Rams Take Second in County Championship

If there is one team that has gotten under the skin of the Green Mountain Rams, it's the Wheat Ridge Farmers. In their game of League play, the Rams didn't dominate the game like they had been all season long. That's why every member of the team was looking forward to today’s championship matchup.

But the first inning didn't go begin as planned. Leadoff hitter Jake Staley hit a grounder that was fielded by the short stop. Arley Anderson struck out, and Alex Haussmann mirrored Staley's grounder and was thrown out at first.

Pitcher Wyatt Featherston showed a fierce desire to hold the Farmer's batters at bay and set down three of the first four batters. The score after one inning: Rams 0, Farmers 0.

Featherston started out the second inning for the Rams by drawing a walk and scoring the first run of the game, off the bat of Trevor Willson. Austin Jones laced a double and scored when Ben McHugh smacked a line drive. McHugh was tagged out stealing third a few plays later.

In the second-half of the inning, Featherston struck out the next three batters keeping the score in the Rams favor, 3 to 0.

Ben Boyd started the third inning with a single up the middle. Jake Staley also singled and sent Boyd home. Arley Anderson drew a walk and stole second base. Alex Haussmann drilled a single up the third base line scoring both Boyd and Anderston. But, as Haussmann was taking his secondary lead toward third base, Wyatt Featherston smoked a steamer up the middle that was snagged in the air by the Farmer's second baseman. The Farmers completed the double-play when he tagged Haussmann before he scrambled back to the on base. Willson struck out to end the inning.

The Farmer's bats came to life in the bottom of the third inning when they tagged Featherston for two runs. It could have been worse. Boyd ended the inning on a beautiful catch in deep left field. Jones earned one run back for the Rams with his second hit of the game. He was sent home by Joe Anderson, who belted a single that nearly rolled to the back fence -- his best hit of the 2008 season. McHugh hit his second line drive, but the next three batters struck out before either Anderson or McHugh could get home.

Featherston continued to give it 100% effort in the bottom of the fourth and allowed only one run in. Outfielder Garrett Storm helped him out by raking in a high fly in center field. Score Rams 6, Farmers 3.

As the Rams took to the plate to begin the fifth inning, the team was growing in confidence. Arley Anderson drew another walk, as did Haussmann. Both scored off a scorcher by Featherston that sent him all the way to third base. Featherston was sent home by a Willson, who hit a single. But the next two batters struck out to end the rally.

Featherston began the bottom of the fifth for the Rams and tried his best to gut out another inning. But after one run scored and the bases were loaded, it was clear that he was out of gas. Colton Faubion took over the pitching job, but he couldn't stop the bleeding. The Farmers tallied five runs. Unfortunately, the Farmer’s pitchers could sense the momentum change and struck out the final three Rams' batters in order: McHugh, Fabion, and Storm.

In the bottom of the sixth, Faubion faced the top of the Farmer's order. The lead-off batter drew a walk, and scored off the bat of the next hitter. The Rams held him on base, but the next hitter also smacked a single and drove the winning run to third base. When the #4 batter drove the winning run home, the Rams watched their dreams of winning the title fade away.

"It's a tough loss, and I understand that you are disappointed," said the coaches after the game. "But I am proud of each and every one of you. You played that game to win, and we came up a bit short. But there are only two teams in the league left playing the game. You out to be proud that your are one of them."

Rams Win Tight Game Against Lakewood in a Forfeit

The ball parks in the Broomfield Industrial Sports Complex are nicknamed the "Field of Dreams." Every ballplayer who plays on the finely manicured lawns gets a chance to see what it feels like to play in a big-league type park. Dugouts are below ground, there's a huge score board, and a microphone system for calling plays. For the boys on Les Willson's Green Mountain Rams baseball team, life doesn't get much better than this.

The Rams played its first game of the Jefferson County Championship Tournament against Joe Lucero's Lakewood Tigers, a team that represented the Southern Division of Jefferson County baseball. Jake Staley took the mound for the Rams and proved once again why he's the team's ace. The first inning saw two runs score off some impressive hits by the Tigers, but Staley didn't allow it to shake his composure.

Acting as the home team, the Rams were up to bat in the bottom half of the inning. Staley was the lead-off batter and he hit a hot grounder that was fielded by the short stop. Two-hole hitter Arley Anderson drew a walk. He scored the first run for the rams when Alex Haussmann laced a double to deep right field. Inspired, Wyatt Featherston decided to have a little hit of his own. He hit a Ruthian blast over the left-field fence. Austin Jones was the next batter to tatoo the ball, and he also hit a double into deep left field. At the end of one inning the score: Rams 3, Tigers 2.

Staley contained the Tigers for the next two innings and didn't allow a run. The only tally for the Rams in these two innings came from Haussmann, who hit a single, and scored when he stole home.

In the top of the 4th, the Tigers bats gained some life and the drove two runs home. Catcher Joe Anderson hit a single to keep the Rams in the game. He scored off the bat of Center Fielder Garrett Storm, who belted another ball into the deep outfield.

Staley held the Tigers to no runs in the fifth inning, but it was clear that he was losing steam in the hot sun. As he got up to bat, though, he laced a single up the middle to get on board. Arley Anderson smacked a line drive to send Staley home. Anderson stole second, and Haussmann drew a walk, as did Featherston. That set up a bases loaded situation for Trevor Willson.

Willson answered the call with a hard hit ball up the third base line. But the Tigers executed perhaps the best play we've seen all season long. The third baseman stepped on the plate, forcing Haussmann out. Then he threw the ball on a rope before Willson crossed the plate. Out number two. Then, to make the triple play, the second baseman tagged Featherston out to end the inning.

The Tigers were excited when they came up to bat and quickly loaded the bases and scored three runs to tie the game. The Rams defense succeeded in getting two outs, when the ballgame took an unexpected turn. In a play that the Tigers had executed twice in the previous innings, the third base runner was sprinting for home before the pitcher was set to throw the ball to the batter. Staley threw a bullet to Catcher Joe Anderson to prevent the go-ahead run. With a swoop of his glove, Anderson tagged the runner out. Tie ball game.

That's when the opposing coaches and parents lost control of their emotions. Lead by several aggressive parents, the Lakewood fans let out a loud and raucous protest to the umpire. Ultimately, the tournament director forced the Tigers to forfeit the game to the Green Mountain Rams.

