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Show SPANISH FORK Covering what matters most A10 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 March Madness in SF Soccer Dons vs. Granite Debra Frehner Inside Scoop STAFF WRITER Lane Henderson The Dons soccer team had two games against teams from the Granite School District this past week. On Tuesday, March 24, 2009 they played Skyline and were defeated 2-0. On Thursday, they played Kearns in a game that ended in a 1-1 tie. The Eagles from Skyline soared into town on Tuesday. The game was originally slated to be at Skyline, but they asked if they could play here because they were buried underfiveinches of snow. There was great communication on thefieldbetween the Spanish Fork players. Chet Harmer stopped several goal attempts with his teammates there to help him out. Harmer really used his leg after he saved the ball by kicking it past the halfway mark on thefield.Tanner Tagg took a tumble at the goal box to save the ball from an Eagle kick-in. Skyline found a tight corner of the net and scored twice in the first half. In the second half the Dons turned up the heat on their defense and kept the Eagles at bay. Defensive player Greg Taylor seemed to have his "A" game on. With almost every major turn of the game, Greg was in the middle of it, stealing the ball, using his head to save the ball or blocking goals. At Thursday's game, the Cougars of Kearns were on the prowl. It was another blustery day, with the cold wind blowing so hard it almost cut through you. The Dons* white uniforms were accessorized with red frosty skin that matched the school colors. When we talk about March Madness, most people instantly think about the cowhide globe — basketball! Basketball is a sport filled with excitement, slam-dunks and high flying speed merchants. However, around our town, it pales in comparison and actually takes second place to the annual horsehide affair at the Sunshine Baseball Tournament. The annual spring migration is a ritual. Like geese flying south, the avid Don supporters book rooms years in advance and count the days like a child looking forward to Christmas. On wings of eagles, the caravan marches in single file formation from one end of Utah County to the Nevada border. Being born or adopted to the baseball capital of the world brings a natural homing'instinct to the participants. That innate desire to yell and scream in support of our team is an urge greater than reason. Most fans simply forget about being glued to the tv when they could be sunworshipping down south. Many seem to question why so many normally sane people will hold family reunions at the tournament. No one knows for sure why so many engage in this diamond desire, but everyone agrees that March Madness is here. Finally, the umpire has proclaimed game time and the clear shout of "Play ball" has rejuvenated the red and gray faithful to a fevered frenzy: As always, it's fun to take an early look at the Lou Crandall / Spanish Fork News HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Spanish Fork fans line up for another Sunshine Tournament baseball game. The annual pilgrimage to St. George puts more fans in the stands for the Dons than for any other school. Don brain trust. Coaches Nelson and Nelson, along with Coach Youd, Coach Dudley and Trainer Roger kStahle are all men who of their own free will gladly give up their day jobs for the experience of teaching, instructing and molding boys into men. Coach Shoe Nelson is always the same. He preaches from the old school book on fundamentals and expounds the same easy-to-read doctrine played between the lines. He lives to manage and manages to live. His style is to win with class and to lose with dignity. His players have to understand that no one player is greater than the team. Roles must be understood and performance measured by execution. He smiles ' with approval at a hit and run or grimaces with pain when a sacrifice bunt fails to advance the runner. From the hill, Coach Whites Nelson calls the shots. That means the pitches. He can keep opposing hitters on their heels with well-placed strikes and enticing balls. He uses his hurlers' strength to re- cord crucial outs. All pitching gems always carry his stamp of approval. Coach Youd and Coach Dudley are two guys who are still young at heart. In fact, as players, the older they get the better they were. They freely work a day job to support their bad habits of coaching for free. If you ask the Nelsons about these two, they both just smile and say they're a pair to beat a full house. Then there is the bandaid guy, Roger Stahle. You know he means it when he says tape two aspirin to the pain, rub some dirt on it and the pain should go away when it quits hurting. He applies his wellreceived knowledge like tape to an ankle. Oh, by the way, did you hear the Dons won the tournament