| Last year’s American Legion team had a successful season and this year is expected to be a repeat season. The Helper ball club will host its annual tournament beginning Thursday. The event will welcome 10 teams to the Carbon County area and games will be played throughout the weekend. |
Summer baseball season is finally underway for the Helper American Legion baseball team.
The ball club was scheduled to kick off action last Friday, but due to a cancelation on the part of Ogden’s squad, Helper was forced to wait out the weekend before competing in their first game of the year.
Last Monday evening, Helper welcomed Taylorsville to the Carbon County field. Without having played prior to this game, it was difficult to predict just how the Helper squad would do.
The game was a true test for the local club. After all, throughout the high school baseball season, Taylorsville was one of the highest ranking schools in their division.
Most of these same players are on this year’s American Legion team along with an athlete who just competed his first year of college ball. So to many, this is the team to beat this year in legion ball.
“Taylorsville is a team that has pretty much played together most of the year. They have experience together whereas we are still getting to know each other’s names,” explained Helper’s coach, Jeff Cisneros.
The game got underway and it was still unclear as to how well the Helper club would work together.
Although the Carbon County team was handed their first loss of the year by the final score of 7-4, the team performed well and made their coaches Jeff Jewkes and Cisneros happy.
“I was a little disappointed that we lost the game, but I was really impressed with the efforts the kids put forth. This is only the first game of the year, and I think that we will come around rather quickly,” Cisneros stated.
During the opening game, Troy Grundy pitched through the fourth inning for Helper. According to Cisneros, the pitcher did well despite giving up two home runs.
“He really did a good job for us, but I don’t think that he was at his best that night,” explained the Helper coach.
Green River athlete, Lance Richards took over pitching duties in the fifth and sixth inning and also did well for Helper. During his stay on the mound, Richards gave up only one run.
During the final inning, Ryan Lindsey of Altamont stepped up to pitch for the Helper ball club.
Lindsey allowed no runs in the seventh inning and Cisneros feels that he will be a key player for the American Legion team this year.
“I feel that after we have a few games behind us, this ball team will really start to come around. We have a history of being a top legion club and I don’t see that this year as being any different,” the Helper coach commented.
Starting Thursday, American Legion teams from across Utah and several nearby states will flock to the Carbon County area to compete in the tournament Helper hosts each year.
Because there has been such an overwhelming response for teams to compete, the tournament will take place both in Helper on the American Legion field and at the Colosimo Carlson field in Price which is located next to the posse grounds.
The tournament will begin Thursday evening and will run through Sunday.
“Each year, this tournament seems to grow. Not only do more teams compete, but more and more fans come out to the ballpark to watch the kids compete. We encourage any baseball fans to come out and enjoy the exciting action,” concluded Cisneros.
New improvements to the field including restrooms have made the Helper field one of the best American Legion fields in the state and will be the perfect location for this weekend’s exciting baseball action.