At the after-game meeting, the coaches used the opportunity to talk about sportsmanship to the Rams and their parents. "I don't care if you're 10 years old or 100," coach Steve advised. "In sports, you do your playing on the field. Not with your mouth."

Rams End Season on a High Note with Back-to-Back Wins

When the Green Mountain Rams returned to Lochwood Park for the final two games of the season, it was a homecoming they all relished. They were not longer playing the role of visitor, but back at a familar field that had been good to them all year long.

The first game pitted the team against Faith Christian, a team that on the surface looked like it would be an easy win. But as the old adage goes, on any given day, a team can have a breakout game.

Jake Staley took the mound for the Rams and made it look easy as he put down the first three batters in order. The Rams then took out their bats and scored a total of eight runs. Jake Staley drew a walk, and was sent home off the bat of Alex Haussmann, who hit a seeing-eye-single. Next, Trevor Willson took first after he was hit by the pitcher. Arley Anderson lined a single past second base and easily scored Haussmann, and sent Willson to third. Both runners made it home when Wyatt Featherston unleashed his fifth home run of the season.

The inning continued with a single by Ben McHugh, a double by Colton Faubion, and another beautiful hit over the outfielders head by Garrett Storm. The inning ended with the next batter struck out.
Faith Christian batters saw an opportunity at the top of the second inning and scored five runs. Then, their pitcher set down the top of the Rams' lineup with two strike outs. Haussmann then smacked his second single of the game, but was tagged out at first on a running error to end the inning.

In the top of the third, Staley settled in and only allowed one run to score.

Willson took the plate and smacked another beauty that put him standing up on second base. He scored off the bat of Featherston, who also belted a double. Catcher Joe Anderson drew a walk, but was stranded on second base when Ben McHugh grounded out.

Faith Christian didn't give up and added another 2 runs to their total in the top of the fourth inning. The Rams kept them in the game when they only added one run by Faubion.

Things fell apart for the Rams in the top of the sixth, as Faith Christian Eagles loaded up the bases and scored six runs to take the lead.

But true to form, the Rams' batters didn't back down. Staley hit a single, followed by the third hit of the day by Alex Haussmann. That's when Willson smashed his second home run of the season, and beat the tag at home plate. The game was now tied.

Featherston kept the Rams alive by hitting a single up the middle. On coaches orders, he quickly stole second and third. All season long, the Rams have been practicing the suicide squeeze. It fell on Joe Anderson to execute the play, and he did it like a master. When Coach Steve gave him the sign, Anderston bunted down the third base line. Featherston flew right by it, and scored the winning run.

Rams 15, Eagles 14.

Rams Suffer Two Tough Losses to WR and RV

Looking back, it seems as if the pressure of becoming AA League Champions may have been too much for the 10-year-old Green Mountain Rams to handle as they went to the final weeks of the season. Facing two tough teams in Wheat Ridge and Ralston Valley, the Rams offense and defense wasn't up to the challenge.

The burgeoning thunderstorm was an ominous sign as the game against Wheat Ridge began, and the top of the Rams order only scored one run.

Leadoff batter Austin Jones started the game on a good note by drawing a walk. Arley Anderson moved him to second base off a grounder that was fielded by the first baseman. Next, Alex Haussmann belted a single to the outfield and scored Jones. But Haussmann got stranded on third as the next two batters struck out.

The Farmers batters, on the other hand, pounded a rusty Jake Staley, who hadn't pitched in nearly 10 days. By the end of the inning, they had tallied five runs.

Staley started the second inning by drawing a walk, but the next three hitters were struck out in order. In the top of the second inning, the Farmers added another two runs to their total. It was the last runs they would score, but it proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.

In the next two innings, Benjamin Boyd, Colton Faubion, and Wyatt Featherstorm all drew walks. Featherston scored off the bat of Trevor Willson, who posted by far the best hit of the game, a monster triple down the third base line.

In the fifth and final inning, the Boyd struck out, followed by Faubion who grounded out. Jones drew his second walk of the game, and was scored off the bat of Arley Anderson, who smacked only the third hit of the game. When Haussmann popped up a fly ball to shallow center field, the game ended.

"That was a tough loss," said the coaches at the end of the game. "We're a better team than how we played. We'll get 'em next time."

Final Score: Wheat Ridge 9, Rams 4


Two days later, the Rams faced a Ralston Valley team that was looking to even the score against the Rams. The Cardinals had lost their first game of the season to the Rams, and it was clear that the players were looking for a chance at redemption.

The game began with the Cardinals pitcher throwing a blistering pitch to strike out leadoff batter Austin Jones. Arley Anderson had better luck drawing a walk. He quickly stole second and third, and was sent home when Alex Haussmann smashed a single up the middle.

Power hitter Wyatt Featherston was also fooled by the Cardinals and suffered a rare strike out. Trevor Willson had the pitchers' numbers, though, and sent Haussmann home off yet another blistering triple. Jake Staley was the third Rams to strike out and end the inning.

Wyatt Featherston took the mound for the Rams, and like Staley hadn't pitched in nearly two weeks. The Ralston Valley batters had their eye on the ball, and brought home four runs in the inning.
The Rams failed to score in the second inning, with the Cardinals tagging out a runner out at third and two more strike outs. But the Ralston Valley Sluggers were just getting started, and they tagged on another five runs to bring the score to Cardinals 9, Rams 2.

In the third inning, Colton Faubion took the plate and showed he was a force to be reckoned with. He belted a single down the first base line. Jones drew a walk, as did Anderson, Haussmann, and Featherston. But the crafty pitcher, remembering the triple from Willson from his last at bat, regained his composure. He lured Willson to chase an outside pitch and pop the ball up.

But the Rams didn't give up. Jake Staley smacked a powerful single and sent three runners home. The inning ended when Joe Anderson and Garrett Storm both struck out.

Featherston settled into a nice pitching rhythm in the third inning and didn't allow any more runs.

The team came back strong in the top of the fourth with Benjamin McHugh drawing a walk. Ben Boyd struck out, and Faubion drew a walk, as did Jones. Arley Anderson was the next Ram to be fooled by the pitcher and became the second strike out victim of the inning.

