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Tri-Lakes Little Leaguers state runner-ups
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| The 10-11 year-old Tri-Lakes Little League All-Stars came back from Grand Junction as the second best little league team in the state. Courtesy photo |
By Ryan Boldrey
The future of baseball in the area keeps looking brighter.
After winning the district tournament in Denver on July 16, the Tri-Lakes Little League 10- and 11-year-old all-star team, made up of kids that span from the northern parts of District 20 up through District 38, advanced to the state championship in Grand Junction.
Despite losing their opening game on July 25, 9-2 to Orchard Mesa, the team was far from ready to go home early.
The Tri-Lakes nine responded the next day with a 22-0 beating of Summit County.
Henry Smith, Tristan Edwards and Trevor Grob combined on the shutout for Tri-Lakes, while Matthew Call hit his second home run in as many games and Chad Werner, Jack Stamper and Conner Deeds also went yard for the victors.
The team’s hot hitting picked up where it left off the next day as the all-stars jumped out to a 7-0 early lead on North Boulder, aided by some strong pitching by Deeds.
North Boulder closed within a run on a last-inning rally, but Colin McGettin picked up the save for Tri-Lakes as they advanced to the championship round with a 7-6 win, setting up a rematch with their first-round opponent, Orchard Mesa.
Tri-Lakes once again got ahead early, taking a 3-0 lead on Orchard in the July 28 tilt, led by the pitching of 10-year-old lefty Adam Horton.
Holding a 7-5 lead, the squad was then forced to sit through an hour-long rain delay, before play resumed.
As things got back underway in the fifth, Riley Gregory knocked in two, with two outs, pushing the lead to four. The pitching of Henry Smith and Jack Stamper kept Orchard Mesa at bay as Tri-Lakes forced a third and decisive game between the teams to the tune of a 9-8 win.
Deeds and Werner each homered for Tri-Lakes in the final game, and despite some solid defensive play in the infield from Josh St. Marie and Curtis Stauffer, the boys couldn’t keep pace with Orchard Mesa, who went onto a 10-5 win, claiming the state championship.
According to manager Don Edwards, the appearance in the state championship game was a first for a team from Tri-Lakes, setting up what could be an interesting scenario next year when the kids are old enough where a state title would mean a trip to Williamsport, Pa. for the Little Leage World Series.
Edwards, however, was not surprised about how well the boys did on the big stage their first time being there. “I was pretty confident with the kids we had. They are all really great kids and all come from great families,” he said, adding that Grand Junction was a great host and that it is a wonderful baseball town.
“The opportunity for the kids to go on the road and play ball was very unique. [Being in the state championship] we kind of looked at it as what was potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
According to Edwards there were between 40 and 50 family members that made the trip, which definitely added to making it a special one for the boys.
“The experience itself was top notch. I think everyone had a wonderful time,” he said. “When you have success winning on the district level it’s phenomenal and then to be able to go to state and have a showing like that, it’s truly great.”
After winning the district tournament in Denver on July 16, the Tri-Lakes Little League 10- and 11-year-old all-star team, made up of kids that span from the northern parts of District 20 up through District 38, advanced to the state championship in Grand Junction.
Despite losing their opening game on July 25, 9-2 to Orchard Mesa, the team was far from ready to go home early.
The Tri-Lakes nine responded the next day with a 22-0 beating of Summit County.
Henry Smith, Tristan Edwards and Trevor Grob combined on the shutout for Tri-Lakes, while Matthew Call hit his second home run in as many games and Chad Werner, Jack Stamper and Conner Deeds also went yard for the victors.
The team’s hot hitting picked up where it left off the next day as the all-stars jumped out to a 7-0 early lead on North Boulder, aided by some strong pitching by Deeds.
North Boulder closed within a run on a last-inning rally, but Colin McGettin picked up the save for Tri-Lakes as they advanced to the championship round with a 7-6 win, setting up a rematch with their first-round opponent, Orchard Mesa.
Tri-Lakes once again got ahead early, taking a 3-0 lead on Orchard in the July 28 tilt, led by the pitching of 10-year-old lefty Adam Horton.
Holding a 7-5 lead, the squad was then forced to sit through an hour-long rain delay, before play resumed.
As things got back underway in the fifth, Riley Gregory knocked in two, with two outs, pushing the lead to four. The pitching of Henry Smith and Jack Stamper kept Orchard Mesa at bay as Tri-Lakes forced a third and decisive game between the teams to the tune of a 9-8 win.
Deeds and Werner each homered for Tri-Lakes in the final game, and despite some solid defensive play in the infield from Josh St. Marie and Curtis Stauffer, the boys couldn’t keep pace with Orchard Mesa, who went onto a 10-5 win, claiming the state championship.
According to manager Don Edwards, the appearance in the state championship game was a first for a team from Tri-Lakes, setting up what could be an interesting scenario next year when the kids are old enough where a state title would mean a trip to Williamsport, Pa. for the Little Leage World Series.
Edwards, however, was not surprised about how well the boys did on the big stage their first time being there. “I was pretty confident with the kids we had. They are all really great kids and all come from great families,” he said, adding that Grand Junction was a great host and that it is a wonderful baseball town.
“The opportunity for the kids to go on the road and play ball was very unique. [Being in the state championship] we kind of looked at it as what was potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
According to Edwards there were between 40 and 50 family members that made the trip, which definitely added to making it a special one for the boys.
“The experience itself was top notch. I think everyone had a wonderful time,” he said. “When you have success winning on the district level it’s phenomenal and then to be able to go to state and have a showing like that, it’s truly great.”
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