Red Dirt Boys Go To Cooperstown/Club Baseball

May 18, 2010 -- On this date in baseball history Mickey Mantle enthralled the crowd when he hit home runs from both sides of the plate for the third  time in his baseball career. Mantle set a major league record on this day and went on to help his team trump the Chicago White Sox 8-7 with help from his four hits in four- at bats. It was a baseball day to remember.

Its hard to imagine America without baseball but it wasn’t until 1839 that a boy named Abner Doubleday is credited with the invention of this American national pastime. His boyhood friend Abner Graves said Doubleday created the game of baseball in a cow pasture. Today, that cow pasture is the present site of Doubleday Field in Cooperstown- the home to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame.

On June 11th Southern Utah’s own Red Dirt Boys will set out to become a part of the "American baseball dream" as they take part in one of many tournaments held in Cooperstown. It will be then that they discover if the dirt in Doubleday’s pasture is the same deep red as Southern Utah’s own " dirt."

The Red Dirt Boys are a club baseball team named for the infamous red dirt of Southern Utah Dirt. The team was established in April of 2008 through a try out process. Uniquely, the team formed then, is the team you will find on the field today. The Red Dirt Boys have stuck together under the direction of head coach Cody Barney and Assistants Troy Wall, David Bithell, and Jerico Donavan. When asked what the team’s number one strength was, Coach Donovan replied, "As a team we have a great acomodority and wonderful family support. There is not one superstar there are 11."

The 11 dirt boys are unified and play as a team not individuals. When one team member is down or struggling another team member steps in to help him. The "Dirt Boys" have a true love of the game of baseball making them a perfect fit to play at Cooperstown. The 11 ball players headed to Cooperstown consist of: #7, Jackson Bithell, #9, Brooks Barney, #3 Hunter Hansen, #1 Dakota Donovan, #12 Christian Iverson, #8 Tyler Johnston, #10 Jamison Clark, # 6 Rhett Stubbs, #2 Trevor Berry, #5 Connor Clark, and #4 Logan Lafemina. Their Journey to Coopertown is a once in a life time experience which will leave them with memories that will last a lifetime. What an amazing opportunity they will have going to the birthplace of baseball not only to learn more about the history of baseball but to play ball there as well. Donovan stated, "it has been of journey of hard work, perseverance, and unity  -- Cooperstown, the destination, is the payoff."

While The Dirt Boys participate in a lot of Rocky Mountain Baseball Tournaments, they try to support all of the tournaments in the Southern Utah area to which they are invited. In April, the team boasted a record of 23 victories and one loss for the 2010 season. Their great success is attributed to their improvement in fundamentals, and the knowledge they have gained of the game itself. This combination, coupled with the great support system they provide for each other makes them a great team.

Look for the "red dirt" and you will find these boys in the field: Donovan is an excellent pitcher and a good power hitter; Iverson at first has a great average getting the ball on the bat; Johnston comes ready to play with his solid defense and his speed; Clark’s great hands and knowledge of the game make him a key player; Stubbs enthralls his fans in the outfield with his amazing speed; Berry is a strong outfielder and a good contact hitter; Bithell is a versatile player with his strong arm playing catch, pitch, and third base. Barney, the team’s lefty makes him a standout at first base, Hansen is the team’s utility player- he can play any position and gets the job done; and Lafemina rounds the team out with his speed in the outfield and his arm on the mound.

The Red Dirt Boys would like to thank the many southern Utah residents for their support of their fund raising efforts. These events have included yard sales, carwashes, Papa Murphy cards, and their own Red Dirt Boys Tournament. A special thanks is extended to their sponsors: American Legion Post 142, Bakston Freight, and Berry’s Manufacturing.

Best of Luck to the Red Dirt Boys in Cooperstown. Turns a few double plays on Doubleday’s field and let the ghost of the great Mickey Mantle be your good luck charm.