With two outs, Alex Haussmann came to the plate with a steely determination to keep the team alive. He smacked his second single of the game, tying the game 9-to-9. That's when the gamesmanship from the Ralston Valley coaches came into play. Trying to avoid another run, they intentionally walked Featherston and hit Willson with a pitch. The inning ended when
Staley grounded out.

Playing the role as closer, Colton Faubion came to the mound to shut the Cardinals down. But their desire proved too much, and they squeaked in the winning run.

GM Rams Roll Over Pomona in 24-2 Slugfest

The Rams' bats were on fire last night as the team took on the Pomona Panthers in a game that brings them one closer to the League Championship. With each passing contest the Rams are becoming a more cohesive unit and you can feel the excitement -- and confidence --building within the dugout.

Tonight's game featured several breakout performances including three doubles and a single by catcher Joe Anderson and a monster hit by centerfielder Garrett Storm. The dugout erupted in cheers when Storm smashed the ball, because every player on the team knows how it feels to break free from struggling at the plate.

Way to hit the ball, Garrett

Joe smashed three doubles and a single.

The game began with a series of walks as the nervous Pomona pitcher had trouble finding the strike zone. Austin Jones, Arley Anderson and Alex Haussmann drew three consecutive walks to begin the game. Finally, Wyatt Featherston found a pitch and hit a single, driving two runs home. Next, first baseman Trevor Willson walked, followed by Storm. Jacob Staley and Joe Anderson both hit singles, followed by a walk by Benjamin McHugh.

The top of the order hit for the second time in the inning. This time, four consecutive batters hit singles: Jones, Arley Anderson, Haussmann and Featherston. The Rams scored 11 runs in the inning.

Wyatt Featherston then took the mound for the Rams and made short work of the Pomona batters. One run scored off of a walk, and he struck three batters out.

In the second inning the Rams produced another five runs. Staley hit another single, Joe Anderson sent him home off of double. Jones and Arley Anderson both drew walks, setting up a bases-loaded situation for Haussmann. He drilled a line drive to center field and sent all three runners home before Coach Dave stopped him on third base. Featherston walked and stole second and third base before stealing home.

Like the bottom of the first, Featherston struck three batters out, while allowing one walk. No runs were scored.

In the third inning, the Rams continued to pile up runs. Staley hit his third single of the night, Anderson hit his second double, followed by a double by McHugh. Jones lined a single, and Haussmann cracked a double. Featherston, Storm, and Staley all singled. Joe Anderson and Ben McHugh each hit another double, bringing the total to 24 runs for the Rams. The inning mercifully ended when Jones hit a pop fly.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers got their first hit of the game. The runner scored, bringing the game to it's final total: Rams 24, Pomona 2.

"Lights Out" for Brighton in Suspended 11-2 Route

To many people the Brighton Youth Baseball Complex is an "oasis on the prairie." The lush green fields and majestic lights were funded three years ago by the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and the Colorado Rockies, with the promise of night games for little leaguers across the state.

To the Green Mountain Rams, however, those same bright lights -- and the darkness that followed when they shut off at exactly 9:30 p.m. last Wednesday light -- will forever be a reminder of an opposing coach refusing to give in to common sense. Instead of conceding an 11-2 ballgame with two-outs at the bottom of the sixth inning, the coach of the Brighton Bulldogs chose to use the official "Rules" of baseball to suspend the game and give his team the slimmest chance at a win.

It all began when the Rams took the field at 7:45 p.m., with lead off batter Austin "Jonesy" Jones hitting a hot single off the opposing Brighton pitcher. Next, Arley Anderson grounded out. Alex Haussmann threaded the needle and drove Jones home. Wyatt Featherston hit a single, and sent Haussmann around the bases. Trevvor Willson and Jake Staley both drew walks. A single by Catcher Joe Anderson drove them home. The inning ended with the Rams scoring 5 runs.
Staley took the mound for the Rams and began a masterful pitching effort that baffled the Brighton batters. One after another, the players struck out or hit balls fielded by the pitcher. Only two runners made it home over the five and one-third innings played. In fact, for a three-inning period, it was literally a one-man show-- Jake Staley -- for the Rams. Quipped his father Coach Scott Staley: "He's giving the rest of the team a night off."

Once he settled down, the Brighton ace also had a great game, as he held the Rams to one more run in the second through fifth inning. In the sixth inning, though, the teams bats came alive and they added another five runs, bringing the score to 11-2.

As Staley came to the mound to finish the game, he struck out the first two batters he faced. The next batter was hit by the pitcher, and stole second and third base. When Staley faced the seventh batter in the Bulldog's linup, the lights went out and the team was in the dark -- quite literally.

The Bulldog's refused to call the game. It will pick up at a later date, with the Bulldogs down 11-2, a runner on third base, and two outs.

Tigers Give Rams a Run for their Money

The air was thick with intensity at Lochwood Park, as the Green Mountain Rams battled the Lakewood Tigers Sunday afternoon. Both teams are driving to be in the League Championship game at the end of the month, and tensions were high from the first pitch.

Wyatt Featherston took the mound for the Rams, and the Tiger's batters were ready for action. The lead-off batter tagged Featherston for a triple, and set an impressive tone. The Tiger's number two batter, Matt Becker, smacked a single and drove in the run. Featherston then settled in to the game, and got the next three batters to hit balls that the Rams team's defense could easily handle. But not before the Tigers had tallied two marks on the board.

Austin Jones, the first batter for the Rams, hit a ball that was fielded by the Tiger's third baseman. Arley Anderson and Alex Haussmann also grounded out.
In the second inning, the Tigers kept up the pressure and scored another two runs off of Featherston. The Rams tried to answered the call in the bottom of the inning. Featherston smacked a ball to the Tiger's shortstop, and was thrown out at first. Next, Trevor Willson popped up a fly ball that was caught by the infield. It was the first time all season that the top of the Rams' order failed to produce a run.

The pressure was on the middle of the Rams' lineup to make something happen, and they responded beautifully to the call. Jacob Staley rattled the Tigers pitcher and drew a walk. Joe Anderson followed suit, putting two runners in scoring position. That set the stage for Benjamin McHugh, who has improved his batting skills with each consecutive game. With a powerful swing, B-Mac drove the ball down the third base line and far into the outfield. He put on the breaks at third base when coach Dave signaled him to stop. Ben Boyd drove McHugh home off a single, The inning ended with a score of Rams 3, Tigers 4.

