Ephraim Lions Club Tournament - Baseball

Each year on the first week of June, the kids are always looking forward to the Ephraim Lions Club Tournament.  And of course, this year was no different.  Both Trey and McKenna's teams have done really well during their short season, so they are hoping for some good games at this weeks tournament.  Games began on Wednesday for Trey against Fairview.  The game was a success with Trey's team winning 8 to 2.  This game Trey played all but one inning at first base.  He did end up getting put in as pitcher to give Garrett Jensen a rest.  Trey was able to get three up - three down.  It was fun and the boys were thrilled to start off with such a great win.

 

Games 2 and 3 weren't quite as lucky. Game 2 was against Manti on Thursday afternoon.  This was one of the stronger teams in their bracket and I think the boys got a little intimidated and ended up losing 15 to 3.  But with double elimination, they knew that needed one more to come back and win it.  They played back to back and coincidentally they played the same Fairview team that they just beat yesterday.  However, the luck was not on our side this game.  There were some really poor calls by umpires, and I know you can't blame them for the game, but when it is one sided it starts rubbing off on the boys and they couldn't get themselves back up to beat Fairview again.  So once they lost that game, they knew there season was over.  Overall, the team had a great season. 

 

 

 

Here are a few pictures of Trey taken at the tournament.  He played first baseman, catcher, and pitcher.  This kids talents and abilities to play the game has totally impressed me this year.  I can't believe that when there is a spot to play that Trey is able to step up and play that position to the fullest.  And not only is he good in those defense positions, but Trey also has done really well at the plate this year.  He has struck out a time or two, but the majority of the time is able to hit and get on base.  I think with more time and strength, he will become and awesome batter when up to the plate.

Will, Garrett, and Trey

  

 Trey and Garrett Jensen

 

 Trey and Will Wescott

 

 

 

Its been a fun season to watch these boys play.  It is too bad that they didn't do better at the tournament because I know they are capable of winning anything they put their minds too, its just this weekend wasn't meant to be.  Regardless win or lose, these boys have had so much fun playing together this year, and overall, it isn't about winning it about having FUN!!! And how could you not have fun, just look at the smiles on those boys faces.  Good Job boys!

Baseball - Gunnison vs. Gunnison

Gunnison #1 10 - Gunnison #2 3

 

One of funnest games of the year for these boys is when you get to play your own hometown rivalry.  With Trey's age group of 11 and 12 year olds, there are two teams, so the competition amongst these two teams is pretty intense at this age.  And tonight's game was good proof of that in how these boys played.  Yes, Trey's team were the fortunate ones to come out ahead  and win.

 

Trey played a great game.  I am so proud of this kid and the athletic talent he has.  He played catcher for three of the innings and then he got to pitch the last two innings.  He would rather pitch than catch, but there really isn't another boy on his team that can play catcher as well as Trey can.

 

It was a sweet victory and these group of boys played a great game tonight.  They ended up winning 10 to 3.  One thing I have noticed about these boys that makes me proud is that they are so good with each other.  If one boy strikes out, then the boys are still telling him what a good job he did and I think that makes for a great team!

 



 

Trey, leading the victory lap around the bases.

Baseball Season Begins!

Today was Trey's first baseball game of the season.  He has looked forward to today for several weeks now, after much dedication and work at practice.  Trey is quite gifted at the game and it shows when he plays.  It is fun to watch him play, he knows his plays and is able to be a great team player.   I think a lot is said about his talent when we found out several weeks ago that when the coaches were picking teams, Trey was the very first kid to be picked out of all those boys, and the coach that got second picks was quite disappointed because he wanted Trey on his team too.  Trey can pitch, catch, play infield and outfield.  He is one of those players that can be put in any position and not let his team down.

 

Gunnison 7 - Fairview 6

Today's game was against Fairview on their field.  It was a close game, but in the last inning there were a few boys that were able to hit and get on base  that we were able to pull of a win!  It was a sweet victory and a great way for these boys to start of the season.  This game, Trey did play catcher the entire game.  He likes to catch, but he did admit his favorite position in pitcher. 

 

 

 

 

A few pictures of Trey up to bat! 

 

It was a great win for these boys, so afterwards we stopped at Wheelers in Mt Pleasant to celebrate with ice cream.  Trey is on a great team and I can't wait to see what the season brings for these great young boys!

