Bees’ eyeing a bigger prize
Myranda Hernandez makes a great catch as part of a team-wide defensive effort that held Roy to just a run.
The Box Elder High School softball team closed their regular season last week with a couple of routine wins over region opponents Roy and Logan to post a perfect region record.
The Bees were presented with their Region 5 championship trophy in Tuesday’s game against Roy before beating the Royals, 5-1.
Box Elder pitcher Baylee Reeves was solid for the Bees both in the circle and from the plate. She struck out six while only allowing four hits and no earned runs.
Reeves and the rest of the defense played well enough to compensate for an uncharacteristic four defensive errors.
From the plate, Reeves hit an RBI double in the first inning, which was the first of a number of extra-base hits for the Bees in the contest. Venessa Quintero and Kelsey Rodriguez also hit doubles and Karly Bunderson hit an RBI triple.
The Bees were steady on offense, scoring two runs each in the first and fourth innings and one in the third.
Rodriguez led her team from the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3. Bunderson was 1-for-4 with an RBI, but her on base percentage was perfect thanks to a couple of errors and a fielder’s choice play.
Against Logan, the Bees again had their way with the Grizzlies, winning 19-1 in four innings.
Box Elder took the opportunity against Logan to mix things up a bit in the lineup, a situation that the Bees’ Ashley Green took full advantage of by drilling three doubles. Cierra Stokes had a double and a triple in the game.
The Bees’ efficient offense put up their 19 runs with 18 hits.
Also last week, on Monday, the Bees beat 3A state title hopefuls, Juan Diego, 1-0 in eight innings.
Reeves threw seven strikes in five innings to stymie the Soaring Eagle offense. Abbey Martin pitched three innings and gave up just one hit as she and the defense saved the shutout.
In the eighth inning, with a runner placed on second base at the beginning of the frame (per extra-innings rules), the Bees only needed two batters to earn the win.
Karly Bunderson, who made a couple of plays at short stop in the top of the inning to keep Juan Diego from scoring, hit the walk off single after Sadie Blacker hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Kylee Allen to third. Bunderson was 3-for-4 in the game. Molly Horne was 2-for-3.
With the wins, Box Elder maintained their unbeaten region record, and finished with a 22-1 overall mark.
The Bees accomplished their goals of being unbeaten at home and claiming the region title, and now, they will turn their attention to the biggest prize: a state title.
Box Elder started their state title run Tuesday with a game at home against Springville, the fourth seed out of Region 8 (results not available by press time).
Springville (15-9, 9-5 Region 8) lost tight games against Region 8 champs Salem Hills, who are ranked fourth in 4A. The Red Devils were 10-runned by Bingham, 13-3, a team the Bees lost to by two runs.
Win or lose, the Bees will host a game Thursday at 4 p.m., and either way it will be against Clearfield (No. 2, Region 6) or Olympus (No. 3 Region 7).
Box Elder is on the same side of the bracket as Salem Hills, the team that Box Elder beat in the second round last year, but then booted the Bees from the tournament in the losers’ bracket.
Two more close losses end Bees’ season
The Box Elder High School baseball team has been competitive in nearly every game this season and had the potential to blow other teams off the field, but too often they just couldn’t get over the hump.
Such was the case last week when the Bees needed wins in games against Bonneville last week for a chance at a play-in game against Roy. But the Bees came up just a little short, losing to the Lakers 9-6 on Tuesday and 7-6 on Thursday.
“I think we got down mentally because of the number of close losses we have had over the past few weeks,” said head coach Brent Hubbard. “The talent and skill level is there, the maturity and mental toughness needs to improve.” This year, the Bees have lost five one-run games, two two-run games and three three-run games. Their biggest spread on a loss this year was four runs.
Hubbard said the reasons for the close losses are varied, but against the Lakers, poor pitching and a few key defensive errors played big roles last week.
“In both losses the starting pitching was not up to par, missing locations and giving up too many hard hits,” Hubbard said. “Defense was fine on Tuesday’s home loss but two key errors on Thursday, along with pitching, was the problem.”
The Bees’ offense put plenty of balls in play—Bonneville’s pitchers only recorded five strikeouts in the two games—and put up 17 hits.
“When you score more than five runs you should have a great chance to win,” Hubbard said. “So I wasn’t disappointed in the offense, per say.”
On Tuesday, facing a 6-1 going in to the bottom of the fourth inning, Box Elder had the biggest inning of the game to put five runs on the board and tie the score, thanks in part to three earned walks by Justin Adams, Jacoby Bryce and Kaelton Heil.
Heil’s walk earned an RBI, which was followed immediately by a two-RBI double from Tegan Hubbard and an RBI single from Tyler Bingham. Darius Macfarland earned an RBI on a fly-out to center field that brought home Hubbard.
The Lakers responded in the fifth inning with three runs, including a two-run homer.
The Bees, however, did not have an answer this time, and could not even capitalize on McFarland’s lead-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Adams led the Bees in the game, going 2-for-3 with a run. Hubbard was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
On Thursday, errors in the first and fourth inning helped contribute to to three Bonneville runs.
In the first inning, a batter reached baseon an error that also directly resulted in a run.
In the fourth inning, an error that put a runner on base resulted in a later double being of the two-run variety instead of just a single RBI.
Even with those errors, however, Box Elder had the lead, 6-5, heading into the bottom of the seventh frame. The Lakers smacked three singles—one being a walk-off—and earned a walk to put two runs across the plate.