But despite the Rams' best efforts, the Tigers bats refused to cool off. In the third inning, a combination of hits, walks, and some unfortunate fielding errors resulted in five more runs being scored -- the most scored against the 2008 Rams by any opponent to date.

At the bottom of the third, the top of the Rams order was ready to battle back. Jones smacked a single to get a base runner on board. AA drove him to second base, on a ball that was fielded by the Tigers. Next, A-Hauss hit a line drive far into left-center field. As he headed for second base, he collided with Tiger's firstbaseman and dropped to the ground. The umpire ruled interference after the play, and sent a dusty Haussmann to second. The only bright spot: Jones scored off the hit.

Featherston's single drove Haussmann home, bringing the score to 5-9. But he was later tagged out attempting to steal home base. Willson and Staley both walked, but were stranded on base.

The top of the fourth saw the Ram's best defensive effort of the ball game. With a combination of strike outs and excellent fielding, the Rams held the Tigers to no runs.

McHugh led off the bottom of the inning for the Rams with a walk, and then he stole second and third base. GA also walked, as did outfielder Garret Storm. McHugh scored off the bat of Austin Jones, who grounded out. Arley Anderson demonstrated patience at the plate and also drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Haussmann smacked a line drive to the pitcher, who deftly fielded the ball. Only the G-Man dashed home to score the run.

The coaches reminded the batters that if the Rams were going to win the game, they needed to add three more runs to the tally. Featherston stepped up to the plate and drove the first pitch far into right-center. The Rams star watched the flight of the ball, then took off around the bases. He exchanged a high-five with on-deck hitter Trevor Willson, then hugged the rest of the team as they piled off the bench to congratulate him on his efforts. Next to the dugout, Featherston collapsed on the ground, reveling in his role as the hero. The Rams' attack continued with Willson, who hit a single, and Staley who drew a walk. Unfortunately, neither could complete the trip home.

In the top of the 5th inning, Featherston kept his composure for the Rams and succeeded in pitching his first full game. He struck out the first batter he faced, and walked the next two. The next two batters didn't have a prayer, though, as Featherston saved his best stuff for last and struck them both out.

Score: Rams 10, Tigers 9.

Staley Pitches Five Inning Gem

Green Mountain Ram's pitcher Jake Staley pitched a complete game last night and lead his team to a 13-8 victory against the Golden Demons. The contest was the first of five tough games for the team as they try to capture the League Title.

In the first inning, the Golden Demons demonstrated impressive fielding skills, limiting the Rams to one run. Lead-off batter Austin Jones started off the game with a hard-hit grounder to the shortstop. Next, Arley Anderson smacked a single through the hole. Alex Haussmann then hit a ball that was fielded by the pitcher, but succeeded in driving Anderson home. Wyatt Featherston singled, and Trevor Willson's ball also found its way into the Demon's Glove.

Staley took the mound for the Rams and dominated most of the game. The first batter popped up a fly ball near home plate, which was caught by catcher Joe Anderson. Noted Coach Steve: "Anyone can catch the easy ones, it takes a stud to catch the hard ones." Next a base runner was caught in a pickle between second and third. Shortstop Featherston tagged the runner out. Staley struck out the fourth batter to secure the final out.

To begin the second inning, Staley popped up a fly. Joe Anderson smacked a single, Ben McHugh smashed a monster double. The inning ended when Ben Boyd grounded out. The Demons were able to get one run in off of a walk, bringing the score to Rams 3, Golden 2.

In the third inning, the Rams started to rally and scored five runs. Jones hit into another ground out, Arley Anderson drew a walk, as did Haussmann and Featherston. Trevor Willson brought them home off of a double hit deep into the outfield. Joe Anderson also singled and scored a run.

Unfortunately, the Demons batters matched the five-run effort and the score remained close at Rams 8, Golden 7.

In the top of the fourth, Ben Boyd led off with a single and was the only baserunner to make it home. Jones and Haussmann both hit deep balls that were caught by the Golden outfielders, while Arley Anderson cracked yet another single. The Demons kept pace with the Rams and also brought in one run.

In the fifth and final inning, Featherston drew a walk and advanced to second on a Willson ground out. Staley also walked, and was sent home off the bat of Joe Anderson. Benjamin McHugh laid down a perfect bunt to bring home Anderson, and Boyd also scored a run.

In a gritty determination to end the game, Staley struck the first batter out to begin the fifth inning. The next two batters got on base and threatened to score. But Staley held them back, striking out the next two to end the game.

Final Score: Rams 13, Demons 8.

GM Rams Dominate Lakewood Tigers

Lush green trees and a mist of summer rain set the stage for the Green Mountain Ram's 26-4 blowout against the Lakewood Tigers at Morse Park last night. The team hadn't played a game in 10 days, but it was obvious that there was no rust on their bats.

Jake Staley began the game with a beautiful hit down the third-base line. Ben Boyd followed with a hot grounder that was fielded by the Tiger's first baseman. Alex Haussmann took first after he was hit by a wild pitch, and sent home by cleanup hitter Wyatt Featherston, who grounded out. The inning ended when the Tiger's caught a pop fly off Trevor Willson's bat. With only two runs scored, it looked like it could be a close game.

Pitcher Featherston struck out the first batter he faced. The next opponent (coincidentally Wyatt) was hit by a pitch, and later tagged out at home plate by catcher Joe Anderson. First Baseman Willson secured the final out, leaving the score Rams 2, Tigers 1.

The second inning signaled a scoring frenzy for the Rams, as they batted around the order:

Austin Jones: Single
Ben "Mac" McHugh: Single
Garrett "G-Man" Storm: Walk
Arley Anderson: Single
Colton "Bear" Faubion: Single
Staley: Single
Boyd: Walk
Haussmann: Single
Featherston: Single
Willson: HBP
Jones: Single
McHugh: Walk
Storm: Walk
Anderson, A.: Single
Faubion: Walk

Featherston's pitching efforts contained the Tigers to two runs in the bottom of the second. Staley made a brilliant catch at short stop, which was fun for the fans to watch.