 

And baseball wouldn't be baseball without these two as your cheerleaders.  The weather has been quite wet lately, so the girls and I stayed in car to watch the game the majority of the time.  It did warm up enough that we were able to go at watch the game from behind the dugout.  This gave these girls a little bit of time to run and relax before we headed back home.

Home Run Hitters

McKenna and Trey have loved every minute of this summer's softball and baseball rec games and practice.  Never once have they complained or been forced to go to practice.  Well, the love of the game has definitely proved itself as they both have had an awesome season and awesome experiences.  One of the best things I have been able to watch both of them do this season is hit a HOME RUN!  Both kids hit the ball so hard to the outfield, that the opposing team was unable to get the ball infield before McKenna and Trey ran across home plate. 

 

Trey's homerun was in Ephraim a couple weeks ago and at the time, our team was down at the top of the 4th inning, 16 to 15.  Trey had two batters already on base and when it was his turn to bat, he popped one to the outfield between the center and right fielder.  He didn't slow down a bit and ran home as fast as he could.  Everyone was so excited and the smile on his face was priceless.  As he ran across the plate and headed to the dug out, his team couldn't help but run and tackle him to the ground.  It was so exciting for him and his team.  They were able to hold the opposing team to 16, therefore winning the game 18 to 16. 

 

 

McKenna's home run was here at the Gunnison field playing against Ephraim.  She also had two other batters on base as she stepped up to bat.  McKenna had been up to bat and actually had hit a couple of foul balls before she finally got the hit of the season.  We laughed because she was actually swinging so hard, she almost hit the catcher.  But boy, when that pitch was thrown, McKenna's bat connected at out over the third baseman that ball flew.  She ran around the bases like she had never ran before.  I kept thinking that she would make it to at least third, but as she went to slow down, her coach just told her to keep on going and to home she went!  I was so excited and the crowd was just cheering with excitement.  She told me she couldn't hear me cheering for her because her teammates were so excited and screaming and she went into the dug out!  Needless to say, she was pretty pumped, especially when other girls on her team that have been playing for years told her that they have never done what she just did.  It was awesome!

 

 

 

 

Mickey Mantle, a professional baseball player for the New York Yankees was quoted saying,

 

"Somebody once asked me if I ever

went up to the plate trying to hit a home run.

I said, 'Sure, every time.' " 

 

This is now McKenna and Trey's motto, they both know they can do it and without hesitation, they are up to bat to prove themselves again.  I couldn't be any prouder of these two and what they have accomplished this season!   Way to go McKenna and Trey!

Ephraim Lions Club Tournament

Game Day #3 - Lions Club Tournament

Baseball - Gunnison #1 vs Ephraim at 3:30

 

 

 

 

Trey's team was heading into today's game with one win and one loss.  One more loss and they would be eliminated from staying in the brackets for the rest of the tournament.  Another thing that they had against them is that there are inning and or strike restrictions put on each pitcher to what time they have at the pitchers mound.  Trey started pitching the first few innings, he did a great job in holding off the opposing team in keeping them from scoring.  However, because of the rule for the pitcher, Jeremy put him in as catcher and let Colter King have his turn at the mound.  Colter did a great job pitching, but after several innings and with our team behind, he got frustrated and it reflected on the rest of the game.   The last inning, Trey was thrown in as pitcher just to get the other team out and put our team up to bat.  Trey was able to get up to pitch and get that third out that our team so desperately needed.  This put our team up to bat and all we needed to do to get two runs in to win.  This however was not our game, because our team was out in three and they lost the game by one point.  These boys were pretty sad, but regardless of even loosing, they boys played awesome!  I am especially proud of Trey for stepping up and playing so good when the team so needed him. 

 

 

 

Game Day #2 - Lions Club Tournament

Softball - Gunnison #2 vs Ephraim at 5:15

 

 

McKenna was pretty excited for today's softball game against Ephraim.  After a tough loss on Wednesday, these group of girls were ready to come back and prove themselves.  They played awesome right from the very beginning, when they were in field and out field.  McKenna was able to play in the outfield for almost every inning.  She worries that sometime players get stuck out in the outfield, because they are not very good.  But she has definitely proved herself in the outfield and now realizes that it takes a strong outfielder to keep the other team from scoring.  She has a strong arm and a hustle that helps when a hit is shot in her direction. 

