by Coach Austin VanHove
We played in Granville on July 22 and if you are wondering where it is, so were we! But it was a Field of Dreams field, and boy was Jack Sparo happy to see this gem!
The Jays started big boy Trey on the mound, and after going two innings, he looked at me and said, "I'm done; my arm is going to fall off." We decided to bring in Steckler, and he got lit up like a Christmas tree in the third, giving up a 3-run bomb to left.
The Jays were getting no-hit until Brady Deballs closed his eyes, swung like the wind, and smacked one off the right field fence.
Tayson Swatek said, "If Brady can do it, I can too," but not so much—Tayson went 0-5 with 4 Ks, ouch.
Steckler calmed down in the 4th, striking out 2 and grounding the 3rd guy out, and his night was done on the mound. We brought trusty old vet Vanhove in, and he was throwing gas, mowing the stinky Sioux City team down for 2 innings until the 7th inning came up and he got smacked around one being a bomb, giving up 4.
Cole S caught and was sweating so much behind the plate the ump asked if he needed some water.
Scott Splett threw a guy out from center to third on a guy tagging and was one step away from the fence. Jack Sparo dropped a fly ball. Jayse Miller made a great play at short, and the Jays had 9 for the night.
We battled against an all-college team and lost 7-5. The Jays had their chances, especially with bases loaded in the 7th with no outs, but we decided to have 3 Ks in a row.
Jays heading to state tournament
Jays win!!! Jays are going to state!
Rhonda Buckneberg said before the game that the player with the most RBIs would get a jar of her famous dill pickles, and either the team didn’t see the post or nobody likes dill pickles! The Jays only scored 3 runs, but 3 players tied with RBIs, so we ended up with a good ol' fashioned pickle jar splitting.
Nick Bonte pitched and looked great! Brothers Dylan and Jesse held down the right side of the field, and big-armed Trey Buck played first for the first time this year!
Brady Bonte threw a guy out at second and had a fielder’s choice RBI. Aaron Labrie showed up late but made an impact, coming in and throwing the last 4 innings, looking like the old Labrie, striking out a lot and giving up no runs.
Scott Splett hit a liner to left, played center, and Tayson Swatek scored a run and played left.
We had more errors than hits and struggled with the pickle play, having two errors on two pickles.
Jack Sparo took the book and was disappointed about not getting a burger before the game.
Coach Vanhove willed his team to victory with inspirational speeches in between innings, and Flanny and Koch warmed up our pitchers perfectly.
Grandma flanny was in the stands doing cheers, we love that lady!
Jayse Miller was ready to run, but we needed Brady Bonte to get on base first, and Cole Skandenson always stays ready.
The Jays play next Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Larchwood for the District 7B championship against the state of Iowa, we aim to finish first in the state line! #JaysFlyTogether
