As most of you know, I have been a board member for the last 4 years for Grantsville Youth Baseball.
2 years ago and amazing person - Gary Bleazard - took over GYBA and said we need to be part of the Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken organization! So last season was our inaugural season under the Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken umbrella.
Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken has teams from all over - Hunter/Cyprus, Taylorsville, Lone Peak. (It was said by a few, "I don't know if we can compete with these bigger organizations. We are just a little community".)
Well 2 years into Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken - our little community did what some thought they couldn't do!
2011 - UTAH STATE CHAMPIONS
This was a LONG HARD FOUGHT journey these young men had! They lost their first game in the State Tournament to Tooele (UGH) and had to battle back all week in the
NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!!
I watched coaches tell a player when they got frustrated, its OK that was just a small picture in this big picture - keep your eye on the prize - we don't care what just happened we care about the end!
That last game Grantsville was down 3-1 going into the 5th inning (they only play 6 at this age) - They came back with such force and hit that ball, had smart base running, a 3 run Home Run by Brady to get ahead of Ogden and win 9-3. They played with so much heart and determination - THEY NEVER GAVE UP!!
The night before the board had received a text from Gary - I want everyone to text everyone in their contacts and get the word out to support the boys tomorrow....I want 1000 people there and I am not exaggerating!
We all did our part - and there were over 200 people from Grantsville there to witness this wonderful "history in the making".
When that final out was caught by JD - the crowd went wild and was so loud, it was awesome!!
I love this town and how we support each other!! (and it was nice that the game was on a Tooele field only 10 minutes away).
After the game when the State Rep. for Cal Ripken was talking to the boys and parents about what happens next with Regionals...(don't count us out for the World Series either). He told them, when you get to AZ you are going to be playing teams from major cities, they are going to be amazed that you come from a community so small. He also told them that he had never seen a team with this much heart and talent!
NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!!
 |
| Notice it says 2010 - NOT 2011 |
I love Grantsville - I love Baseball - and I loved watching HISTORY yesterday!
