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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Baseball is a growing sport in Utah and the state may have a new team to root for. Snow Canyon Little League, based out of Santa Clara, is looking to be the first team ever from Utah to win the West Regional Tournament and qualify for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The Snow Canyon Little League team, led by manager Gavin Frei, is an all-star team made up of the best little leaguers from Santa Clara. The roster includes the following players:
- Mason Strong — Catcher, Shortstop, Pitcher
- Tanner Truman — Second baseman
- Jackson Ence — Centerfield
- Landon Frei — Shortstop, Pitcher
- Easton Ribgy — Third baseman, Outfield
- Luke Anderson — First baseman, Outfield
- Carston Herman — Pitcher, Outfield
- Braxton Hickman — Catcher, First baseman
- Jake Johnson — Pitcher, Third baseman
- Josh Akins — Pitcher, First baseman
- Isaac Lyon — Pitcher, Third baseman
- Ty Guerisoli — Outfield
- Cameron Terry — Pitcher, Outfield
The league qualified for the West Regional Tournament by winning the outright Utah state Little League Title.
Since Utah has never won the West Regional Tournament, Utah teams don't get much respect. Coming into the tournament, Snow Canyon Little League was viewed as the "little guy," the team that didn't have much hype going into the tournament.
That all changed Monday, Aug. 10, when Snow Canyon trounced Chandler National North Little League from Arizona, 11-1. Landon threw five innings, allowing only one run and four hits, as well as striking out nine batters. "I think I pitched a really good game, but I have to give the win to the hitting," said Landon about the all-around team effort.
Even with the dominant victory, Utah will be a heavy underdog tonight in the semifinal matchup against Sweetwater Valley Little League from Bonita, California. "Being from Santa Clara, our population is only about 10,000, so that's less kids to pick from, whereas California has millions to choose from," said Frei about how his team overcoming the stereotype of small towns being unable to compete with bigger cities.
"Everyone thought we were the worst team, and so we came out and played our best," Jackson said about surprising the nation with their victory over Arizona.
The stage is even bigger tonight. The game will be on ESPN at 7 p.m. MDT.
"That's all I've been thinking about," said Mason about playing on the national stage. "I'm really excited about how many people will be at the game and watching tonight."
Snow Canyon Little League is looking to make history this weekend. As Frei explained, "Baseball is getting bigger in Utah with all the club ball being played." He continued, "We want to do this for all the boys that play in the state and to put Utah on the map."
If Snow Canyon wins tonight, the team will play in the tournament championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. MDT on ESPN. If not, it's not the end of the line just yet. It's a double elimination tournament, so they would play again on Friday at 7 p.m. MDT on ESPN versus Waipio Little League from Hawaii.
If Snow Canyon Little League wins the West Regional Tournament and qualifies for the Little League World Series, Frei projects that Little League will be more popular and more competitive in Utah.
"Expect us to work hard and play hard tonight, because that's what we're going to do," said Landon about tonight's game. Nathan Harker is a sports writing intern currently enrolled at Brigham Young University majoring in broadcast journalism. Nathan can be reached at nathan.harker32@gmail.com or via twitter @nharker3207.
