In preparation for the tournament, here's a list of all the stories the Journal has put together leading up to this afternoon ...
The ‘it’ factor — Pocatello Razorbacks slugger Cory Meyer is guiding the Razorbacks to an historic season
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Pocatello Razorbacks headed to state coverage
The Pocatello Razorbacks (48-1) play the Boise Capitals at 4 p.m. today in the Single-A American Legion State Tournament.
In preparation for the tournament, here's a list of all the stories the Journal has put together leading up to this afternoon ...
The ‘it’ factor — Pocatello Razorbacks slugger Cory Meyer is guiding the Razorbacks to an historic season
The road to Alaska — The Pocatello Razorbacks already have plenty to be proud of but entering the state tournament, they have one thing on their mind — winning
The Razorbacks have seen pressure before, and they’ve dealt with it beautifully
A column: Razorbacks travel to Nampa to finish what they’ve started
In preparation for the tournament, here's a list of all the stories the Journal has put together leading up to this afternoon ...
The ‘it’ factor — Pocatello Razorbacks slugger Cory Meyer is guiding the Razorbacks to an historic season
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Razorbacks travel to Nampa to finish what they’ve started
The Pocatello Razorbacks are four wins away from one of the greatest seasons in Idaho American Legion baseball history.
If things fall Pocatello’s way in the state tournament that begins today in Nampa, the Razorbacks could win a state championship and qualify for the Northwest Regionals in Alaska with a 52-1 record.
The Razorbacks began the season winning 35 straight games. Shortly before that I wrote, “Ultimately, if the Razorbacks don’t win a state championship, their 34-game winning streak isn’t invalidated. ... The streak is an achievement that stands all on its own.”
I still believe that. This exact same Razorback team could start the season over and there is absolutely no way they would rip off 35 victories before losing, not in a game like baseball with it’s volatile, fickle nature. And that’s why the start of their season is so special.
But there’s something else at stake for the Razorbacks this weekend in the Treasure Valley, something like Idaho baseball immortality.
“We’ve played in four tournaments now and we’ve won them all,” said Razorbacks head coach Dan McCaskill. “So they don’t want to come in second. ... If it happens, it happens. Let’s just play hard. I know with the way that they play, if they play hard, they’re going to be in every game.”
McCaskill and the Razorbacks are desperate to win a state championship. They can taste it. This is a group of players that has gotten used to winning, and winning big. It doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been close games along the way to their current 48-1 record. There have been plenty of those, but for every one-run game the Razorbacks have had to pull out in the seventh inning, they’ve bullied five other teams in 10-run blowouts.
McCaskill just wants to make sure that if the Razorbacks do go out, if they do fall short of their ultimate goal, it will only be because their opponent played out of their minds. He wants his club to go down against a pitcher hurling 85 mile-an-hour fastballs. He wants the Razorbacks to lose in the final inning, on a walk-off single that some kid managed to hit off one of Pocatello’s best arms.
If they’re going down, McCaskill and the Razorbacks are going to make sure the opposing squad had to throw everything at them to win.
Not that Pocatello is traveling west with losing on its mind. No, believe me, they’re headed to Nampa with the intent to claim a state title.
“It would definitely make our season a lot better if we did win state, to just show everyone that our record is true — it’s not a fluke,” said Mason Foltz, one of Pocatello’s star pitchers.
And there’s the rub. The Razorbacks have accomplished so much to this point of the year that every future Razorback squad will be compared to this one. But if they don’t finish the job and win a state championship, the season won’t feel complete.
They’ll always have a 35-game winning streak and a district title, but the Razorbacks haven’t climbed the last rung to legendary status — not yet. And whether they do or don’t, it won’t change their lives. It is just baseball, after all.
But that doesn’t mean the thrill of winning or the agony of losing won’t tug at their hearts any less.
If things fall Pocatello’s way in the state tournament that begins today in Nampa, the Razorbacks could win a state championship and qualify for the Northwest Regionals in Alaska with a 52-1 record.