Haussmann took the plate for the Rams to begin the third inning, and hit a line drive through the hole. Featherston smashed a single that got caught in the long outfield grass. Willson drove him home off a monster triple into the outfield. Jones popped up, Anderson drew a walk, and McHugh was nailed by the pitcher in the foot. Ouch!

The Tiger's pitcher began showing serious fatigue as he walked Storm, Anderson, and Faubion. Ben Boyd found a pitch, though, and sent the baserunners home off a hard-hit single. Haussmann walked, and was sent home by Featherston. Willson also drew a walk, and scored off the bat of "Mr. Reliable," Austin Jones.

Colton Faubion took the mound at the bottom of the third, and held the Tiger's to one more run, off only their second hit of the night. The game ended when Haussmann caught a fly in right field.

Final Score: Rams 26, Tigers 4.

Rams Break Out Bats Against A-West

The Green Mountain Rams got a chance to demonstrate their power at the plate in the game against the A-West Allies. Trevor Willson took the mound for the team and pitched a complete game, allowing only two runs in the lopsided 17-2 victory.

Lead-off batter Jake Staley started the game off with a single, followed by a line drive by Wyatt Featherston. Next, Willson drew a walk. Outfielder Austin Jones then smashed a double, but was left stranded on third. In a dominating performance, Willson struck the first two batters out, and allowed one run.
The second inning saw twelve runs scored by the Rams:

Colton Faubion: Hit by the Pitcher
Staley: Walk
Boyd: Single
Featherston: Single
Willson: Triple
Jones: Double
Joe Anderson: Walk
Ben McHugh: Single
Faubion: Triple
Staley: Single
Boyd: Single
Featherston: Single

The Allies scored one run in the bottom of the second inning, but Willson shut the team down when he struck out the final batter.

The third inning began with Jones completing the "hat trick" with his third double of the day. At that point, the A-West team conceded the game.

Final Score: Rams 17, Allies 2

This one's for you, Mom!

On a cold and blustery morning that blew dirt around the infield and took off a hat or two, the Green Mountain Rams faced the undefeated Wheat Ridge Farmers. The game, like so many this season, was a complete team effort with every Ram contributing to the 8-7 victory.

Wyatt Featherston got the call from the team's coaches to be the team's starting pitcher. Showing a growing confidence on the mound, Featherston walked the first three batters he faced, but didn't allow the base runners to shake him up. Featherston struck the fourth batter out, and got help from teammate Arley Anderson, who made a nice throw to first to get the second out. Catcher Joe Anderson made a terrific play at home plate to end the inning.

The Rams' were up next, and Austin Jones drew a walk off the Farmer's pitcher. Alex Haussmann chipped a single down the right field line to score the runner. Featherston singled and drove in a run, followed by a hard hit ball by first baseman Trevor Willson, who sent Featherston home. The next four Rams drew walks: Joe Anderson, Garrett Storm, Benjamin McHugh, and Arley Anderson, but only Anderson made it home. The inning ended with a score of 5-3.

Featherston settled in to the game in the second inning, and found a way to stop the Farmer's attack, allowing only one runner on board. Shortstop Jake Staley made an excellent defensive stopping a bullet and executing a timely throw to first. Featherston struck the next two batters out.

Rams' batters Jones and Haussmann both grounded out to the Farmer's shortstop, who made excellent plays all game long. Featherston smashed a double, and took third on an overthrow from the outfield. He scored off the bat of Willson. Score 6-4

Featherston pitched valiently in the third inning and with the infield help of Anderson and Willson kept the Farmer's from scoring. For the Rams, Joe Anderson, Storm, and McHugh all drew walks from the Farmer's pitcher. The inning ended, however, when the Rams left the bases loaded without scoring a run.

The top of the fourth inning also featured great plays by both the pitcher and infield. Arley Anderson blocked another hard hit ball and threw the runner out at first. Willson snagged a wicked ball in his glove and secured the final out of the inning. In a virtual repeat of the second inning, Jones and Haussmann grounding out to the Farmer's shortstop, and Featherston striking out.

Featherston kept his composure and the lead, though, as he pitched through the fifth inning. He struck out the first two batters. Centerfielder Haussmann caught a high fly ball to end the inning. But the Farmers made short work of the Rams' next three batters and no runs scored.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Farmer's battled back and saw their batter's come alive. Three runners came in to even up the score 7-7. The Rams' continued to struggle at the plate, with only Colton Faubion getting on board off a single that was drilled -- literally -- at the pitcher. Faubion didn't get home, though, and the game was sent into extra innings.

Jake Staley took the mound for the Ram's in the sixth inning, and struck the Farmer's batters out in order. That set up the win for the Rams. Austin Jones battled hard at the plate, and was ultimately hit by the pitcher, putting the winning run on board. Haussmann cracked the ball between second and third, and sent Jones home for the winning run.

Final score: Rams 8, Farmers 7.

Gritty Pitching Effort Helps Rams Secure Win

A pair of powerful hits by slugger's Wyatt Featherston and Alex Haussmann and a valient effort by the team's pitching staff lead the Rams to a 13-6 victory last night over the Stanley Lake Gators.

The game started with the first two batters, Jake Staley and Ben Boyd, drawing a walk from the opposing pitcher. Next, Haussmann snaked a hard-hit single through the hole, and drove both baserunners home. That cleared the plate for Featherston, who smashed a monster home run, scoring two more runs. Trevor Willson singled and Austin Jones drew a walk, as did Garrett Storm. The inning ended with the Rams scoring an impressive 7 runs.

Pitcher Jake Staley struck out the first two batters he faced, and allowed only one run on a walk. In the early part of the game, it looked like it was going to be a blowout.


The second inning saw Staley lacing a single down the third base line. Then, with two outs on the board, Haussmann smashed his best hit of the season: a triple that rolled all the way to the fence. He made it home off the bat of Featherston, who hit a single down the line. The Rams had scored 10 runs.


In the bottom of the second, the Gators scored three runs. The inning ended on an infield play to second baseman Arley Anderson. The Rams batters kept things going in the third, with a double by Austin Jones. Garrett Anderson was hit by the pitcher, and driven home on a sacrifice fly by Benjamin McHugh.


When it was clear that Staley had run out of gas, Colton Faubion took over the pitching effort and forced a couple of hits that the outfield easily handled. One particularly pretty catch was made by Staley, who was playing shortstop at the time.


