Right: Grand Portage Thunderbird player Rhonnie Poyirier gets ready to smack this ball a country mile in the Parent Pitch championship game played against the Lumberjacks. Poyirier’s team won the game in a very close contest. Below: John Huskey made a great catch on this ground ball for his team in the championship Parent Pitch game.
The end of July means playoff baseball for both Parent Pitch and Little League players. Both of the playoff games were very exciting despite some weather challenges.
The first night of Parent Pitch baseball was hampered by a thunderstorm that rolled through town an hour before game time. That storm left one game rescheduled and the other game delayed.
The game that was delayed had the Thunderbirds hosting the Yankees. Both the Thunderbirds and the Yankees showed how much they have improved throughout this past season. The score was very close the entire game and it wasn’t until the last at bat for the Thunderbirds that they were able to put the Yankees away. The Thunderbirds won and moved on to the Championship game.
The Yankee players had a great season and easily could have been the league’s most improved team.
Thunderbirds take Parent Pitch championship
The Thunderbirds had to wait until Tuesday to see whom they would play in the championship game. The last playoff game between the Lions and the Lumberjacks would decide whom the Thunderbirds would play.
The Lumberjacks started off the game strong and never let up. Both teams scored often with the Lumberjacks maintaining a small lead the entire game. The Lions entered their last at bats needing to score 4 runs to win the game. The Lion bats were ready for the challenge, but the Lumberjack defense was good enough to hold them off. The Lumberjacks upset the Lions who had been this season’s strongest team.
With the Lumberjacks’ confidence very high they welcomed the Thunderbirds to the championship game. The championship game would be even closer than the rest. Both teams scored, played good defense and ran the bases hard. With the score tied once again the Thunderbirds faced their last at bats of the game. Like they had done in the playoff game they were able to rise to the challenge and score just enough runs to win the game and the championship.
Left: Second baseman Ethan Sporn made a nice fielding play and threw the runner out at first base on this play. Above: Showing great poise and great effort, Lyndon Blomberg avoids a tag and scores on this play.
The Lumberjacks were disappointed at the end of the game, but they should feel proud as they were the lowest seed in the playoffs but ended up one run away from winning the championship. This year’s Parent Pitch Champions are the Grand Portage Thunderbirds. Thank you to all the coaches—you did a great job again this year!
Little League
Little League was much of the same—close games with some weather issues that changed schedules. We have a three-team league so the team with the best regular season record gets a bye and waits to see whom they will play in the championship game.
That meant the Dodgers and the Cubs battled it out for the chance to face the Twins.
We started the game on Sunday, but Mother Nature forced the game to be suspended after three innings due to lightning.
At that time the score was 4-0 Dodgers.
The game was resumed the next evening under clear skies. During the continuation of the game the Cubs could only muster one run and lost the game 4 – 1. It was a well played game and even though the Cubs left feeling disappointed they played very well.
That left one more game of our youth baseball season—the Little League championship game.
As coordinator for youth baseball it was great to see the parking lot full for the players as they played their last game. And what a great game it was!
The Dodgers started off the game scoring three runs in their first at bats. The Twins however answered back with 2 runs of their own. The game would go back and forth like this through the fourth inning.
In the 5th, the Twins tied up the game and set up a great finish in the 6th inning.
The Dodgers were up in the top of the sixth with the game tied. After some great hitting the Dodgers were able to leave their half of the inning leading by one run.
Off to the bottom of the sixth we go. The Twins had runners on second and third with two outs. The runner on third attempted to steal home after a passed ball at the plate. The catcher quickly picked up the ball and he was forced to head back. Then the catcher quickly threw the ball to second and it caught the runner trying to return to second by surprise. On a very close play he was out to end the game and preserve the victory for the Dodgers.
Final score: 7 – 6 Dodgers.
What a great game! Everyone involved should be very proud of the way both teams played. Thank you to everyone whohelped out this season and I hope next season is just as exciting as this one was.
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