The Razorbacks began the season winning 35 straight games. Shortly before that I wrote, “Ultimately, if the Razorbacks don’t win a state championship, their 34-game winning streak isn’t invalidated. ... The streak is an achievement that stands all on its own.”
I still believe that. This exact same Razorback team could start the season over and there is absolutely no way they would rip off 35 victories before losing, not in a game like baseball with it’s volatile, fickle nature. And that’s why the start of their season is so special.
But there’s something else at stake for the Razorbacks this weekend in the Treasure Valley, something like Idaho baseball immortality.
“We’ve played in four tournaments now and we’ve won them all,” said Razorbacks head coach Dan McCaskill. “So they don’t want to come in second. ... If it happens, it happens. Let’s just play hard. I know with the way that they play, if they play hard, they’re going to be in every game.”
McCaskill and the Razorbacks are desperate to win a state championship. They can taste it. This is a group of players that has gotten used to winning, and winning big. It doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been close games along the way to their current 48-1 record. There have been plenty of those, but for every one-run game the Razorbacks have had to pull out in the seventh inning, they’ve bullied five other teams in 10-run blowouts.
McCaskill just wants to make sure that if the Razorbacks do go out, if they do fall short of their ultimate goal, it will only be because their opponent played out of their minds. He wants his club to go down against a pitcher hurling 85 mile-an-hour fastballs. He wants the Razorbacks to lose in the final inning, on a walk-off single that some kid managed to hit off one of Pocatello’s best arms.
If they’re going down, McCaskill and the Razorbacks are going to make sure the opposing squad had to throw everything at them to win.
Not that Pocatello is traveling west with losing on its mind. No, believe me, they’re headed to Nampa with the intent to claim a state title.
“It would definitely make our season a lot better if we did win state, to just show everyone that our record is true — it’s not a fluke,” said Mason Foltz, one of Pocatello’s star pitchers.
And there’s the rub. The Razorbacks have accomplished so much to this point of the year that every future Razorback squad will be compared to this one. But if they don’t finish the job and win a state championship, the season won’t feel complete.
They’ll always have a 35-game winning streak and a district title, but the Razorbacks haven’t climbed the last rung to legendary status — not yet. And whether they do or don’t, it won’t change their lives. It is just baseball, after all.
But that doesn’t mean the thrill of winning or the agony of losing won’t tug at their hearts any less.
ISU's 2015 football schedule taking shape
Idaho State opens the 2014 season with back-to-back games against Utah and Utah State, two quality Football Bowl Subdivision programs. The 2015 football schedule is talking on a similar tone.
Idaho State announced Wednesday that it will play at BYU on Oct. 24, 2015. It will be the fifth meeting between the Bengals and Cougars all time and the third since 2011. BYU leads the series 5-0.
ISU had already scheduled a game at Boise State on Sept. 19 in 2015, continuing a trend of the Bengals playing two “money games” every season. In 2013, Idaho State faced both Washington and BYU, and in 2012 the Bengals traveled to Air Force and Nebraska.
The last time Idaho State did not play a duo of FBS teams in the same season was 2007 when the Bengals played Oregon State.
ISU’s 2015 schedule is now set with the exception of at least one other nonconference game, most likely against a lower-division opponent in Holt Arena . At the moment, of Idaho State’s 10 games scheduled, six of them are on the road and the four home games are against Portland State, Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State.
In 2016, ISU will also play at Colorado.
Idaho State against the FBS
2016 at Colorado
2015 at Boise State, BYU
2014 at Utah, Utah State
2013 at Washington (56-0, L), BYU (59-13, L)
2012 at Air Force (49-21, L), Nebraska (73-7, L)
2011 at Washington State (64-21, L), BYU (56-3, L)
2010 at Utah State (38-17, L), Georgia (55-7, L)
2009 at Arizona State (50-3, L), Oklahoma (64-0, L)
2008 at Boise State (49-7, L), Idaho (42-27, L)
2007 at Oregon State (61-10, L)
2015 Idaho State football schedule (to date)
Sept. 19 at Boise State
Sept. 26: vs. Portland State
Oct. 3: at Cal Poly
Oct. 10: at North Dakota
Oct. 17: vs. Eastern Washington
Oct. 24 at BYU
Oct. 31: at Sacramento State
Nov. 7: vs. Montana
Nov. 14: vs. Montana State
Nov. 21: at Weber State
Idaho State announced Wednesday that it will play at BYU on Oct. 24, 2015. It will be the fifth meeting between the Bengals and Cougars all time and the third since 2011. BYU leads the series 5-0.
