Rally on the Diamond this Saturday

A full day of baseball is scheduled for this Saturday in Greybull. Formerly known as opening weekend, organizers are now calling it ‘Rally on the Diamond.’ Bring the family and watch games from youngsters playing t-ball to the experienced teenagers in the Seniors division. 

“Baseball all day,” said South Big Horn Little League organizer and President Curtis Johnson. 

Team photographs begin at 9 a.m. with tee ball and machine pitch (formerly coach pitch) games shortly after. Minors at 12:30 p.m., Majors at 2 p.m. and Seniors at 4 p.m. Greybull will host Otto teams. 

This season, the SBHLL has 10 teams in total with four tee ball teams, three machine pitch teams, and one team each for minors, majors and seniors. Otto is under their charter and has seven teams this year. 

“We’re hoping those kids stay with it, those are good numbers coming up,” added Johnson. 

Otto coach and SBHLL board member McKay Hancock said, “I think it’s great overall, the kids are enjoying playing and having a good summer of baseball.”

Concession stands will be open Saturday serving coffee and breakfast items in the morning transitioning to lunch items like burgers, hot dogs, nachos and pretzels. “Buffy (Crumrine) has been an awesome help for that, she’s our concession gal,” said Johnson. 

While Minors, Majors and Seniors teams have been competing for a few weeks, Saturday will be the first day of competition for tee ball and machine pitch teams. “We’re still adjusting to the later start but we’re pretty excited about it. The kids are a lot more focused simply with not being worn out from school and the weather is better,” said Johnson. 

Those interested in watching games for the remainder of the season can find schedules on the league’s Facebook page. 

MACHINE PITCH

The machine pitch teams, geared towards six through eight-year-olds, are formatted in a new way this year. Instead of a coach pitching, a machine will pitch. “It’s tailored more towards baseball rules, versus typical dad rules,” he said. “The kids are more excited about the way we are doing it versus the way we did it last year.”

While the club is still finetuning the details they are following simplified baseball rules, like three strikes you’re out. “So, when they get to minors, they are not so star-struck when they strike out. It gets them used to that feeling so they know,” Johnson said. 

It’s not like a unit seen in batting cages; but rather a mechanical unit where the coach steps on a pedal that pulls a lever like a catapult flinging the ball. “It’s a little quicker and more accurate than what an average dad can pitch,” said Johnson. This will also help reduce the inconsistencies seen in past years with a coach pitching the ball he went on to explain. 

A stepping-stone for minors’ gameplay, where kids begin to pitch, the machine pitch will be a better on ramp. “Now the kids can see that fast pitch and prepare themselves mentally. We’re pumped about it. It’s one of those discussions we’ve had over the years, what can we do to get these kids ready. Last year we had some young kids on the minors’ teams that struggled, they were apprehensive and scared of the ball, so as a board we said, what can we do. We discussed the machine pitch, simplified the rules and now we’re giving the kids something to work towards,” said Johnson. 

The machine pitch teams will only play against themselves and Otto and will not face teams from the region like Minors, Majors and Seniors teams do. “Keep it local and see how this year goes,” he added. 

CALL FOR UMPS

The club is still recruiting for help with home plate and field umpires. “It’s hit and miss every year,” said Johnson, “summertime is busy.” They have a go-to umpire in that of local Jared Davidson along with umpires helping out from Powell and Lovell and the club has seen local dads stepping up to help as field umpires. 

“This is one place we always struggle with, getting umps. We hosted an umpire clinic in hopes of getting people more comfortable in that role and we’re trying to get more participation. We had six people at the clinic and we’re working their schedules into our game schedules. If you’re interested in helping please reach out to any board member or contact us through our website,” said Johnson. 

SBHLL current board members include Johnson as president, secretary Rachel Henderson, treasurer Buffy Crumrine, coaching and equipment coordinator Kasie Yarborough, member at larger Trevor Whitacker, and the Otto representative is McKay Hancock. 

TOURNAMENTS

Interleague tournaments will be the week of June 15. Minors will play in Lovell and Majors will play in Powell. The all-star tournament, also known as the Stars and Stripes Tournament, will be June 26-27 in Lovell. SBHLL is still working out logistics and plans for what teams will compete at districts this year, scheduled for July 8-12 in Pinedale. 

SAVE THE DATE

League organizers are calling all ‘Sultans of Swat’ to join them for their homerun derby fundraiser the Sunday of Days of ’49 weekend, June 14. 

Organizer and SBHLL coach Will Houchin explained “the public may buy tickets to try to hit a homerun. There will be various age brackets.”

The ‘home run’ line will be set per age group. “The younger groups will not have to hit the ball out of the fence line for the hit to be designated as a home run. Those 18 and older will have to hit the ball over the chain-link fence for it to be a homerun,” said Houchin. 

Each age group will have a winner, and they will walk away with bragging rights and prizes.  A pitching machine will be used to keep the pitches consistent and accurate. 

Houchin noted that there will also be a fast pitch competition, like the homerun derby there will be age brackets, bragging rights and prizes. 

Any questions about the homerun and pitching contests can be directed to Houchin at 307-630-1801.

The contests are part of the town of Greybull’s commemoration of America’s 250th Anniversary. Set to begin at noon, the celebration will begin with a flagpole dedication ceremony followed by a lineup of military tributes. There will be fun, games, food trucks, and a bounce house in addition to the baseball challenges. 

The 60-foot flagpole will be installed between Easterly and Westerly fields. The American flag is 12 x 18 feet, and the Wyoming state flag is 10 x 15 feet.