Buck Farms surges to win in Mapleton LL finals
Buck Farms won only one game during the 2015 Mapleton Little League season. They made amends in a big way this summer.
The team captured the title in this year’s playoffs, beating Mapleton Lions, 12-8, in the contest played Aug. 4, 2016.
The finalists were the top teams during the regular season, with the Lions the top seed and Buck Farms right behind. Buck Farms broke out to an 8-4 lead in the early going, but Mapleton Lions showed resolve by tying the game in the fourth, thanks to a home run off the bat of Cody Barnes.
In the top of the sixth, Buck Farms scored four times to reclaim the lead and Tyler Farnham came on in relief to shut the door in the bottom of the inning to clinch the win.
The post-season started with a semifinal game played Aug. 1 as Buck Farms defeated Buck Construction, 10-6. Both teams came out hungry in the pitcher’s duel between Farnham and Buck Construction’s Malachi Cummings, but Buck Farms came from behind for the victory.
On Aug. 2, the fourth-seeded Doyen Farms took on the No. 1 Mapleton Lions. The pitching matchup was between the Mapleton Lions’ Jackson Maynard and Doyen’s Chase Cocheran. The Lions were able to mount plenty of offense against Cocheran and reliever Quinn DeMerchant, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after three innings. Doyen’s scored five times in the top of the fourth, but a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning clinched the win for Mapleton Lions.
Most Valuable Player award winners, voted on by the league coaches and umpires, were as follows: Buck Farms, Tyler Farnham; Mapleton Lions, Jackson Maynard; Buck Construction, Logan Akeley; and Doyen Farms, Quinn DeMerchant.
Jacob Graham, director of the recreation department representing Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman, thanked the volunteer coaches for their commitment this summer, the umpires for their work and the parents for their support and dedication to the program.
He also showed his appreciation toward RJ Gross and Chance Bragan, whose Eagle Scout projects led to a beautiful playing field. The Mapleton Lions Club provided the barbecue held prior to the championship game for all recreation participants.