ISU had already scheduled a game at Boise State on Sept. 19 in 2015, continuing a trend of the Bengals playing two “money games” every season. In 2013, Idaho State faced both Washington and BYU, and in 2012 the Bengals traveled to Air Force and Nebraska.
The last time Idaho State did not play a duo of FBS teams in the same season was 2007 when the Bengals played Oregon State.
ISU’s 2015 schedule is now set with the exception of at least one other nonconference game, most likely against a lower-division opponent in Holt Arena . At the moment, of Idaho State’s 10 games scheduled, six of them are on the road and the four home games are against Portland State, Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State.
In 2016, ISU will also play at Colorado.
Idaho State against the FBS
2016 at Colorado
2015 at Boise State, BYU
2014 at Utah, Utah State
2013 at Washington (56-0, L), BYU (59-13, L)
2012 at Air Force (49-21, L), Nebraska (73-7, L)
2011 at Washington State (64-21, L), BYU (56-3, L)
2010 at Utah State (38-17, L), Georgia (55-7, L)
2009 at Arizona State (50-3, L), Oklahoma (64-0, L)
2008 at Boise State (49-7, L), Idaho (42-27, L)
2007 at Oregon State (61-10, L)
2015 Idaho State football schedule (to date)
Sept. 19 at Boise State
Sept. 26: vs. Portland State
Oct. 3: at Cal Poly
Oct. 10: at North Dakota
Oct. 17: vs. Eastern Washington
Oct. 24 at BYU
Oct. 31: at Sacramento State
Nov. 7: vs. Montana
Nov. 14: vs. Montana State
Nov. 21: at Weber State
Friday, July 25, 2014
Idaho State football roster — released at the 2014 Big Sky Kickoff
Pos. # player cl ht wt
RB 1 Daniel McSurdy R-Sr. 5-11 196
DB 1 Anthony Ricks Fr. 5-9160
DB 2 Cory Hollowell Fr. 6-2 185
WR 2 Broc Malcom R-So. 5-11 170
QB 4 Taner Gueller Fr. 6-2 227
PK 4 C.J. Reyes R-Sr. 5-7 200
DB 5 Brandon Golden R-Sr. 5-11 195
DB 6 Khary Livingston-Coleman Jr. 5-10 200
WR 6 Kai Campbell R-So. 5-10 180
WR 7 Madison Mangum So. 6-2 190
DB 7 Kamino Ward Jr. 5-10 200
WR 8 Sage Burmeister R-Fr. 6-0 175
DB 9 Christian Gines R-Sr. 6-0 195
WR 9 Domenic Toliver R-Fr. 5-9 160
DB 10 Taison Manu Jr. 5-9 205
QB 10 James Delacenserie Fr. 6-2 206
TE 11 Josh Cook R-So. 6-3 221
QB 12 Trae Pilster R-Fr. 6-1 190
DB 13 Tavonte Jackson Jr. 5-9 185
DB 14 Daniel Guthmiller R-So. 5-9 170
WR 15 KW Williams R-So. 6-1 207
DE 17 Nick Albano R-Sr. 6-1 252
QB 18 Justin Arias R-Sr. 6-0 213
RB 20 Aaron Prier Sr. 5-10 185
LB 21 CJ Langlow R-Jr. 6-2 215
RB 22 Nikko Hayes R-Fr. 5-11 188
DB 23 James Madison Fr. 5-11 185
