right on two outs, but he got pinched in a game-ending fielder's choice play at second.

Spanish Fork Has Gay Old Time in Thumping AF 15-Under Team in UBAL  Preseason Tournament
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

At American Fork June 10, the Spanish Fork Dons had a gay old time in thumping the Awesome American Fork Cavemen 16-2 in a 15-under division game for the Utah Baseball Academy's annual preseason tournament.

In the top of the first, American Fork pitcher Kaleb Blaycock gave up a single to leadoff hitter Brandon Archibald. That Don soon came home on Trigger Argyle's sacrifice fly in center field. American Fork didn't let Spanish Fork, AKA Gaytown because of it being such a happy community, make any more runs that inning.

Despite getting singles from Trell Morris and Mason Warenski, the Awesome Cavemen couldn't make any runs that inning.

With the second inning opening with a Quade "Dust Storm" Hill double, the game took a shocking turn. Hayden Rainey singled in Hill to unleash a seven-run rally, fueled by an Archibald triple.

Spencer Shelton singled in the bottom of the second in hopes of igniting a comeback for the Awesome Cavemen. The rally didn't happen. After Shelton got put out in a squeeze play near third base, the Gaytowners prevented American Fork from putting any more runners on base that inning.

In the top of the fourth, Brayden Hoherein and Blaze Bradford each hit a one-run single while the Dons picked up a third fourth-inning run on an American Fork balk. Bridger "Wizard" Baum hit a one-run single in the fifth that set off a four-run rally that put the game away for the Dons.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jackson Meldon singled into center, and Taylor "Durf" Durfey singled him in. American Fork then scored another run on an error. Because of the 10-run rule, the game got called after the fifth inning.

Awesome AF Cavebatters Sink Vicious Viewmont Vikings 4-3 in June 13 UBA Tourney Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a fourth-day game of the Utah Baseball Academy's annual preseason tournament June 13. the Awesome American Fork Cavemen defeated the Vicious Viewmont Vikings' 17-under age division team 4-3.

The win gave American Fork a berth in the semifinals of the tournament's medal round.

The game went down as one of the most exciting contests for the tournament's 17-under age division. Despite a first-inning single from Awesome Caveman Emmett Green, no scoring occurred in the game's 1 1/2 innings.

In the bottom of the second, Dallin Searle, a nephew of former American Fork sports legend Matt "Wooly" Lamb, got on base through an error. Searle scored on Tyler Gardner's sacrifice groundout.

American Fork defended its 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth. That inning unfolded with Vicious Viking Willie "Blazes" Burningham got on base through an error. On out out, Kenny Exon doubled him in after Nick "The Slick" Peters had grounded out. Exon came home on Ethan Richards' tie-breaking single.

A "distant cousin" of Hollywood actress Ursula Andress, Will Andres singled into left, but got thrown out in a fielder's choice play at second. Shortstop Kody "Coco" Hall turned up a double play that held the Vicious Vikings scoreless in the fourth.

 In the sixth, Peters got on base through a walk, and he came home on an error. The Vicious Vikings' 3-1 lead didn't survive the sixth inning.

In the bottom of it, Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher doubled into left, and Brailsford singled him on one out. Dibb scored a tying run on a Logan Flinders sacrifice fly. Taylor Gardner hit into a double play before the Awesome Cavemen could pull ahead.

Though Andres hit a left-field double at the start of the seventh, American Fork kept him stuck on base. Riley Winter got on base through a walk in the bottom of the seventh. Soon, a Green sacrifice fly scored Winter for the winning run.

Lehi Froggies Defeat Awesome AF Cavemen's 16-Under Team in 2nd-Day Play of UBA Preseason Tournament
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Froggies, the Lehi Pioneers defeated the Awesome American Fork Cavemen 13-8 in a 16-under division game played at Lehi June 11 during the Utah Baseball Academy's annual preseason tournament.

The game gave the Froggies much to croak about. especially when it had ended in a win over a generations-old rival.

The game opened with Kasten "Iron" Rasmussen singling into left, but he got put out at second, and the Froggies went on to hold American Fork scoreless during the game's first three innings.

Although unable to score in the bottom of the first, the Froggies became really happy -- correction, hoppy when Kelton Higgins doubled in the bottom of the second. Tanner Russon singled him in.

