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."
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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."
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.
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 n
ext 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.
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 n
ext 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.
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