DB 25 Joe Martin Fr. 6-0 200
DB 26 Michael Berger R-Sr. 6-1 195
RB 28 Jakori Ford R-Jr. 5-8 195
DB 29 Cody Sorensen R-Jr. 5-11 200
LB 30 Hayden Stout S-So. 6-2 218
RB 31 Xavier Finney Jr. 5-11 196
DB 32 Vai Peko Sr. 5-6 165
RB 35 Braeden Mitchell R-So. 6-0 207
PK 36 Zak Johnson R-Fr. 5-9 180
LB 37 Tate Razor Fr. 6-4 210
DB 39 Cole Lemer Jr. 6-1 191
DE 40 DaQuan Cook Fr. 6-1 225
LB 43 PJ Gremaud LB Sr. 6-1 252
LB 44 Spencer Harshman Fr. 6-1 210
LB 45 Keelan McCaffery R-Sr. 6-0 228
LB 46 Mitch Beckstead R-Sr. 6-0 235
LB 47 Mario Jenkins R-Fr. 6-1 225
DL 48 Kurt Karstetter Jr. 6-2 215
LB 49 Austin Ferguson Fr. 5-11 205
LS 50 Andrew Burtenshaw Fr. 6-3 205
DL 51 David Forester R-Sr. 6-2 265
LB 52 Micah Breland R-Fr. 6-1 230
DL 53 Joel Ragazzo Fr. 6-4 225
OL 54 Terrence Carey R-Jr. 6-1 301
LB 55 Erik Nelson Sr. 6-0 228
OL/LS 56 Jake Belnap R-Sr. 6-1 270
OL 57 Drew Spanner R-So. 6-2 270
DL 58 Derek Berrey R-Jr. 6-5 255
OL 60 Wesley Wingrove Jr. 6-4 305
DL 62 Sage Warner R-Sr. 6-1 282
OL 63 Travis Namohala Jr. 6-1 294
OL 65 Matt Lewis R-So. 6-5 343
OL 66 Brian Fineanganofo Fr. 6-6 275
OL 68 Chris Miedema Fr. 6-6 303
OL 69 Cody Abbott R-So. 6-3 285
OL 71 Skyler Phillips So. 6-3 317
OL 72 Jake Hoggan Fr. 6-6 295
OL 73 Colin Prestesater Jr. 6-6 295
OL 75 Christian Diehm R-Jr. 6-5 285
OL 76 Thomas Vazorka So. 6-6 305
OL 77 Chase Collins R-Fr. 6-5 283
OL 78 Jim Bagley Sr. 6-3 301
WR 80 Cole Robinson R-Fr. 6-3 200
TE 81 Tyler Graves R-Jr. 6-4 225
WR 82 Tucker Louie-McGee Fr. 5-11 165
WR 83 Brayden Loetscher Jr. 6-0 185
WR 84 Hagan Graves Fr. 6-0 180
WR 85 Nick Jones Fr. 6-3 180
WR 86 CJ Hatchett R-Jr. 6-1 185
TE 87 Tyler Wright Jr. 6-5 243
TE 89 Derek Despot So. 6-3 215
DL 90 Jeremiah Hazard R-Fr. 6-3 275
DL 91 Larry Tharpe Jr. Fr. 6-3 270
LB 92 Thomas Ryan R-Fr. 6-3 255
DL 94 Cody Anderson R-Jr. 6-2 295
DL 95 Tyler Kuder R-Jr. 6-3 305
DL 96 Robby Mackesey Sr. 6-1 262
DL 97 Chris Edwards R-Jr. 6-0 277
DL 98 Drew Sharkey R-So. 6-1 242
DL 99 Austin Graves R-Sr. 6-2 255
RB 1 Daniel McSurdy R-Sr. 5-11 196
DB 1 Anthony Ricks Fr. 5-9160
DB 2 Cory Hollowell Fr. 6-2 185
WR 2 Broc Malcom R-So. 5-11 170
QB 4 Taner Gueller Fr. 6-2 227
PK 4 C.J. Reyes R-Sr. 5-7 200
DB 5 Brandon Golden R-Sr. 5-11 195
DB 6 Khary Livingston-Coleman Jr. 5-10 200
WR 6 Kai Campbell R-So. 5-10 180
WR 7 Madison Mangum So. 6-2 190
DB 7 Kamino Ward Jr. 5-10 200
WR 8 Sage Burmeister R-Fr. 6-0 175
DB 9 Christian Gines R-Sr. 6-0 195
WR 9 Domenic Toliver R-Fr. 5-9 160
DB 10 Taison Manu Jr. 5-9 205
QB 10 James Delacenserie Fr. 6-2 206
