by Coach Austin Vanhove
In the first round of State Class B Tournament play on Sunday in Mitchell, the BlueJays won!! The Jays beat the Horned Frogs of Corsica, SD, 8-1.
The day started off with Coach Vanhove and Nick Bonte scrambling to find their gear in Deadwood at the crack of dawn to get back to the game. We stopped in Oacoma so someone could call some dinosaurs before the big game.
Coach Vanhove left the player card up to rookie Tayson Swatek, and he couldn't have messed it up more by leaving our pride and joy, Jack Sparro, off the lineup because Jack was in the bathroom while Tayson was making the card and forgot about him. Jack was upset, to say the least, kicking the water cooler when he got in the dugout and saying, "Why did I even make this trip?"
Labrie started on the mound and during warmups, looked at us and said, "Get someone else ready; my arm hurts," but that didn't stop him from doing what he does best, giving up only 3 hits and making the Frogs look foolish.
Trey Buck took batting practice without a shirt on again and hit a big double off the wall in the first to score 2 runs. Old man Chute looked like his arm might fall off throwing to first but managed to rope two doubles down the left-field fence. Brockhouse stole 3 bases, and Nick had two great hits.
Brady Bonte hit into a double play, and at one point, hit the ball right to the first baseman and didn't even get out of the box, walking back to the dugout in frustration. Vanhove didn't do much other than hitting the ball to the third baseman, and Steckler had a great 2-run RBI but had a slow grounder hit to him at third. The batter tore his hamstring and still made it to first because of such a bad throw. Koch got one at-bat, got beaned, and then was gunned out at home. His dad and uncle will be doing sprints with him in the backyard, getting ready for the next game.
After the game, 605 Sports needed and I mean *needed*—to know who the legend Jack Sparro is, but Jack was not in the mood for his interview and stormed off, getting two burgers before he left. The Jays play Wednesday against Four Corners, which we have no idea who they are or where they are from, but we expect a great game that will come down to the wire. #JaysFlyTogether