The team started showing wear in the fourth and fifth innings, and allowed the Gators to stay in the game. Faubion gritted through the inning, allowing only two runs, despite obvious fatigue.



In the top of the fifth, the Gator's pitcher made a couple of oustanding plays, catching hard hit balls by both Featherston and Jones. Willson, however, singled, and catcher Joe Anderson smoked a ball past the shortstop to drive hime home. McHugh connected for the second time in the game, and added another run to the score.



The game ended in great style, as Faubion struck the next two batters out. The third batter connected and sent the ball sailing into the outfield. Not to worry. Center fielder Storm made a beautiful catch and ended the game. Score: Rams 13, Gators 6.

Rams Face Tough Competition at Spring Blast Tournament

The 2008 Green Mountain Rams took another step toward becoming an elite baseball team this weekend, as they battled some of Colorado's toughest AA teams at South Jeffco's Spring Blast Tournament. The games featured some outstanding baseball and provided the kind of "tough" playing time that will make a difference as the Ram's enter the second half of league play.

As typifies this Rams' team, every player contributed to the games against the Columbine Crushers (13-5), the Longmont Stealth (9-17) and finally the Eastern Colorado Cobras (5-13).

Some of the individual accomplishments include:
Alex

Continuing to demonstrate tremendous discipline at the plate, Alex challenged every pitcher he faced. When drawing a walk, he would shake his head wishing he could have smashed yet another line drive for the team. Alex caught a fly ball during the game against the Cobras and showed his improving arm strength by throwing it on a rope to Ben McHugh at third base.

Arley
When Coach Dave handed the ball to Arley during the final inning of the tournament, Arley didn't hesitate to take the mound. He put every ounce of his energy into trying to stop the rally of the Eastern Colorado Cobras. Arley also made some great plays second base, and hit a single in the game against the Columbine Crushers.

Austin

One of the Ram's most enthusiastic players, Austin got more valuable playing time at second base and short stop during the tournament. He also made several plays in the outfield. He continues to swing the bat hard, and kept the team's rally going against the Crushers in the first game of the tournament.

Ben B.

Having earned the spot as the second batter in the Ram's lineup, Ben demonstrated his speed around the bases and determination to help the team score runs. He had several strong hits during the tournament. Like his hero Garrett Atkins, Ben did an outstanding job playing third base.

Ben M.

The Rams' needed a hit when Ben took the plate against the Longmont Stealth in the second game of the tournament, and Ben didn't disappoint. He smashed a hard hit double far into center field. Ben also got some valuable playing time at third base and showed his coaches that he's quite handy with the glove.


Colton
When Colton took the mound for the Ram's in the game against the Crushers, he proved again that he has the mental toughness to close the game. At third base, Colton was part of an exciting pickle during the team's final game, and drew new respect for the team's outfielders as he chased ball's down in left field.

Garrett
In perhaps the best back-to-back plays of the season, Garrett fielded consecutive fly balls in the game against the Eastern Colorado Cobras. Each time the outfielder produced the ball, his grin was a mile wide.

Jake

Proving why he's the team's stingiest pitcher , Jake shut down the Columbine Crushers during his only outing during the tournament. As the team's lead-off batter, he found a way to manufacture critical runs during each game. He also made several outstanding plays at short stop, throwing his body down to keep the ball from escaping to the outfield.

Joe

The Ram's are lucky to have Joe's impressive talent at catcher. It's clear that he's improving his game each week. During the final game of the tournament, Joe caught several Cobra's in a pickle between third and home. His quick arm and ability to run the batters down prevented several runs.

Trevor
The Ram's have come to rely on Trevor's powerful bat, but it was his first outing as a pitcher that will be the lasting memory from the Spring Blast tournament. With steely determination, Trevor kept the Rams in the game for more than three innings of play, baffeling nearly every batter he faced.

Way to go, Trevor!

Wyatt

Whether it's playing short stop, batting, or playing pitcher, Wyatt has a way of making baseball look easy. He made several outstanding plays in the field at both short stop and first base. During his pitching outing against Longmont, he showed that he's gaining more control over his cannon of an arm.

Rams Post Convincing Victory Against Allies

For Austin Jones and Arley Anderson, tonight's game against the Arvada Allies is the stuff that big league dreams are made of. Anderson's game included a fantastic grab at second base, his second single of the season, and a successful debut as the Rams' closing pitcher. For Jones, it was all about his bat: The slugger smashed two doubles and a single, and scored every time he came to the plate.

Every Rams player had at least one hit or scored a run for the team. The game saw the team batting around the order in two separate innings, and plating 9 runs in the first, 2 runs in the second, and 8 runs in the third. Notable hits include a singles by outfielders Ben McHugh and Garrett Anderson.

Pitcher Wyatt Featherston turned in a strong performance throwing the ball hard and not allowing a single hit in two innings of play. Arley Anderson closed out the game in the third inning, preserving the 19-1 victory.

Coach Scott Staley congratulated the team on a win, and said the kids did a great job maintaining their focus despite the lopsided score. "These games are tough, because you have to keep your mind on the game at all times. Any team can put up 9 or 10 runs in an inning. You always have to be alert."

Special recognition goes to Ben Boyd, who due to heavy traffic didn't make it to the game until the team had batted around the order. But Ben stayed with the team on the bench and cheered his teammates on to a win. Now that's teamwork!

Rams Bounce Back with Win Against Ralston Valley

The smile on first baseman Trevor Willson's face said it all as he rounded the bases in the 4th inning. Willson, who struggled at the plate last game, found his swing and launched a majestic home run that cleared Lochwood Park. The Rams went on to beat the Ralston Valley Cardinals, 8-7.

"That was a monster hit," said Willson's gleeful teammate Alex Haussmann. "I mean, that ball went all the way to the parking lot and literally hit a car."

The game started with brilliant pitching from ace Jacob Staley, who looked like a one-man show through the first several innings. Staley struck out the first batter he faced, and then smothered a hot grounder to the pitcher to get the out at first. Next, he struck out the third Cardinal he faced.

Staley quickly grabbed his bat and became the lead-off hitter for the Rams. He hit a single, and was driven home on a hard-hit ball by Haussmann. Catcher Joe Anderson drew a walk, and shortstop Wyatt Featherson took the plate. Featherston sent Haussmann home, for a first inning score of 2-0.