TE 11 Josh Cook R-So. 6-3 221
QB 12 Trae Pilster R-Fr. 6-1 190
DB 13 Tavonte Jackson Jr. 5-9 185
DB 14 Daniel Guthmiller R-So. 5-9 170
WR 15 KW Williams R-So. 6-1 207
DE 17 Nick Albano R-Sr. 6-1 252
QB 18 Justin Arias R-Sr. 6-0 213
RB 20 Aaron Prier Sr. 5-10 185
LB 21 CJ Langlow R-Jr. 6-2 215
RB 22 Nikko Hayes R-Fr. 5-11 188
DB 23 James Madison Fr. 5-11 185
DB 25 Joe Martin Fr. 6-0 200
DB 26 Michael Berger R-Sr. 6-1 195
RB 28 Jakori Ford R-Jr. 5-8 195
DB 29 Cody Sorensen R-Jr. 5-11 200
LB 30 Hayden Stout S-So. 6-2 218
RB 31 Xavier Finney Jr. 5-11 196
DB 32 Vai Peko Sr. 5-6 165
RB 35 Braeden Mitchell R-So. 6-0 207
PK 36 Zak Johnson R-Fr. 5-9 180
LB 37 Tate Razor Fr. 6-4 210
DB 39 Cole Lemer Jr. 6-1 191
DE 40 DaQuan Cook Fr. 6-1 225
LB 43 PJ Gremaud LB Sr. 6-1 252
LB 44 Spencer Harshman Fr. 6-1 210
LB 45 Keelan McCaffery R-Sr. 6-0 228
LB 46 Mitch Beckstead R-Sr. 6-0 235
LB 47 Mario Jenkins R-Fr. 6-1 225
DL 48 Kurt Karstetter Jr. 6-2 215
LB 49 Austin Ferguson Fr. 5-11 205
LS 50 Andrew Burtenshaw Fr. 6-3 205
DL 51 David Forester R-Sr. 6-2 265
LB 52 Micah Breland R-Fr. 6-1 230
DL 53 Joel Ragazzo Fr. 6-4 225
OL 54 Terrence Carey R-Jr. 6-1 301
LB 55 Erik Nelson Sr. 6-0 228
OL/LS 56 Jake Belnap R-Sr. 6-1 270
OL 57 Drew Spanner R-So. 6-2 270
DL 58 Derek Berrey R-Jr. 6-5 255
OL 60 Wesley Wingrove Jr. 6-4 305
DL 62 Sage Warner R-Sr. 6-1 282
OL 63 Travis Namohala Jr. 6-1 294
OL 65 Matt Lewis R-So. 6-5 343
OL 66 Brian Fineanganofo Fr. 6-6 275
OL 68 Chris Miedema Fr. 6-6 303
OL 69 Cody Abbott R-So. 6-3 285
OL 71 Skyler Phillips So. 6-3 317
OL 72 Jake Hoggan Fr. 6-6 295
OL 73 Colin Prestesater Jr. 6-6 295
OL 75 Christian Diehm R-Jr. 6-5 285
OL 76 Thomas Vazorka So. 6-6 305
OL 77 Chase Collins R-Fr. 6-5 283
OL 78 Jim Bagley Sr. 6-3 301
WR 80 Cole Robinson R-Fr. 6-3 200
TE 81 Tyler Graves R-Jr. 6-4 225
WR 82 Tucker Louie-McGee Fr. 5-11 165
WR 83 Brayden Loetscher Jr. 6-0 185
WR 84 Hagan Graves Fr. 6-0 180
WR 85 Nick Jones Fr. 6-3 180
WR 86 CJ Hatchett R-Jr. 6-1 185
TE 87 Tyler Wright Jr. 6-5 243
TE 89 Derek Despot So. 6-3 215
DL 90 Jeremiah Hazard R-Fr. 6-3 275
DL 91 Larry Tharpe Jr. Fr. 6-3 270
LB 92 Thomas Ryan R-Fr. 6-3 255
DL 94 Cody Anderson R-Jr. 6-2 295
DL 95 Tyler Kuder R-Jr. 6-3 305
DL 96 Robby Mackesey Sr. 6-1 262
DL 97 Chris Edwards R-Jr. 6-0 277
DL 98 Drew Sharkey R-So. 6-1 242
DL 99 Austin Graves R-Sr. 6-2 255
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Big Sky football summer kickoff coverage
The 2014 football season is here.
