Riverton Athletics - Home of the Wolverines! - Baseball

Babe Ruth has full board

nospam@example.com (Tammy Linton) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:08:07 -0500

As of the monthly meeting in January, the Riverton Area Babe Ruth was able to fill all positions on their board with the following members: Tammy Linton, President; Ray Nolan, Vice President; Pat Dowse, Secretary; Janie Nirider, Treasurer; Fran Galey, Player Agent; Cody Beers, Equipment Manager; Dennis Graham, Field Coordinator; Debbie Graham, Concessions Coordinator; and Terance Crippen, Member-at-Large.

Derek Watson does well at Baseball Camp Las Vegas

nospam@example.com (Keith Bauder) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:50:00 -0500

Derek Watson attended the 24th annual Las Vegas Baseball Academy over the Christmas break and come home with the top award in his age group, he was awarded the “Best Hustle” trophy for 16 year old age group. This award was voted on by the 7 professional baseball scouts and numerous college scouts in attendance.

There were approximately 40 players in 16 year old age category, they hailed from Nevada, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming.

Little League elects board members

nospam@example.com ( Willi Coons) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:53:00 -0500

New board members have been elected for the 2008 season:

Cody Beers, President; John Souza, Vice President; Janell Oaks, Secretary; Amy Engstrom, Treasurer; Kristin Paulsen, Player Agent; Robyn Beers, Safety Manager; Lisa Reichert, Scorekeeper; Tom Paulsen, Equipment Manager; Kenna Manasco, Webmaster; Willi Coons, Member-At-Large; Bill Tenlen, Member-At-Large.

Current openings include Umpire-In-Chief.

The next board meeting is scheduled at the Riverton Library on 7 p.m., Jan. 29.

Everyone is invited.

The State Little League meeting is Feb. 2 in Torrington. Torrington is the host of the 2008 State Little League Baseball Tournament.

Riverton is scheduled to host the state tournament in 2010.

Tournament Sites Set for Raiders

nospam@example.com (Craig Blumenshine) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:15:00 -0500

The Riverton Raiders will play its district 2008 tournament in Powell and, if it places in the top four at the district tournament, will play its state tournament in Cheyenne according to votes taken Sunday at the annual Wyoming American Legion Baseball meetings held in Casper.

The Raiders will play in the West "A" Conference along with Powell, Cody, Lovell, Worland, Lander, Jackson and Green River. Laramie moves to the East "A" Conference along with Rawlins, Cheyenne, Wheatland, Casper, Gillette, Newcastle and Douglas.

Realignment has effected the "AA" class of Legion baseball. Casper moves to the West "AA" along with Evanston, Rock Springs and Laramie. The East "AA" will consist of Cheyenne, Torrington, Sheridan and Gillette. The state "AA" tournament will be held in Gillette.

Beginning in 2009, it is likely that the state "A" champion and runner-up will also play in the state "AA" tournament if the "AA" field falls to fewer than eight teams.

The Raiders continue planning for its upcoming season with a board meeting scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Riverton Library.

Babe Ruth to meet December 13

nospam@example.com (Tammy Linton) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:45:48 -0500

The next meeting for Riverton Babe Ruth is Thursday, December 13 at 7:00pm at the Riverton Public Library. All are welcome. Officers for the 2008 season will be elected.

Raiders Had a Great Season (Looking Back AND Forward)

nospam@example.com (Craig Blumenshine) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:29:57 -0400

Although football season is in full swing, baseball is still on the front-burners with pro pennant races heating up. With that in mind, there are some stories from the American Legion State Baseball Tournament that may allow some parallels to be drawn between the Riverton Raiders baseball team and the current Riverton Football Wolverines. Time will tell.

By all accounts, the Raiders struggled through a mediocre regular season in 2007. They lost some games they should have won, and, for the most part, didn't win games they were not expected to. And, there were struggles with the team. The coaches were fired mid-season for off-field conduct, players tried to understand it all, parents were at odds with one another, and board members came and went.

But sometimes a season is defined by how it ends. For the Riverton Raiders American Legion Baseball Club, the season ended better than most expected. In fact, it ended with the Raiders playing for a state championship. Although Riverton ultimately lost to Wheatland, the Raiders were the surprise story.

