Smallstars take second in spring tourney

“Heals on Wheels” leads team in Grand Junction

Coached by veteran (ball player) Jerry Heal, the Smallstars were in Grand Junction this past weekend for the Fruita Fall Festival Softball Tournament. The weekend for the Smallstars included a 5-0 record on pickles, four games under the lights, three diving outfield catches, two days, and one out-of-the-park-home-run on the 315-foot fence by Brian Murphy of the Tommyhawks.
After five games on Saturday, the Smallstars were playing must-win games on Sunday afternoon. Battling a strained hamstring, “Heals on Wheels” led the team through three tough wins to start the day. The Smallstars were on a run as the championship game versus the Tailgators began under the lights.
As the Smallstars came up to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning, they found themselves down 22-4. The mercy rule would have been in effect if their bats had not come alive, scoring eight runs to make it a 22-12 game.
It was not a surprise that other Crested Butte locals that had stayed and cheered on the Smallstars left at this point.
The sphincter-tight defense of the Smallstars barred the Tailgators any runs through the next two innings, but time was running out. As the Smallstars came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth, they were down by eight, and tournament rules prevented another inning of play.
“Healski’s” quiver of bats proved powerful tools for the players, and it looked like the Smallstars had a chance. But when the third out was made, they had scored only five runs.
So after the nine games in two days, the final score of 22-19 left the Smallstars with t-shirts and a second-place trophy to bring home to Crested Butte.