In the second and third innings, the pitchers were in charge. The Ram's Staley retired the six Cardinal batters in order, but the Cardinals pitcher dealt the Rams a similar fate. Four of the next seven batters struck out, while second baseman Arley Anderson hit a hot grounder that was fielded by the pitcher, Staley hit his second single, and Haussmann popped up a fly in the infield.

The Cardinals finally got a runner on base in the fourth inning, but the Rams made a sweet play with two base runners threatening. Catcher Joe Anderson threw a bullet to Benjamin Boyd at third base to tag the lead runner out, and end the inning.

The Rams bats got hot in the fourth, as Featherston smashed his second single of the game. That's when Willson hit his tape-measure home run. Austin Jones followed with a single, and eventually scored on a suicide-squeeze off of the bunt of Garrett Storm. Outfielder Benjamin McHugh drew a walk but was stranded at the end of the inning. Score Rams 5, Cardinals 0

The Cardinals scored two runs in the fifth inning. But the Rams kept the pressure on. Haussmann hit his second single and Anderson drew another walk. Haussmann stole home on an overthrow to the catcher, and Featherston completed a perfect day with a single down the middle and sent Anderson home. Score 8-2.

Despite being down six runs, the Cardinals didn't give up. They quickly loaded the bases, signaling it was time to change pitchers. Closer Colton Faubion took the mound to get the final two outs. He struck the first batter out, but facing the heart of the Cardinal's lineup proved to be quite a challenge. Their cleanup batter hit a dart that ricocheted against Featherston's legs, and the base runner crashed in to Boyd at third. But true to his cool and collected style, Faubion kept his composure and struck the final batter out. Score Rams 8, Cardinals 7.

Bulldogs Hand Rams First Loss in Extra Innings

In a game that could have gone either way, the GM Rams lost their first game of the season against the Brighton Bulldogs in a score of 8 to 9.

"This was a tough game, " said Coach Les Willson. "You all tried hard an made some good plays, but the game exposed some weaknesses that we'll be working on in practice."

The first inning saw Alex Haussmann hitting a single, and scoring a run for the Rams, off the bat of Wyatt Featherston. But getting more base runners home proved difficult, and the Rams left Featherston stranded on third.

Right-handed pitcher Jacob Staley worked efficiently through the Bulldogs lineup with a number of strikeouts, pop ups, and ground-ball outs. The Rams sported strong defensive plays by Austin Jones in right field, Arley Anderson at second base, Trevor Willson at first, and Ben McHugh catching a fly ball in deep leftfield that kept the game close.

In the second through fourth innings, the Rams sprayed hits across the field including a singles by Jones, Boyd, Staley, Haussmann and Joe Anderson, and a monster double by Featherston.

In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs's bats got hot and they tied the game. Relief pitcher Colton Faubion took the mound from Staley to get the final out. At the bottom of the fifth, Anderson drove in Haussmann from second base to retake the lead. Then, the Bulldogs pitcher made a circus catch of a steamer blasted by Featherston and made a double-play to end the inning. Rams 6, Bulldogs 5.

The Bulldogs kept up the pressure and scored three runs in the top of the sixth, bringing the score to Rams 6, Bulldogs 8.

With the game on the line, Jones came up to bat and hit a seeing-eye single to keep the Rams alive. Ben Boyd also smashed a single and drove Jones to third. That set up the tying run for Garrett Storm. With a smooth swing of the bat, he sent both Jones and Boyd home, tying the game at 8-8, and forcing extra innings.

In the seventh inning, the Bulldogs brought what proved to be the winning run home. The Rams batters were unable to pull out the win, and the game ended with the final score Rams 8, Bulldogs 9.

GM Rams Put on Hitting Parade

In the game of baseball, a hitter walks up to the plate with one goal in mind— getting the bat on the ball. For the Green Mountain Rams, every player on the team achieved that goal tonight, punctuated by a powerful grand slam home run by shortstop Jacob Staley.

"This was the best hitting game we've had this year -- or ever," said Coach Les Willson after the game. "You all showed a lot of discipline at the plate."

The game at Lakewood's Morse Park took place under cold and blustery skies. Lead-off hitter Staley hit a single to get things going for the team. Alex Haussmann drove him home off a hard hit ball to the opposing shortstop. Joe Anderson singled, followed by a double by Wyatt Featherston, and singles by Trevor Willson and Austin Jones. The Rams scored 4 runs off of 5 hits.

Featherston took the mound for the Rams in the first, but in the drizzling rain had trouble settling in. One outstanding defensive play came when catcher Joe Anderson tossed the ball to Featherston, who tagged a runner out at home plate. After the Tigers scored six runs, Featherston handed the ball to Colton Faubion. Faubion struck the next batter out. Two more runs scored before he secured the final out. Score: Rams 4, Tigers 8.

The Rams roared back at the top of the second, with a hard hit single by outfielder Garret Storm, and a monster hit up the middle by second baseman Arley Anderson. Next, Benjamin McHugh showed the power of his new bat as he blasted a double, driving in both Storm and Anderson. Haussmann followed with a single that drove in McHugh. Featherston singled scoring Haussmann, and Willson drew a walk.

a

At the bottom of the second inning, Faubion settled in to a nice pitching rhythm and struck out three of the next four Lakewood hitters. No runs were scored. Score: Rams 8, Tigers 8

At the top of the third, the Rams hitters simply overpowered the Tigers pitching staff. Jones began the onslaught with his second single of the game, followed by a hit by Ben Boyd. Arley Anderson and McHugh showed discipline at the plate and both drew walks. Haussmann drove in the base runners with a double to left field. Joe Anderson drew a walk, followed by a single by Featherston.
The hitting parade continued when Trevor Willson hit his third double in three games. Faubion drew a walk, Jones hit his third single of the game, Boyd walked, and Storm hit his second single of the game. Arley Anderson and McHugh walked for the second time in the inning, loading up the bases. That's when Staley cracked his Grand Salami. The team emptied the bench to congratulate him on the sport's greatest offensive achievement. Haussmann ended the inning when he hit a grounder that was smothered by the second baseman.

Faubion finished off the game in style, striking out the next two Tiger batters. To get the final out, Faubion blocked a ball that was hit to the pitcher. When Willson caught the throw at first, the game was over.

