Softball - Gunnison vs Ephraim

Gunnison 26 - Ephraim 13

 

Tonight's softball game against Ephraim was awesome.  This team of Gunnison girls played a great game, several girls on the team hit homeruns when our team was up to bat and then played a good infield when Ephraim was up to bat. 

 

 

McKenna had a great game, she was able knock a ball out past center field and was able to make it to second base.  She was able to steal to third and then home.  She was able to get on base a couple other times, but only because the pitcher threw four balls and made her walk.  McKenna wants to hit so bad, to knock it out of the field, but it takes a good pitch to do that and, of course, the pitcher tonight wasn't throwing what it took to hit.

 

 

Above, is a picture of McKenna when she hit her double. Below is McKenna getting ready to steal home.  She definitely has a love for this game!

 

 

Love her expression as she crosses the home plate. 

 

Tonight, she played both first and third base.  She has done really well in these positions and her hard work and great arm has proved itself!

Softball Season Begins!

Let the Games begins!  There is nothing more fun than a week completely consumed by baseball and softball and for the next five weeks, that is exactly what our weeks will be.  McKenna's games are on Mondays and Wednesdays, with practices Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Trey's games are Tuesdays and Thursday with practices on Mondays and Wednesdays.  This by far is one of Trey and McKenna's favorite time of year.  Can you blame them?  There is not anything more fun than watching a good game at the field, watching your kid's talents and excitement just explode!

 

Gunnison 7 - Nephi 6

 

Tonight's game was just that, pure excitement!  We drove to Nephi to arrive at the field and it was pouring rain.  Rain or shine, these girls don't care, they endured the rain and warmed up until it was game time. 

 

 

When it was finally 6:00, they held off letting the girls play due to the weather.  McKenna and McKaylyn came and hung out in the car with us til the rain let up. The game hadn't even started and they were drenched.  Their black markings on their face had already began to run.  After twenty minutes of waiting, the rain stopped and the game started. 

 

The picture above is McKenna up to bat. She got up to the plate, swung and hit the ball out between left and center field.  It was unbelievable!  She hit a home run . . . other than when she slid into home plate, Nephi threw the ball to the catcher and the umpire called her out.  Everyone thought it was a pretty bad call, because he was off to far from the home plate to really see whether or not she was out or not.  But regardless, she was still pretty pumped about her awesome hit.

 McKenna had a great game, she was able to get on base a couple other times and then she played first base when Gunnison was playing the field.  McKenna is aggressive and loves this game, so it definitely shows when she plays.  Gunnison had a great win, 7 to 6 so it was well worth the drive to Nephi and to sit in the rain to watch these girls play.

 

 

What makes ball games more fun are the cheerleaders cheering McKenna on.  This game was especially fun because Sydney Kuhni was able to hang out the girls and I while we watched the game.  Everyone was so excited to see Syd since we haven't since August of last year, so to have her hang with us was pretty fun.  Her and I had a good visit all while she was be tortured by Lottie and Ally.  Those two little girls love Syd, so they had lots of fun hanging with her. 

 

 There is something about the game of softball that these three girls just love.  I think it is more than just the game, but that special bond that they share.  These girls have a love for the game of softball, but the friendship they share cannot be taken away.  It was so fun to spend tonight in Nephi with these girls. 

 

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 #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.