Or it least it was this past week in Park City, Utah, where the Big Sky Conference hosted its 2014 Big Sky Summer Kickoff. Thirteen coaches and 13 players from around the league were available for interviews on Monday and Tuesday, and Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton addressed the media/ADs/SIDs/SWAs ....
Fullerton touched on a few topics, including upcoming rule changes in college football, when the league hopes to add instant replay and the state of the Big Sky Conference.
The Journal covered some of what Fullerton had to say in an article you can find here ...
Other stories stemming from the Big Sky Kickoff ...
Idaho State void from Big Sky preseason all-conference list
A story from the Salt Lake Tribune's Kurt Kragthorpe reviewing Idaho State's first two games of the 2014 schedule (Utah and then Utah State).
And then another story from the Journal. Mike Kramer says improving the Bengals' defense is driving everything they do ... Put up or shut up — Bengals’ success hinges on defense’s growth
Finally, he's a story from the Big Sky on the preseason media and coaches' polls that were released Tuesday morning ... Eastern Washington is a big early favorite.
For reference, he's the preseason poll I submitted ...
1 - Eastern Washington
2 - Montana
3 - Montana State
4 - Cal Poly
5 - Northern Arizona
6 - Southern Utah
7 - Sacramento State
8 - UC Davis
9 - Portland State
10 - Idaho State
11 - North Dakota
12 - Weber State
13 - Northern Colorado
Or it least it was this past week in Park City, Utah, where the Big Sky Conference hosted its 2014 Big Sky Summer Kickoff. Thirteen coaches and 13 players from around the league were available for interviews on Monday and Tuesday, and Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton addressed the media/ADs/SIDs/SWAs ....
Fullerton touched on a few topics, including upcoming rule changes in college football, when the league hopes to add instant replay and the state of the Big Sky Conference.
The Journal covered some of what Fullerton had to say in an article you can find here ...
Other stories stemming from the Big Sky Kickoff ...
Idaho State void from Big Sky preseason all-conference list
A story from the Salt Lake Tribune's Kurt Kragthorpe reviewing Idaho State's first two games of the 2014 schedule (Utah and then Utah State).
And then another story from the Journal. Mike Kramer says improving the Bengals' defense is driving everything they do ... Put up or shut up — Bengals’ success hinges on defense’s growth
Finally, he's a story from the Big Sky on the preseason media and coaches' polls that were released Tuesday morning ... Eastern Washington is a big early favorite.
For reference, he's the preseason poll I submitted ...
1 - Eastern Washington
2 - Montana
3 - Montana State
4 - Cal Poly
5 - Northern Arizona
6 - Southern Utah
7 - Sacramento State
8 - UC Davis
9 - Portland State
10 - Idaho State
11 - North Dakota
12 - Weber State
13 - Northern Colorado
Monday, July 7, 2014
The Razorbacks’ winning streak stands on its own
No baseball team should win 34 straight games.
The Pocatello Razorbacks have done a lot of things six weeks into the 2014 American Legion season. Chief among them: winning every single game on their schedule.