For the second game in a row, the Rams showed they had the discipline and courage to come from behind and win the game. Next up, GM Rams vs. Brighton Bulldogs. Saturday April 12th, 10 a.m., Lochwood Park.

Teamwork Proves Key to Rams Defeating Golden

Like all good nail-biters, the game between the Green Mountain Rams and Golden Junior Baseball came down to the final batter. The Rams' Wyatt Featherston took the plate with two outs. Teammates Austin Jones and Alex Haussmann were at the corners, with Jones poised to score. That's when Featherston laced a single between first and second, and Jones scrambled toward home. Once he crossed the plate, the Rams could put another "X" in the victory column.

"This was a complete team effort," said Coach Steve after the game. "Everyone of you contributed something today, whether it was a stolen base, a catch, a hit, or a play on the field. Nice job!"

The game featured stellar pitching from Jacob Staley, who struck out three of the first four batters he faced, while allowing one walk. The Golden team scored one run off of stolen bases and an overthrow.

The Rams came back at the bottom of the first. Haussmann advanced to first base, after being hit by the pitcher. Catcher Joe Anderson brought him home as he drilled a double through the hole. Anderson crossed the plate before the inning ended, bringing the score to: Rams 2, Golden 1.

Pitcher Staley started the second inning by striking the next two batters out, but the third out proved more elusive, as the next three batters got on base. The Rams defense picked off a runner at third from an excellent throw from catcher Anderson to third baseman Ben Boyd. Boyd tagged the runner when he walked off the plate. Despite heads-up defense, Golden managed to score two runs, bringing the score to Rams 2, Golden 3.

The third inning was a pitcher's duel, as Staley and the Golden pitcher didn't allow any hits.

In the 4th inning, Golden hitters began to put the bat on the ball. Colton Faubion fielded a ball at third. Next, center fielder Garret Storm handled a hard-hit ball and held the runner at first. A few plays later, a Golden base runner was caught in a pickle between second and third. Short-stop Featherston quickly chased him down and tagged him out. Faubion ended the inning by tagging yet another runner out at third off of a throw by second baseman Haussmann. Kudos to pitcher Staley, who maintained his composure throughout the threat, and left three Golden base runners stranded.

The top of the Rams lineup tried to battle back in the bottom of the fourth, but the Golden pitcher was still in fine form. Jones hit the ball hard, but was tagged out at first. Haussmann smacked a single, and stole second and third. But the next two batters struck out leaving the score: Rams 2, Golden 3.

Things got worse for the Rams in the fifth, as Golden put two more runs on the board. But the game inning included some defensive highlights: First baseman Trevor Willson saved a run with a bullet to third; left fielder Ben McHugh saved another run when he blocked an overthrow to third base. Second baseman Arley Anderson also fielded several balls hit by Golden batters in the inning. Score: Rams 2, Golden 5.

The Rams put on their rally caps in the bottom of the fifth, as Willson took the plate. For the second game in a row, Willson laced a triple deep into the outfield. Faubion drew a walk, and Staley popped the ball up. But the Golden second baseman dropped the ball, and Staley dashed to first base. A single by Boyd drove in both Willson and Staley. When Boyd stole home at the end of the inning, the game was tied, Rams 5, Golden 5.

Relief pitcher Faubion did an excellent job of containing the Golden batters in the 6th. The first batter hit a line drive to right field. But Jones deftly handled the ball and got him out at first base. Faubion struck the next three batters out.

In the final inning of the ballgame, Jones drew a walk, which represented the winning run. Haussmann singled, advancing Jones to third base. Featherston pushed across the winning run to end the game.

Final score: Rams 6, Golden 5.

Coach Willson was delighted with the efforts of all of the players, and the perseverance the team showed to win the game. "This was a game that showed that you can't quit. We were down 5-2 in the fifth, and we came back and won. Great job everyone!"

No Fooling! Rams Defeat Panthers 16-2

In a chilly night of baseball at Lochwood Park, the 10-year-old Green Mountain Rams took on the Pomona Panthers for the first game of the 2008 season. Even though the temperature at first pitch was 38 degrees, the Rams bats were hot all game long.

First-time pitcher Wyatt Featherston took the mound for the Rams and quickly dispensed of the Panther batters. The Rams outfielders -- Garret Storm, Alex Haussmann, and Ben McHugh -- saw little action.

Right fielder Haussmann made the first hit of the season with a single between second and third. Catcher Joe Anderson drew a walk, and then Featherston came to the plate. He smashed a home run far into the outfield. The inning ended with a score of Rams 3. Panthers 0.

The Panthers came back in the second inning quickly loading the bases. Featherston kept his composure though, and worked his way out of the jam, keeping the Panthers scoreless. Short-stop Jacob Staley then took the plate for the Rams and drew a walk. Arley Anderson also drew a walk, but the Rams were unable to get either player home.

In the top of third inning, Featherston loaded the bases again, but was unable to mastermind an escape this time. He allowed two Panther base runners to score. Pitcher Colton "The Bear" Faubion was handed the ball to get the third strike out. It took just three pitches to get the job done.

Ram's Austin Jones took the plate at the bottom of the third and belted the ball for a double. Haussmann singled, followed by a walks by Anderson and Featherston. With the bases loaded, first baseman Trevor Willson came up to plate. With a mighty swing, he smashed a triple into far right field. The score at the end of the third was 8-2.

The Rams offense made their best play of the game during the fourth inning. Third baseman Ben Boyd quickly fielded a bunt and made a throw to Willson at first. Pitcher Faubion kept the Panthers from scoring another run.

The Rams bats continued to be on fire in the final inning of the game. McHugh drew a walk, Haussmann and Featherston singled, Willson doubled, and Faubion hit a triple far over the center fielder's head. The final hitters of the game -- Staley and Boyd -- also hit singles. The umpires called the game because of the league's mercy rule.

Quote of the game came as Faubion walked off the field after hitting a triple: "Now that's how the Bear hits the ball."

Coach Willson gathered the boys together to congratulate the team on their first win of the season. "I thought you all played very well tonight," he said. "You got a lot of hits and made some plays in the field." The coach also told pitchers Featherston and Faubion they did a nice job on the mound. "We know you will improve throughout the season, but this is a great start."