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Show X CONTENTS The Duke brothers . . . 3 Coaches talk TEAM . . 5 rfiPhoto spread... *,... 6-7 Title run recap... .. 9-12 SPANISH FORK Lane Henderson Publisher Namon Bills Editor Dana Robinson Associate Editor Title Town is a publication of The Spanish Fork News, 42 East 300 North, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660. The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright © 2009 Spanish Fork News. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the editor or publisher. T v TOWN X A season to remember "Maybe you should move." I hope Delta didn't count that as one of their tackles, beNewsprint Musings cause I was clearly out of bounds. But I diNamon Bills gress. Point being, I would count this year's season as a success, because I managed to As they look back on Spanish Fork's steer clear of any foul balls or wild throws. I think the Dons baseball team would baseball season this year, different also call this season successful — and people will remember different things. Players may remember a good play or they had loftier goals than not getting a great hit. They'll remember road trips hit by the ball. (It didn't seem to phase and friendships, and the experience of Chase Castleberry.) This year's state championship is one not one but three tournaments. Coaches to remember for many reasons, not the may remember the camaraderie of the team, and the improvements and contri- least of which being the simple fact that butions of each individual player. Par- it's a state championship. Even for Baseents might look back on the emotional balltown, USA, this is only the fourth state roller coaster of hoping for the best and baseball title in SFHS history. As a non-athlete who didn't attend a preparing for the worst as years of little league and after-school practice culmi- single baseball game in my time at Spanish Fork High School (yes, it's true — nated in one seven-inning game. Among my memories of this year's the band didn't play at baseball games!) championship run will be one thing that my first real exposure to a state tournadidn't happen — I did not get hit by a base- ment was in the spring of 2006, when ball. Life as a sports photographer can be a both SFHS baseball and softball teams sometimes perilous balance of caution and courage — trying to get the best shot, while staying just out of harm's way. Just ask the guy from the Standard Examiner who got hit with a javelin at last year's state track meet. Over the past year, I've been hit by a golf ball, a dodgeball, a basketball, a tennis ball and a football — player. I was trying out a new lens at a Salem , ;" Hills game and didn't react in time to that little voice in took state. I had been with the News for less than a month and it was an exciting reintroduction to high school athletics. But I have to admit that at the time I really didn't appreciate the significance of the moment. Since then, I've covered some very talented and deserving baseball and softball teams as they've fallen short of their goal of taking state. Even with a team as good as we had this year, the state championship was no guarantee. Anything can happen in a state tournament, which makes the win that much more meaningful. It also provides an interesting mix of excitement and fatigue for me and my staff. Because of the tournament setup, you can't do much advanced planning — you have to take it one game at a time. That translates into a lot of extra work for me, trying to organize things on the fly. But I love it. I always want our teams to do well, and it's exciting to follow them through the tournament. This special section is to honor this team and to commemorate their dream season. Thanks to writers John Jackson and Chad Vest for their contributions to this section. John covered the season from start to finish, and we had a great group of photographers who worked hard to keep up with him: Todd Roach, Lou Crandall, Samantha Beck, Kate Jannan, Barry Dalton and Russell Durtschi. Thanks also to our sponsors for making this special section possible. And last, but not least, congratulations to the Spanish Fork Dons! Thanks for making „_. , this season one to remember. |
