Softball teams earn state honors

The annual San Juan summertime softball trophy haul transpired last week, with local softball teams playing in various state softball tournaments. 

Taska Bennett took her Filly team all the way to another first place trophy in Utah Valley.  The Blanding Athletics captured their third state championship in four years for several of the girls.

They were led by the strong pitching of Tatiana SueSue and pickup pitcher Jessica Swenson and played some excellent fundamental softball. 

After two blowout wins to begin the tournament, the fifth and sixth grade girls showed they were well coached and highly skilled, while beating a strong Spanish Fork team 1-0, even though the Spanish Fork pitcher tossed a no-hitter. 

How do you win without any hits?  Fundamental softball, a walk, stolen base and two sacrifices gave the Athletics the one run they needed while Tatiana shut down the opposing bats.  After that amazing win, the Athletics won the next two by 1-0 and 2-0 scores. 

Sunny Jones coached the Blanding Cubs to a third place finish.  “We just couldn’t get by a good Springville team,” who handed the Fox League seventh through ninth graders both losses. 

Simone Shumway and L’Sha Eldredge handled pitching chores, as they bested some fine teams from Lehi, Spanish Fork and Gunnison.  Just those dang Springville gals. 

Jones had long time softballer Morris Swenson along to handle the “mind game issues” commonly used at such events. 

“Morris Swenson is awesome” says Jones.  (I wonder if he still throws that mean riser and that remarkable changeup?)

The Monticello Mariners claimed a fourth place trophy in the Falcon league tournament, behind some nice pitching, timely hitting, and excellent fielding. 

Melissa’s (Fullmer) Mariners lost their first game in an 7-6 squeaker, forcing the Monticello youth to the loser’s bracket.  After sneaking in a 6-5 win, the girls won three more win-or-go-home games, 3-1, 11-1, and 7-2 before a final loss landed them in fourth.  Hey, these country girls can play!

Golf news

Golf continues unabatedly and unabashedly at the Hideout, with the course in great condition. 

Fourteen teams vied for top honors in the Inagural Monticello Football Fundraiser on July 11.  New Buckaroo football coach Jake Downard was happy with the event and is especially appreciative of the good turnout and support for the football team. 

Members of the football team were at the clubhouse washing carts and cleaning clubs. Boosters provided lunch and door prizes for all participants. 

Moore Construction, captained by Dave Moore with Josh Keyes, Doug Garner and David Ivins, blew away the field in the four man scramble, winning by four strokes.  That’s forever in golf. 

MC’s boys posted 15 birdies and one eagle to put a phenomenal 55 on the leader board.  They were rewarded for their efforts with Buckaroo hats and shirts. We want to see those being worn around Blanding a little, OK?   

The Old Guys came in second, with Doug Pehrson, Craig Leavitt, Brian Severin and Del Hunter shooting a fine 59, including three eagles and seven birdies. 

Not far behind was the San Juan Record/Insurance team, with Bill Boyle, Jeff Nielson, Trent Schafer and some other guy who is actually quite the golfer, some say.  They were third at 61, including an eagle and nine birdies. 

Stat of the Day - David Ivins was closest to the pin on hole #3.  Ivins knocked the ball within 18 inches of the popular par three.

Stat of the Month – Two holes in one at the Hideout.  On Saturday, July 3, former Dove Creek resident Dave Martinez aced the par 3 third hole with a “bladed” pitching wedge from the white tees.  Martinez was on the course with family members who had gathered in Monticello from all around the planet for golf and family fun. 

Dick Merkle aced the par 3 eleventh hole last week from the blue tees.  Merkle, who is currently undergoing cancer treatments and hadn’t played golf in some time, got his one in a billion shot to go in by using a 24 degree metal wood. 

That put a big needed smile on his face.  Actually the odds of making a hole in one vary, depending on to whom you talk, but most sources put the odds at about 30,000 to one.

Stat of the Summer-34 junior passes have been purchased this summer.  Season pass holders seen on the course last week?  Eight.