Awesome Cavemen Gunner Lamb chopped a single in the top of the third, but he got stuck on base as the next three batters all got out.

Advanced to third by a Brock Hansen double in the bottom of the third, Logan "Wazzie" Wassmer came home on a one-out, Kaden Higgins single to unleash a six-run single for the Froggies, who saw Mitch Evans and Chandler Betts each slug a two-double for them.

In the top of the fourth, Jaden Fox, Jace Ibarra, and Mikey Hugely each slugged a single, resulting in American Fork loading the bases on no outs. Walks by Taylor Sabotka and Greg Knight each brought home a run for American Fork. Lehi pulled off a double play that shut down American Fork's comeback attempt that inning.

Lehi received two chances at ending the game in the fifth inning. First chance occurred when Zane Longman's one-run double powered a three-run rally that put the Froggies' lead at 11-2. Evans flew out to center field before the Froggies could make their 12th run that inning. A two-out single hit by Fox led American Fork to loading the bases in the top of the fifth, and Sabotka reached first on an error as American Fork scored a run. Lehi pinched Sabotka in a fielder's choice play at second. The Froggies soon loaded the bases on one out in the bottom of the fifth, giving their fans hope for them to finish off the Awesome Cavemen that inning. However, American Fork turned up a double play to hold Lehi scoreless.

With Lamb chopping a double at the start of the sixth, American Fork loaded the bases again. Fox singled in Lamb, unleashing a five-run that put the Awesome Cavemen within 11-8. Fox struck out before American Fork could get any closer. An Awesome Caveman error in the bottom of the sixth allowed the Froggies to score two quick insurance runs to clutch the win for Lehi.

Awesome AF Cavemen's 17-Under B Team Defeats Lehi Froggies 12-10 in 4th-Day UBA Tournament Game
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen's 17-under B team defeated the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 12-10 in a Utah Baseball Academy summer preseason tournament game at American Fork June 13.

The game opened with Froggie Ryan Absher hitting a solo homer. In the top of the second, Paxton Terry hit a center-field double, only to get stranded on base. Still, still the Froggies enjoyed their 1-0 lead until the bottom of the second when an A.J. Jones sacrifice fly scored Taylor Gardner for a tying run.

Absher seemed destined to complete a hitting cycle in the June 13 game. In the third, for instance, he tripled in Cam Grace to put the Froggies back out in front 2-1. A Ty Jones single brought Absher home to improve the Froggie lead at 3-1. In the bottom of the third, Hayden "Chief Woody" Wood singled in a run to cut the lead to 3-2.

On one out in the fourth's top half, Grace doubled into left, and he came home on a two-out, Absher double. American Fork retaliated over that hit. In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor Gardner hit a one-out double that tipped the momentum to American Fork's favor. A.J. Jones singled in Gardner to open a six-run rally, which saw Jake Norton double in two runs.

A "distant relative" of former American Fork High student Ken DeMarco, Justin DeMarco singled into center during the start of the fifth, only to get nailed in a fielder's choice play at second. American Fork still picked up two runs in the fifth.

After Grace and Mitch Evans had flown out to left field, Absher belted a single to complete his hitting cycle. Absher soon scored on an error. Grant Dixon hit a two-run triple to put Lehi within 10-7. American Fork didn't let the Froggies hop any closer that inning. In the bottom of the sixth, A Hagan Holmstead sacrifice fly scored two runs to stretch the lead to 12-7.

Advanced into scoring position by Grace's seventh-inning, infield single, Preston Higgins soon came home on an Absher sacrifice groundout. Tyler Jones doubled in Grace, and scored on a single by Colt Sampson, who soon got pinched in a forced play at second.

Riverton Silverpups Defeat Awesome AF Cavemen in Semifinals of Preseason Summer Tourney
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Silverpups, the Riverton Silverwolves defeated the Awesome American Fork Cavemen 4-3 in the semifinals of the medal-play portion of the Utah Baseball Academy's annual preseason tournament. A 17-under age division contest, the Riverton-American Fork showdown was played at Riverton.

Neither team could score in the first inning. In the top of the second, Awesome Caveman Koy "Big Toy" Dibb doubled into left, and two outs, Taylor Gardner singled him in. Aided by a Riley Winter single, Treyson McMurtrey singled Gardner in to improve the Awesome Caveman lead at 2-0.