In the game, Connor Udy was 3-for-4 with a two-RBI double and RBI single. Bryce was 2-for-3 with a double and a run. Hubard and Bingam both had a hit and a walk and two runs.
Even if the Bees had won both games last week, there would not have been a play-in. To get the play in, Roy would have had to lose both their games to Sky View. Roy won the second game, 6-5.
Hubbard said this year has been full of tough lessons for his young team, but that there is a silver lining to that.
“It is still a young group with the key contributors coming back next year,” Hubbard said. “This is the process I have mentioned several times, it is not going to happen overnight.”
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Sports Shorts
Former BE softballer getting national notice
Miranda Stokes, a graduate of Box Elder High School and former member of the school’s softball team, is getting attention as a sophomore pitcher at Macalester College in Minnesota.
Stokes, from Perry, was named to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference team just days before she earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) all-region honors when she was chosen for the NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region third team.
Stokes belted a team-best eight home runs on the season and led Macalester in slugging percentage (.683) and on-base average (.447). She batted .392 in 40 games with 25 RBIs, 22 runs scored and nine doubles.
She was also the team’s pitching ace, going 6-8 with a 4.57 earned run average. Stokes fanned 67 batters in 72 innings pitched.
The All-Conference and All-Region honors followed Stokes being named as the team’s MVP and also the Sophomore Athlete of the Year at Macalester College.
Bike Around the Dam event coming
The Sights & Sounds of Brigham City program will hold a free bike ride around Mantua Dam on Saturday, May 18, at 10 a.m.
Walker Cinemas will provide hot dogs for roasting. The event is a good opportunity for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts to earn Merit Badges, Belt Loops and Activity Pins, and the Brigham City Bicycle Committee will be on hand to give bike check-ups.
For more information, call 435-734-6610.
Brigham City hosting junior life guard classes
Brigham City Recreation is seeking youth aged 13 and older to participate in junior life guard classes this summer at the Brigham City outdoor pool.
The classes cost $35 per student for four days of instruction, a T-shirt and the opportunity to help at the pool as a life guard. Classes will be held Monday, June 3 through Thursday, June 6 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Students will learn first aid techniques, CPR, the different positions on saving an individual in the water and much more.
To register visit www.brighamcity.utah.gov or come to the Brigham City Recreation office, located at 641 East 200 North in Brigham City.
BC rec registering for swimming lessons
Brigham City Recreation is now registering for summer swimming lessons at the Brigham City Outdoor Pool and will continue until classes are filled.
There will be five week-long sessions offered this year, starting on the following days: June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22 and August 5. Lessons are taught Monday through Thursday each week, however, the July 4 lesson will be held on Friday, June 28.
The cost is $30 per student for regular lessons and $15 for the mom and tot class.
Available spaces are limited.
To register, visit www.brighamcity.utah.gov, or go to the recreation office at 641 East 200 North in Brigham City, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. or Friday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
For more information call Donna Pett at 435-734-6610.
Nat announces summer swim lessons
The Box Elder High School Natatorium will host five sessions of summer swimming lessons starting in June.
Each session is two weeks in length with nine lessons, Monday-Friday the first week and Monday-Thursday the second week. Lessons will be taught at the top of each hour from 8-11 a.m. The first session runs June 10-20; the second is June 24-July 5 (no class July 4); the third is July 8-18; the fourth is July 22-August 3 (no class July 24); and the final session is August 5-15. All Red Cross levels are available and all classes are taught by certified Red Cross instructors.
Lessons cost $35 per student per session with a $15 non-refundable deposit. Parents are encouraged to ensure their child can attend the desired session as changes may not be possible and classes will not be over-filled. Classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information or to register, visit the natatorium at 160 South 600 West, Monday– Friday, 5-9:30 p.m. and 1- 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays, or call 734-4852.
BESD Foundation sets benefit golf tournament
The Box Elder School District Foundation will host its 14th annual golf tournament on Friday, May 31, at Skyway Golf Course in Tremonton.
The format for the tournament will be a four-man scramble. Individuals may organize their own teams or may sign up to be placed on a team. The entry fee is $80 per person ($320 per four-man team). Prizes include a new car for a hole-in-one sponsored by Crump Motors and a trip to Southern California sponsored by Get-A-Way Today Travel.
There will be two shotgun starts, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. A chicken dinner from Maddox will be served at 1 p.m.
All proceeds benefit Box Elder School District students through support of special programs and the purchase of technology equipment and classroom learning aids.
To register, contact LuAnn Capener at 435-734-4916 or 820 North 100 East, Brigham City, Utah 84302.
BC outdoor pool offering early morning workouts
Brigham City outdoor pool will host early morning water workouts on Monday-Friday, from 7-8:20 a.m. Starting June 3.
Classes offered include water aerobics, water plyometric exercises, and lap swimming. The exercises are low-impact for those with injuries or just looking to stay in shape and are a good cross-training activity for all types and ages of athletes. Water workouts are also beneficial for pregnant women, senior citizens, people with multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, or other degenerative diseases because moving through water is easier on the body and helps reduce the risk of muscle or joint injury.
Workouts cost $2 per day, or punch passes are available (5 for $7.50, 10 for $15.00 or 20 for $30).
For more information contact Brigham City Recreation at 435-734-6610.