With his mantra “Just win baby,” Al Davis would have approved.
The Razorbacks have won three separate tournaments. One of them was their own and they were up against stiff Boise competition in the other two.
The Razorbacks have won blowouts, shellackings where their lineup jumped all over the opposing team’s pitcher and Pocatello’s pitching staff smothered hitters.
And the Razorbacks have won tight games, contests that lasted into extra innings and a kid with guts steps into the limelight to deliver a timely hit, a crucial fielding play or a wicked set of pitches to sit a batter down.
More than anything, and this is apparent, the Razorbacks have just won.
They’ve beaten the tar out of competition they should beat the tar out of and when the Razorbacks have slammed up against some of Idaho’s toughest squads, they’ve played their best baseball.
The Razorbacks have won their first 34 games for a lot of reasons but the most obvious is that they’re stacked with talent.
Trevor Bowers is one of the premier pitchers in the state — regardless of classification. The Marsh Valley to-be-senior has a rubber arm, a steely constitution and a nasty basket of pitches.
And Bowers is just the start. Pitching wise, Bowers is the ace but Mason Foltz, who will be a junior at Highland, has been unbelievable for the Razorbacks on the bump with a team-high 10 wins. So have Saben Rodriguez (a Century guy) and Braedon Boyer (Highland).
Offensively, Kam Farnsworth is the first kid that comes to mind, but only because of the way he obliterated the ball this past weekend. In the 2014 Firecracker Invitational, Farnsworth hit seven doubles and knocked in nine RBIs while batting .526 in six games.
Like Bowers on the mound, Farnsworth is just the start of the Razorbacks’ lineup. Cory Meyer, Ethan Hunt, CC Burrup, Spencer Bray, Conner LaMont — these guys have been on point from day one of the season.
It’s a special group. They show up every day at the park ready to play. That’s a simple thing — showing up. But they get their minds prepped and ready to compete.
No one the team is perfect. They make fielding errors, leave fastballs high right over the middle of the plate and swing at bad pitches. But they’ve come together (kids from three different schools) and bonded, and though Sunday’s championship game in the Firecracker Invitational, they’re perfect together.
The Razorbacks’ head coach, Dan McCaskill, deserves some of the credit. Two years as a head coach of the Legion team and the Razorbacks are a combined 69-11. They were second in the state a year ago and they’re one of the favorites to win state in 2014.
I don’t know if you could ever get McCaskill to admit much of that. He’ll tell you the Razorbacks are good and when they’re on their game, they are the best Single-A Legion team in Idaho.
But McCaskill recognizes the perils of baseball. Like how a leadoff walk in the first inning can lead to an early run for the competition and confidence that they can beat the Razorbacks.
Any team that wins a state championship needs a bit of luck, an invisible helping hand. It doesn’t matter how good the squad is or what kind of mental fortitude it has.
That’s why McCaskill never stops pushing his players to get a little better. But how does a team that’s won every game it has played improve? For starters, don’t give up a four-run lead in the seventh inning of a championship game like they did Sunday. Finish those games off in the top of the seventh so Meyer is never put in a position to have to hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh.
When Meyer did hit that double (because of course he did), the Razorbacks stormed the field and celebrated like a team that had never won anything before. But that’s a good sign. It’s a sign they didn’t wear down in Boise’s 100-degree heat and that winning never gets old.
And hopefully for the Razorbacks the celebration is proof that they’re still enjoying the daily grind of the season. From this point forward, the importance of the games only intensifies.
The Razorbacks have won 34 straight games but in reality, they haven’t won a thing. They haven’t won a district championship or a single game at the state tournament. And if any one of the 14 players on the roster starts to assume either of those results is a given, they’re doomed to failure.
But all of that is in the future. Ultimately, if the Razorbacks don’t win a state championship, their 34-game winning streak isn’t invalidated.
When it’s over — and, believe me, they don’t plan on losing any time soon — the streak is an achievement that stands all on its own.
