OCR Text |
Show X TITLE TOWN X Coaches: From TEAM • 5 Brinkerhoff, Aaron Binks and Cory Grover aren't about to sit back and concede that their team wouldn't mop this current team up. Even Eric Smith from the *88 team would feel like he could sit down a majority of this lineup. So what's the answer? Is this year's state championship team the best SF team ever? Maybe the best person to ask would be the one who has coached all four of the title teams, Coach Jim "Shoe" Nelson. If you know Shoe, he is going to reluctantly answer this question. Not because he's worried about offending anyone, but because each of these teams was different in their own way. The *88 and l92 teams could out-pitch anyone around. Smith, Lindsay and Reid all moved on to pitch at the next level and beyond. The '06 team took the field with a killer attitude, knowing nobody could beat them. They had great pitching, but could score 20 on any given day as well. So when asked about this 2009 team, Shoe said, 'This is the best TEAM I have ever coached, not because they have more talent, but because they understand the word TEAM." Shoe will admit there is no way to say which team in history has more talent, but this championship team knew how to put the little things aside and work for a common goal, which was the state title. Nobody was going to stop them, especially not themselves. "We could all learn a little from this team," Shoe said. "Sometimes coaches, parents and fans get caught up in the little things that don't really matter. We gion play. At a point'in the season when many players start to get burned out and begin going through the motions, this team began staying later at practice to hit with Coach Gub. They would go to "This is the best TEAM I have ever coached, not dinner together and hang out with each because they have more talent, but because they other. "This group loves each other more understand the word TEAM." than any team Fve ever seen; after all, most of them have been together since — Coach Shoe Nelson they knew what a bat and ball was," Cloward said. "It's kinda funny; I was supposed to be instructing them, but what really happened is they instructed me." Even though this season culminated should all take note, because this group California to play in the National Claswith a state title, it's important to point of ballplayers taught a lesson in life: no sic. The Dons fell to three nationallyjealousy — not worrying about who is ranked teams, but did defeat the defend- out that it began years ago with an acgetting credit, and not worrying about ing national champions on a great pitch- celerated little league team. This team is made up of many players who played who is the star. Just a group of ballplay- ing performance by Ty*er Duffin. ers working for one common goal, and The Dons returned to Utah to begin on the Mariners, who walked away with champions on and off the field is the re- the Region 4 schedule. Region 4 was many tournament titles themselves. Dev sult." predicted to be a dogfight, but the Dons Duke, the late father of Brock and Adam Since March, this team has walked beat everyone they played right up un- Duke, was instrumental in organizing over everyone they took the field with. til the final week, when they lost one to this team and bonding these kids and their parents for a lifetime. Watching the From the beginning of the year, people Timpanogos. have predicted that they would bring The Dons had the region title in parents of the players at the game can be home the title. This team didn't listen to hand before the series with Timpa- entertaining as well. Like Taggart Luncthe hype; they simply played baseball. nogos even began. This set the stage eford's father, Sam, said just before the Shoe said that he could sum up this for the Dons* title run through the 5A championship game against Lone Peak, year's team in two words "baseball play- bracket. The Dons did it the right way "The kids have their heads on straight; ers." They knew how to play ball, they by staying in the winners bracket. Wins it's their parents that are basket cases." Coaches Shoe and Cloward summed understood the gamerand they did all over Skyline, Northridge, Jordan, Alta the little things that other teams would and Lone Peak opened up the debate up the season with a message to their for fans to argue if this is the best SF team. Shoe said, "Thanks TEAM for struggle with. showing us all what the word TEAM team ever. The team began the season by walking through the Dixie Sunshine TournaIt sounds so simple — the team was means. I am a very proud coach." Coach Cloward said, 'Thanks, men! ment, outscoring their four opponents just good and ran through the tourna46-4 to bring home the Dons' fifth con- ment. But there is so much more to Congrats on a great year. I love you secutive Sunshine championship. They the storyline. Coach Aaron Cloward guys!" These kids turned heads on the basecame home to the pre-season schedule weighed in to give his perspective on and emerged from that without a loss. the season. Coach Cloward said that you ball field, maybe in more ways than we In fact, the Dons would not lose a game could really see the confidence build- will ever know. Maybe this is the best until mid-April, when they traveled to ing in this team when they began re- TEAM Spanish Fork has ever had. nn (801)798-0171 410 N. MAIN ST. SPANISH FORK A ' G • E >N ' C ' Y [8011798-1000 - 375 N. MAIN ST, SPANISH FORK You rock and then some! Awesome! Keep it up! (801) 798-3500 • 290 N. Main, Spanish Fork From our team to yours, congratulations! |