Doubling in the bottom of the second, Quinn "The Adventurer" Robbins came home on a Casey Framer single to unleash a three-run rally for the Silverpups.

Third-inning singles from Dallin Searle and Austin "Oh, Yeah, Baby" Pitcher gave American Fork a chance to catch up with the Silverpups, but Riverton held the Awesome Cavemen scoreless that inning. American Fork received another chance for tying the game when the Awesome Cavemen loaded the bases on singles from Logan Flinders, Taylor Gardner, and Treyson McMurtrey, but Searle flew out to left field, before his team could score a tying run.

The Awesome CAvemen held the Silverpups scoreless in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Meanwhile, American Fork finally tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth when Flinders tripled in Craig Brailsford on two outs. Flinders got stuck on third, however.

The game stayed tied at three until the bottom of the seventh. Hitting a one-out double into left, J.D. "The Brush" Fuller came home on Riley Ingram's two-out, game-ending single.

Week of the Cardinals

Publisher's Message

June 11, 2013

For this week's issue, we look at an American Fork Pony League team and a Pleasant Grove Timp Colt League squad that are both known as the Cardinals. We will touch on games that they played last week. We will also look at the Pleasant Grove Marlins crushing the American Fork Cubs in a June 3 Timp Colt game played at Pleasant Grove's Manila Park. Let's take a swing at stories about those games.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

PG Marlins Fish Out a Big Win Over AF Cubs in Timp Colt League Action June 3

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Timp Colt League action at Pleasant Grove's Manila Park June 3, the Pleasant Grove Marlins fished out a 13-3 win over the American Fork Cubs.

During the game's first 2 1/2 innings, American Fork controlled the game. During his first two innings on the mound, Cub pitcher Shay Norton kept Pleasant Grove from making any hits. Meanwhile, American Fork built up a narrow lead.

In the top of the first., Norton and teammate Brig Murdock each slugged a single. Soon, Hunter Loveless fired a two-run single to put the Cubs on the scoreboard. 

The first's lower half opened on a bad note for Pleasant Grove. Norton struck out Wyatt Boudane and caused Logan Bice to fly out to third base. To American Fork's consternation, Norton walked three straight Marlins. The pitcher then accidently beaned Holden "Jackal" Jacklin, sending Hayden "Banger" Wall home. Before Pleasant Grove could tie the game at two, Norton struck out Campbell "Yonkers" Donkers.

The Marlins kept the Cub lead stuck at 2-0 until the top of the third. Singling into left, Norton soon stole around the diamond until he got picked off at third. Murdock, on the other hand, managed to steal around the diamond and scored a run on a passed ball. Murdock's run gave the Cubs reason to believe that they would take home a close win.

However, in the bottom of the third, Logan Bice hit a one-out double that proved to be as damaging as the infamous Curse of the Billy Goat had been to the Chicago Cubs for generations. Right after Logan's double, Wall banged a tying, two-run single that unleashed a 10-run rally for Pleasant Grove. During the long rally, Holden "Up" Jones, Donkers, and Josh Lewis each whacked a one-run single.

In the top of the fourth, Pleasant Grove kept American Fork from going anywhere with Loveless' second single of the night. In the bottom of the fourth, Hayden Wall and Chanlder Bice each singled. Wall stole third while Chanlder got thrown out in a squeeze play between first and second. Jones singled in Wall, and then scored the game-winning run on a Donkers double.

Pirates Pluck Cardinals Clean 19-1 in June 4 AF Pony League Action
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Plucking the Cardinals clean by a score 19-1 in American Fork Pony League action at Buss Manning Field, the Pirates, the defending state Pony League champs, improved their unbeaten record at 9-0.

"Tonight's game itself was just ugly," said Pirate Coach Brian "Bucket" Parker. "Still, we had lots of great hitting, awesome pitching, and fantastic hitting."

For example, Pirate Spencer "Booney" Shelton posted two triples and a single in the three-inning game while teammate Taylor "Durf" Durfey contribued a double and a home run to the winning cause.