The Pocatello Razorbacks have done a lot of things six weeks into the 2014 American Legion season. Chief among them: winning every single game on their schedule.
With his mantra “Just win baby,” Al Davis would have approved.
The Razorbacks have won three separate tournaments. One of them was their own and they were up against stiff Boise competition in the other two.
The Razorbacks have won blowouts, shellackings where their lineup jumped all over the opposing team’s pitcher and Pocatello’s pitching staff smothered hitters.
And the Razorbacks have won tight games, contests that lasted into extra innings and a kid with guts steps into the limelight to deliver a timely hit, a crucial fielding play or a wicked set of pitches to sit a batter down.
More than anything, and this is apparent, the Razorbacks have just won.
They’ve beaten the tar out of competition they should beat the tar out of and when the Razorbacks have slammed up against some of Idaho’s toughest squads, they’ve played their best baseball.
The Razorbacks have won their first 34 games for a lot of reasons but the most obvious is that they’re stacked with talent.
Trevor Bowers is one of the premier pitchers in the state — regardless of classification. The Marsh Valley to-be-senior has a rubber arm, a steely constitution and a nasty basket of pitches.
And Bowers is just the start. Pitching wise, Bowers is the ace but Mason Foltz, who will be a junior at Highland, has been unbelievable for the Razorbacks on the bump with a team-high 10 wins. So have Saben Rodriguez (a Century guy) and Braedon Boyer (Highland).
Offensively, Kam Farnsworth is the first kid that comes to mind, but only because of the way he obliterated the ball this past weekend. In the 2014 Firecracker Invitational, Farnsworth hit seven doubles and knocked in nine RBIs while batting .526 in six games.
Like Bowers on the mound, Farnsworth is just the start of the Razorbacks’ lineup. Cory Meyer, Ethan Hunt, CC Burrup, Spencer Bray, Conner LaMont — these guys have been on point from day one of the season.
It’s a special group. They show up every day at the park ready to play. That’s a simple thing — showing up. But they get their minds prepped and ready to compete.
No one the team is perfect. They make fielding errors, leave fastballs high right over the middle of the plate and swing at bad pitches. But they’ve come together (kids from three different schools) and bonded, and though Sunday’s championship game in the Firecracker Invitational, they’re perfect together.
The Razorbacks’ head coach, Dan McCaskill, deserves some of the credit. Two years as a head coach of the Legion team and the Razorbacks are a combined 69-11. They were second in the state a year ago and they’re one of the favorites to win state in 2014.
I don’t know if you could ever get McCaskill to admit much of that. He’ll tell you the Razorbacks are good and when they’re on their game, they are the best Single-A Legion team in Idaho.
But McCaskill recognizes the perils of baseball. Like how a leadoff walk in the first inning can lead to an early run for the competition and confidence that they can beat the Razorbacks.
Any team that wins a state championship needs a bit of luck, an invisible helping hand. It doesn’t matter how good the squad is or what kind of mental fortitude it has.
That’s why McCaskill never stops pushing his players to get a little better. But how does a team that’s won every game it has played improve? For starters, don’t give up a four-run lead in the seventh inning of a championship game like they did Sunday. Finish those games off in the top of the seventh so Meyer is never put in a position to have to hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh.
When Meyer did hit that double (because of course he did), the Razorbacks stormed the field and celebrated like a team that had never won anything before. But that’s a good sign. It’s a sign they didn’t wear down in Boise’s 100-degree heat and that winning never gets old.
And hopefully for the Razorbacks the celebration is proof that they’re still enjoying the daily grind of the season. From this point forward, the importance of the games only intensifies.
The Razorbacks have won 34 straight games but in reality, they haven’t won a thing. They haven’t won a district championship or a single game at the state tournament. And if any one of the 14 players on the roster starts to assume either of those results is a given, they’re doomed to failure.
But all of that is in the future. Ultimately, if the Razorbacks don’t win a state championship, their 34-game winning streak isn’t invalidated.
When it’s over — and, believe me, they don’t plan on losing any time soon — the streak is an achievement that stands all on its own.
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