With the regular season nearing it’s final innings, IYAA Baseball/Softball and T-Ball teams are still chipping away at the big picture. Post season tournaments are just around the next base which has all the teams vying for a 1st place division finish that will give them an automatic pass into the district tournament.

Most importantly, the players are having a blast playing a sport they love as they better themselves for high school ball. Fans get a chance sit back and relax while watching great young athletes learn the game. And everyone enjoys a sausage on a stick, hotdogs and nachos from the concession stand.

Below are a few of the IYAA teams and their rosters that are bringing all they have to the Upchurch Ball Fields in Italy as well as surrounding towns each week:

15 & under girl’s softball:
Head Coach: Doug Nelson
Assistants: Kim Nelson, Erick Thompson, Russ Lewis, Megann Lewis

Heather Bledsue
Katie Byers
Morgan Cockerham
Bailey DeBorde
Bailey Eubank
Taylor Falzerano
Jaclynn Lewis
Jamie McIntyre
Kelsey Nelson
Sa’Kendra Norwood
Bryanna Smith
Mary Tate
Tara Wallis
Madison Washington

Boys T-Ball:
Head Coach: Charles Hyles
Assistants: Christie Hyles, Jay Hellner, Chad Hamby

Bryce Ballard
Ty Cash
Jacob Coers
Omar De La Hoya
Christopher Ellis
Jake Hamby
Clayton Hellner
Brodie Hugghins
Chase Hyles
Kevin Magness
Rush Trees
Jalyn Wallace
Kinley Whatley
Julius Williams

Boy’s Machine Pitch:
Head Coach: Stephen Janek

Rance Beets
Zorian Burley
Anthony Chambers
Tanner Chambers
Bryce DeBorde
Deacon Dorety
Rocklin Ginnett
Grant Hamby
Dakota Hudson
Creighton Hyles
Reese Janek
Cornelius Jones
Bryson May
Gage Wafer

10 & under boys:
Head Coach: Stephen Mott

Garrett Cash
Tanner Davis
Gary Escamilla
Alex Garcia
Garrett Janek
Austin Lowe
Trevor Mott
Andrew Oldfield
Clay Riddle
Cade Roberts
Mickey South
Al Waits
Tylan Wallace
Austin Warren
Jacob Wiser

Games reported:

10u girl’s softball:
The IYAA 10u girl’s softball team, famously known as the Pink Panthers, played on Memorial Day and earned their seventh win.

Head coach Robin Wafer commented after the game, “We were sunburned and tired but we didn’t let that stop us. We played Whitney and won 11-1. Brycelen Richards, Cassidy Gage and Carlee Wafer all hit homeruns! We played as a team and won as a team! As the temperature outside gets hotter, so does the Pink Panthers!”

With the win, the Pink Panthers are undefeated at 7-0.

14u boy’s:
On Tuesday, IYAA’s 14u boy’s team, the Gladdogs, overcame a 3-0 deficit to lead 10-5 going into the bottom of the 7th against Whitney. Justin Wood, Eric Carson and Eric Evans handled the pitching duties while Italy’s defense played solid. John Byers put in a smooth performance at second base while first baseman Bailey Walton had the “almost” play of the game.

After receiving a throw from Carson at shortstop that didn’t quite beat the runner to the bag, Walton, realizing the Whitney runner and his coach were not paying attention, hid the ball in his glove and walked away. The runner eventually stepped off the bag a few steps and Walton tagged him out.

Unfortunately, the base umpire didn’t see the play and called the runner safe. Therefore, Walton earns the “almost” play of the game.

With the win, the Gladdogs are 5-1-1 and remain in the hunt for 1st place.

IYAA Sports, “The winning tradition starts here.”