Might there be good things waiting for the Riverton Football Wolverines? The two teams share leaders in Trevor Wilson, Tyler Larson, Kyle Blumenshine and Ryan Weber. And, it is safe to say few around Wyoming outside of Riverton still believe in the Riverton Wolverines right now. But the same was true with the Riverton Raiders. At the meeting before the first pitch was tossed at the state baseball tournament, Legion officials wanted to make sure that if a team won the state tournament, that it could represent Wyoming in Alaska at the Regional American Legion Baseball Tournament. So, they asked Wheatland, "Can you guys make it?" And then they asked Powell and Jackson. Good. Anyone who has a shot can go, they thought.

Do you think they asked Riverton? Of course not. Jackson, Powell, and Wheatland were the favorites. Each had man-handled "AA" teams during the season. Jackson and Powell had won their district tournaments.

And it took some special plays that you haven't heard about for Riverton to excel. Matt Raymond, playing right field, let a deep fly drop at his feet on purpose, inches foul, while Gillette had a runner on third in a 4-3 game in the opening round. Same game - Jeramey Slack turned a first and third, one out situation sure to spell trouble for Riverton, into an inning ending double play with the help of Issac Hermann and Zach Christopherson.

Christopherson then pitched a complete-game win over Powell and didn't strike out anyone. And, it was the best game he ever pitched. He was lights out. During the Powell game, Stevie Sullivan played the game of his life at second base and fielded everything that came near him. He was asked to sacrifice bunt twice and executed both perfectly to advance runners when the Raiders needed it. And Powell had rolled the dice and saved their ace for the Raiders. One of the better pitchers in Wyoming, Scotty Jameson was waiting for Riverton. Actually, the Raiders pounded Jameson when nobody thought they would.

So, the Raiders then faced the home team Wheatland in the state semi-final game. Matt Raymond came in relief in the first inning and then threw eight more. To say Raymond threw well would be a huge understatement. Raymond was outstanding. And the top of the Raider order went 10-20 with Kyle Blumenshine launching a home run in front of a stunned home crowd (maybe 1,000 around the park) that his dad won't ever forget. An emotional game that the Raiders lost in the bottom of the ninth with a Wheatland walk-off home run, many wondered whether Riverton could rebound against Jackson the next day. Jackson had swept Riverton only a week earlier.

And the story gets better. Jeramey Slack gave up the walk-off home run to the tournament MVP and state home run leader after he came in to pitch to relieve Raymond against Wheatland. So, guess who would get the ball the next day against Jackson? Slack, of course. And, he threw nine of the grittiest innings I have ever seen. And there were other heroes too. Jarren Monroe was asked to pinch hit in a key situation late in the game against Jackson with runners in scoring position. Two RBI's later, the sixteen-year old had done what he had been asked to do and the Raiders were battling. And, of course, there is more. To end the game, with the bases loaded, Trevor Wilson made a sensational diving catch in center field to save the win. What, center field? But Wilson had never played center field. But when he was asked to play there for his team, he did, no questions asked, and he came up big.

With the temperature approaching 100, the Raiders stepped on the field 45 minutes later to play for a state championship in Wyoming American Legion Baseball.

And now, the Riverton Wolverines are at a crossroads in their football season. Four regular season football games remain. Somebody, somewhere is having a meeting today asking who the favorites are. And you can bet that they are not talking about Riverton. Watch out.

Raiders Baseball Annual Meeting

nospam@example.com (Craig Blumenshine) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:26:00 -0400

The annual meeting for Riverton Raider American Legion Baseball will be held Tuesday, September 4th, (Tuesday), at 7:00pm at the Riverton Branch Library.

There is much to discuss:

- Selection of a new board
- "A" and "AA" options for '08 season
- Coaches for '08 season
- Raising funds for the upcoming season
- Tournament hosting (District and/or State "A")
- Field maintenance (selecting a field superintendent)
- Interest of 15-yr-olds (next year's 16's) in Legion program
- Proactive relationship with Lander

In the photo below, Kyle Blumenshine connects in Torrington during the 2007 season. The Raiders placed second at the 2007 Wyoming American Legion Baseball "A" State Tournament.