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Show ports WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008 • B1 Covering what matters most Courtesy photo / UCLA EXTRA MILE: Tyson Brummett's extra efforts have paid off. The pitcher is now in spring training with the Phillies. Brummett joins majors ews Mike Norris STAFF WRITER Tyson Brummett has worked hard for the past four years and is now starting to reap the rewards for being patient and putting in his time. After graduating from Spanish Fork High School in 2003, Brummett was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball draft. However, rather than jumping at a chance to play pro ball, Tyson chose to pursue his college career and try to get a little stronger. Mission accomplished. Brummett had great stuff in high school and knew how to get kids out, but struggled to make it through a whole game in high school game. At 6M" and 150 pounds in high school, Brummett lacked the strength to pitch at a high level for more than 3 to 4 innings. "Tyson was always a great pitcher, mechanically, but lacked the strength to throw an entire game," said Brummett's high school coach, Jim Nelson. "He was always a great competitor." Brummett was not even considered the staff on his high school staff his senior year. That spot was reserved for former Utah Ute Johnny Welch. With getting stronger in mind Tyson chose to go take his game to Coolidge, AZ to play for Central Arizona. In his freshman year at Central, Tyson went 3-1 record, with 30 strikeouts in 30 innings. He was then drafted again by the Giants in the 38th round. Time to make another choice. With the advice of his parents Jeff and Kaye Brummett, Tyson once again turned down a chance to play in the majors, instead choosing to go play at UCLA. "I pitched in a showcase game and some PAC 10 coaches saw me and UCLA invited me for a visit" said Brummett, "I fell in love with the school on my visit and decided it was where I needed to go". Brummett finished his first campaign with the Bruins appearing in 17 gamerand while compilinga 6-7 record. He also earned his first PAC 10 pitcher of the week award that year. He also pitched 97.2 innings, the third most on the staff that year. So a kid who could not make it through a whole game as a high school pitcher is now pitching more innings than most pitchers in one of the best programs in college baseball. After his junior year at UCLA, Brummett was excited to see how the pro scouts felt about his improvement and increased strength, but the draft came and went without his number being called. "I took it as a chance to prove them wrong," said Brummett. "It really motivated me to work harder and gives me a chance to come back and be a leader to the younger guys at UCLA". Brummett used the motivation to be the series opener pitcher, lead the team with 132.2 innings pitched 109 strikeouts and earn PAC 10 pitcher of the week three times. He also became one of only eight Bruins pitchers ever to throw seven or more complete games in a season. After his senior season, Brummett finally got to see all his hard work and choices lead to a chance to fulfill a life long dream of playing pro ball. He was drafted as the 233rd overall pick in the seventh round of the draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. After playing a short season for the Phillies' Williamsport Crosscutters, Tysoa. is at spring training with the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. Tyson Brummett has gone from being a tall skinny kid in high school to being among the elite pitchers in the United States. Talent has played a part in his success, but if you ask him and he'll tell you that he wouldn't be having this chance if it wasn't for hard work and good advice. Dons, Lady Dons sweep St. George tourneys John Jackson STAFF WRITER Hanks left little doubt that he was the MVP after he went 10-11 during the tournament. The Spanish Fork four-game Dons, along with many Hanks hit three triples, a Spanish Fork fans from, double, had three RBI's, escaped the cold and rain and tossed acomplete game and headed to St. George shutout against Dixie. The for the annual Sunshine humble Hanks said, "After Tournament. For the fourth the Snow Canyon loss we year in a row the Dons just got into a zone. We emerged as champions of just started playing better the tournament, beating as a team." rival Springville in the About his dominating championship game. Tyler performance all Hanks Hanks was named the said was, "I was seeing the tournament Most Valuable ball well." Player, while Brock It was standing room Duke walked away with only as Brock Duke threw a the outstanding pitcher shutout against Springville award. Players on the all- in the tournament tournament team were Devin Nelson, Adam Duke See BASEBALL • B2 and Gentry Mitchell. BrenTThurgood STAFF WRITER impressive about the Lady Dons victories was that for each game a different The Spanish Fork player or set of players outstanding Lady Dons completed produced a dominating weekend performances. in St. George with a The Lady Dons first 6-0 record and a Snow game was apre-toumament Canyon tournament match up against the championship. The Lady Dixie High Flyers on Dons were impressive Thursday night. Lady Don offensively racking up 72 junior Tina Ferguson and hits to their opponents' senior Lindsee Thurgood 27 and outscoring their provided the offensive opponents by a combined support for starter Deven 67 runs to 19. Defensively, Baum. Ferguson went 5-6 the Dons played solid with four RBIs including defense behind Spanish two doubles. Thurgood Fork pitchers Cami picked up three singles in Robinson, Deven Baum four plate appearances. and Sophomore Dezlee She also knocked in four Roberts who made her first varsity start against South See SOFTBALL • B12 Sevier. What was also Tennis third in St. George Danielle Jones STAFF WRITER March 14 and 15 the Spanish Fork High School boys tennis team took third place at the St. George Invitational. "My team did better than I thought they would. Doubles did as expected, but my singles impressed me because they improved each match,11 said Coach Scott Dunn. On the first day Spanish Fork beat Morgan 4-1, Tooele 4— 1, and Wasatch 4-1. In the semi-finals Spanish Fork lost 2-3 to East. This was a close match which came down to a tie-breaker loss 9-11 in third singles. Then they beat Park City 3-2 to take third in the tournament. The team was led by first doubles Courtesy photos / Todd Roach SPIRIT OF SERVICE: Spanish Fork's boys tennisV^am took third place in St. George. Dan Soffe and Colton Sermersheim, who won every match without even dropping a set. "They are probably the best doubles team I have ever coached," said Dunn. In second doubles, Josh Vidmar and Trevor West won all of their matches also. At third singles Taylor Christensen went 4-1 in his matches and at first singles Paul Jamsa went 2-3. Second singles Tyrel Prior also performed well and improved a lot. The Spanish Fork boys' team looks to be highly competitive heading into region play. "Our expectations for this season are for our singles to get better as the season progresses and for our doubles to go deep into state," said Dunn. The boys play at Lehi March 20. |