By Coach Austin Vanhove
A solid run of wins put the Garretson amateur baseball team in the Class B winner's circle as they cinched the State Runner-up title on Sunday in Mitchell against the Dell Rapids Mudcats. Despite the 2-5 loss, the BlueJays were ecstatic, as the team did not make the State tournament in 2021.
Jays win again in Round 3!
On to the semis for the team that didn’t even make state last year! The Jays won 2-1 against the Mt. Vernon Mustangs on Thursday, August 11.
The game started with Tayson Swatek throwin' BP in a cut off intimidating the opposing team right from the start.
Trey Buckneberg and Brady deballs led the way with a burger before the game, can’t win on a empty stomach. Nick Bonte was on the bump and threw the first 5 innings of great baseball. The first inning a ball was hit and the Mustangs tried scoring, but not on Jesse Brockhouse watch throwing him out by 5 feet. The guy tried a Busch league move and next time we decided Brady Bonte will just break him in half rather than being nice and trying an easy tag.
Labrie did his thing driving in our only two runs and then coming in in the 7th and pitching 3 shutout innings. After the game, Oran Sorensen gave us a pep talk on “go and try to win the whole damn thing” so why not try I guess. From last to to final four is a huge accomplishment to us and the fire in Garretson for baseball is back!
Jays beat Lennox 7-2 to make the championship game!
The game started with gourmet burgers and brats made by the legends Jay Swatek and Jason Bohl. They said they are looking at opening a burger joint in Garretson called the Two Dudes! Jack sparo said he would bus tables for them.
Dustin Steckler started on the mound and pitched a hell of a game throwing gas and only giving up 2 runs in 8.3 innings. He’s been awesome for us all year.
Tayson Swatek hit a double off the wall in the 5th to tie it up 1-1. The rookie has been great! I can’t really remember what happened after that cause it was all a blur and we were super nervous and excited, but I know a ground ball bounced .5 in over Vanhove’s glove to tie it 2-2 in the the 8th. Everyone said he needed a higher vertical, but the announcer confirmed he got up about 33 inches.
The next inning was wild and we scored 5 runs off of hits and errors! Brady Bonte was amazing behind the plate, has caught every game for us this year. Aaron Labrie closed the door again for us! Joey Fitz, Jesse Brockhouse and Nick Bonte had multiple hits. Scott Splett sold corn in the morning and then hit a double in the game.
Runner up State Champs
This will be the last write up of the 2022 season. The Jays fell 2-5 to Dell Rapids in the state championship. The game started out great with Labrie starting on the bump for us and being an absolute workhorse for the team. We got up 2-0 with a smash to left by pick up player Robin Chute.
The Dells Mudcats battled back and got up 5-2. We saw two pitchers that were both drafted and we out hit them with 9 hits. We had our chances and just couldn’t quite bring it home.
The team made great strides, from not making state last year to making the championship this year.
We were also awarded the sportsmanship award that also speaks for our team and how we just like to play baseball and love the game.
After the game, Jack sparo got an ice cream cake and celebrated a season of many victories! The Blue Jays have their annual golf tourney this Saturday, we hope to see everyone there! Thank you, fans, friends and family, for all the support and love you give us. #JaysFlyTogether
The roster for the 2022 season of BlueJays Amateur Baseball included #2 Jesse Brockhouse, #3 Nick Bonte, #4 Ryan Patrick, #4 Dylan Kindt, #5 Aaron LaBrie, #11 Jacob Fitzgerald, #13 Dustin Steckler, #13 Cole Koch, #19 Scott Splett, #20 Ryan Flanagan, #21 Brady Bonte, #22 Trey Buckneberg, #23 Joey Fitzgerald, #24 Austin Vanhove, #25 Travis Williamson, #28L Tayson Swatek, #31 Colby Buseman, #69 Brady DeBates, #1E Robin Chute, and #30L Jayse Miller. Aaron Vanhove was coach.