The game opened with Durfey flying out to first base. Shelton thereupon banged his first triple into center. Jake "Plow" Smith singled Shelton in. After Weston "Weez" Shiro popped out to pitcher Slick Dane Petersen, Erin "Ernie Banks" Pitcher, a sister of American Fork sports legend Ryan "Load the Dishwasher" Pitcher singled Smith in.

In the bottom of the first, Slick Dane Petersen got on base via an error. He got stuck on base, and no other Cardinal would get on base until the bottom of the third.

In the top of the second, Durfey's in-the-park grand slam and Shelton's second triple powered a nine-run rally, which saw Brady "BB Gun" Bunker slug a single and steal home. The next inning, Cody "Oscar" Richans, Red Jack Lopez, Shiro, Pitcher, and Rack Coon each contributed a single to an eight-run rally while Durfey tossed in his double to keep it going at breakneck speed.

In the bottom of the third, Flash Weston Birchall, a "distant cousin" of American Fork Caveman soccer legend Nate Birchall, singled into left, and on two outs, he stole home for the Cardinals' only run for the night. The game got called after the third inning because of the 15-run rule.

PG Angels Zap Lehi Cardinals 14-1 in Timp Colt League Play June 5

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly PublisherP

In Timp Colt League action at American Fork's Rotary Park June 5, the Pleasant Grove Angels zapped the Lehi Cardinals 14-1.

In the top of the first, Angel Jared Jensen clubbed an infield single. After a Justin Francis single had landed in left field, pitcher Blake Cleveringa struck out Chandler May, a "distant cousin" of late Hollywood actress Virginia Mayo. Zach Johnson and Hayden Clasbee each singled in a run to give Pleasant Grove a 2-0 led.

The bottom of the first opened with Jordan Peck doubling into left. As Easton Gibson and Byrd Anderton struck out, the Cardinals seemed destined to get shut out in the game. However, Cleveringa singled in Peck. That turned out to be Lehi's only run for the game, and after jordan Richards has clubbed a second-inning single for them, the Cardinals couldn't make any more hits.

Meanwhile, the game's score stayed at 2-1 until the top of the third when Johnson tripled in May to open a four-run rally, which saw Ty Wiggins and Matt Pulsipher each slug a one-run single for the Angels. Jake Wilson doubled in two runs for Pleasant Grove in the fourth, and in the fifth, Pulsipher doubled Austin Silva and Clasbee hit a two-run double to set off a six-run rally that put the game away for Pleasant Grove. On two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Peck tried stealing home, but he got tagged for the final out at the plate.

White Sox Stave Off Cardinals 12-10 In AF Pony League Play June 6

By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In American Fork Pony League action at Bus Manning Field June 6, the White Sox outlasted the Cardinals 12-10.

It took the Cardinal six innings to shake off the 19-1 thumping that they had received from the unbeaten Pirates June 4. This allowed the White Sox to dominate the June 6 game for 5 1/2 innings.

The game opened with Brett "Blaster" Collins hitting a left-field double. A namesake of late Rolling Stone reporter Hunter S. Thompson, Hunter "Black Snake" Thompson joined Collins on base through a walk. Zach "Racoon" Gaisford singled them in, unleashing a four-run rally for the White Sox. 

Hitting a center-field triple in the bottom of the first, Flash Weston Birchall soon stole home. That was the only run that the Cardinals could make that inning.

Second-inning singles from Jake Taylor and Cory "Huggy Bear" Huggard enabled the White Sox to pick up two runs that round. Following Thompson's one-run single, Taylor came home to improve the White Sox's lead at 8-1.

Not wanting to get trampled this time, the Cardinals had Tony Moore single in Major Morgan Jay.

The game's score stayed at 8-2 until the top of the fourth when Thompson doubled in Blaster Collins on no outs. The Cardinals retaliated by snaring Thompson in a double play.

Taking over pitching duties in the fifth, Moore held the White Sox scoreless. Getting on base via a walk in the bottom of the fifth, Flash Birchall stole home on one out.

In the top of the sixth, Thompson singled in Jake Taylor, and Robby Lewis slugged a two-run single to improve the White Sox's lead at 12-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, Moore single into left, and he scored on a Quick Nick Jex sacrifice fly to set off a six-run rally, which saw Morgan and Birchall each hit a one-run single.. Only when Moore went down swinging for a third out did the rally finally collapse.