again? They steamrolled the competition like St. Patrick smashed the snakes. They did most of the pinching without wearing green. It is March Madness and the rooms were already booked. Booked' for next year too. You do that before you leave town or you might not find one next year. Allison Phillips / Spanish Fork News TWO GAMES: The Dons took on Skyline and Kearns last week at home. The game started off with Shad LeFevre headblocking a long kick. Greg Taylor kicked the ball with a rolling flip and Cameron Bardsley would have scored a 10 at the Olympics with his splits. The field was wet and the players were slipsliding around. The wind made it hard for the players to control the ball. Tanner Tagg made some great steals, head blocks and throw-ins to move the ball up the field. Carlos Garcia made an awesome corner kick, but the goal was blocked. Artie Hernandez and Jorge Chacon had a few tricks up their sleeves for the penalty kick, and Chacon performed some pretty fancy foot work. Chacon scored the first goal of the game with an assist from several team players that managed to get a foot on the ball to align it with the goal* allowing Jorge to tap it in. Defender Dan Gillie was really doing some hustling after the ball and took it clear up the field to help out the defense. At the half the Dons were leading 1-0. In the second half, Tagg got a header that sent the ball high into the air and it came back down to him for a second header. Sam Roberts was knocked down and the ball came so close to his face that he must have gotten a clean shave. About half-way through the second half, Kearns had a corner kjck that turned into a battle over the Don keeper's head, but the Cougars pounced on the ball and pawed it in for a goal. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Steer Wars ALA Softball Samantha Beck / Spanish Fork News P^MB^HBJ*T ^ , JHV^* .*. »^l^A* '*\k -^-'ZC *. .****?^T'1! Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News COMEBACK ATTEMPT: The Lady Eagles took on South Summit Friday, March 27. The Eagles were down 7-2 going into the bottom of the seventh. They rallied to score two more and left a runner on third to end the game 7-4. Above, Chelsea Tae'le slides safely into second. . Alzheimer's 5K/Mile Run Salem Parks and Recreation has joined up with runningclub.org to support the American Alzheimer's Association with a 5K and 1-mile fun run. Proceeds from the event will go to-AAA, for research while also bringing attention to this crippling illness. Salem resident Kent Sorensen has connected the two entities for this cause. The race will be held Saturday,' May 16 in Salem. The 1-mile run will start at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m. On line registration can be.done at www.runningclub.com or in person at Salem Parks and Recreation office. Registrations will be accepted until May 12, 2009. After that date, runners must register in person . at the race site. Cost to participate is $15 per runner or $50 for a family group. ^Awards and a drawing will be held at conclusion of the event. STEER WARS: Cowboy Kent's Steer Wars competition was held Friday, March 2 0 at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. First place was Adam Woolsey. He received a belt buckle, a $30 gift certificate to Reams and $25 cash. Second place went to Adam Lucero. He received a $25 gift certificate to Cal Ranch and $15 cash. Cody Lyman took third place and received a $10 gift certificate to Amber Restaurant and $ 1 0 cash. Salem Rec. signups going on Youth 4-H summer job and an opportunity to be involved in Registrations in now SALEM RECREATION being accepted for youth the youth baseball/softball five years and older that program should attend the Adult Coed Softball want to be part of the 4-H youth umpire training on Salem Recreation is now accepting teams interested program. All participants Thursday, April 23, 2009 in play in the 2009 Spring , must have their own broke at 7 p.m. The training will Coed League. League play and gentle horse. Meet- start at 7 p.m. and last will take place on Wednes- ing dates will be most one hour. Youth umpires day evenings starting April Tuesday and Thursday must be currently in ninth 22,2009. Team registration evenings starting April 21 grade. fee is $350 with a $5 non- and finishing Oct. 1,2009. resident fee. Teams will play The $15 registration fee Space still available a split schedule. Half of the for this program is being There is still room if all nights will be a single game taken at Salem Parks and youth soccer leagues. We while the other half will be Recreation office. also have limited space in double-header nights. For youth baseball and softball more info please call 423- Salem Youth Base/Softleagues. Come into the Sa1035. Team registration is ball Training lem Recreation office for due April 1. f */ Youth looking for a more info. Matt Marziale |