 

When it came to batting, McKenna also was able to get on base a couple time this game.  She wasn't afraid to get up to bat and try to knock that ball as hard as she could.  She was able to get on base with each of her hits and eventually ran in to score for her team.  This Gunnison team by the bottom of the fourth inning had ten runned the other team, and with that said, these girls were able to win, placing them 3rd place in this tournament for their age division in softball. 

 

 

Way to go Gunnison Girls Softball!



 

And of course, softball and baseball would not be the same if these two girls didn't ahve each other.  There is always a constant stream of giggles coming from these two.  So glad they have each other to hang out with on long hot afternoons like today!

And at the end of the day, I am super proud of these two. 

They work hard and love every minute of this baseball / softball season!

Ephraim Lions Club Tournament

Game Day #2 - Lions Club Tournament

Baseball - Gunnison #1 vs. Fairview at 4:15

  

 

 

After yesterday's big win, Trey was pretty excited about today's game.  Jeremy and I both woke up with the flu, so we were unfortanetly unable to attend this edge of your seat ball game.    I had Kim Sorenson text me occasional updates on how the game was going.  It wasn't fifteen minutes into the game that she text me and said that Trey was pitching and he struck out the first three batters to start the game off right.  He pretty much held the game for the first three innings of the game.  However, they switched pitchers and put Trey in as catcher and that is when the game tied up.  I hadn't heard anything from Kim on the game and based on the times up rule, I expected her to text me the final score.  After an hour and a half after the game had started, I text her and she said that the game was tied and the other team had last bats. She said it was pretty intense!  Trey's team ended up loosing by three points, they were all pretty disappointed after such a close game.  But on to game three tomorrow, they had to prove themselves to play again on Saturday.

 

McKenna's team did not play today, tomorrow will be her big game.

Ephraim Lions Club Tournament

Game Day #1 - Lions Club Tournament

 Baseball - Gunnison #1 vs. Mt Pleasant at 5:45

 

 

 Trey was pretty excited about his game today.  He started off catching with Aiden O'Neil pitching, they did this for two innings.  At the top of the third inning, Jeremy switched them around and had Trey pitcher with Colter King as catcher.  Trey was able to pitch for two innings, neither inning did any batter get on base, he struck them all out!

 

It was the bottom of the fourth inning and because we were the home team, we had last ups. We knew we had to score because the score was tied 4 to 4.  Zach Brackett struck out and so Trey was next in the line up to bat.  Trey got up and hit one down the third base line.  We was able to make it to second base and then after that, he played it smart and was able to steal when the pitcher threw balls past the catcher and finally made it home to win the game!

 

 

 

  A pretty excited group of boys!  Way to play tough!

 

 

 

Nothing makes ballgames more fun than to have friends to play with.  These three kiddos, Ally, Shae, and Lottie, have had a lot of fun hanging out with each other at almost every game we go to, whether it be for Trey or McKenna. Tonight they had fun playing tag, playing leap frog, eating sunflower seeds, and sneaking off to the park.  Needless to say, there is never a dull moment with these three!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Game Day #1 - Lions Club Tournament

Softball - Gunnison #2 vs. Nephi at 7:00

 

McKenna was pretty excited and looking forward to this weeks softball tournament.  Her softball team played a team from Nephi, which they have never played before.  The Gunnison girls did a great job playing against this tough team.   The final score ended up being 16 to 6 for Nephi.

 

McKenna had an awesome catch out in Left Field.  This seems to be her signature play lately, because she seems to be at the right place at the right time to catch these hits.  This wasn't her first awesome catch, but only one of many more to come.  She was able to get up to bat twice, but unfortunately she struck out both times.   

  

 

 

The ride home with these two was pretty entertaining.  When one would stop talking about their highlights of his or her game, then the other one would chime in with another highlight from the game.  It sure made the ride home go by fast as we had a play by play of each game.

 

 

I am so proud of these two, they both have a huge love for their game. 

They both played awesome today and we are looking forward to the rest of the tournament watching them play.   Trey's team plays again tomorrow and McKenna's again on Friday.