Blue Lightning like little professionals

Photo by Paul Robeson

READY TO STEAL: Scotty Farris, right, of the Blue Lightning moves off the bag as Redding Vipers’ second baseman Cole Keenan watches the pitcher.

Photo by Paul Robeson

FAST PITCH: Anderson’s Charlie Edwards sends in a strike in the seventh inning of the Blue Lightning – Redding Vipers game last Saturday at BLD.

Photo by Paul Robeson

LIGHTNING STRIKE: Pacheco School’s Clayton Rhodes sends the ball to the outfield last Saturday in their first game at Big League Dreams Park. Blue Lightning U12 beat the Redding Vipers 6-3 in the first game of the U12 league tournament.

Big League Dreams (BLD) park gives one the illusion of playing in one of the major league ball parks in the United States. On Saturday, in Yankee Stadium at BLD, the Blue Lightning took on the Redding Vipers in the first game of the Baseball Players Association (BPA) tournament. Dylan Mumford hit an in-the-park home run last Saturday in their first game at BLD. Mumford went 4 for 8 with that one home run.

Blue Lightning beat the Redding Vipers 6-3 in the U12 BPA league and up until the end of the sixth inning Blue Lightning led 6-1.

Unfortunately for Blue Lightning they won that first game but dropped the next two games. That two game loss was the first time this has happened to the team. In the last four tournaments they have placed fifth.

The Blue Lightning, an under 12 baseball team (U12), coached by Bob Wert, Dale Widner, Don Hodson and Ron Allen have taught these Shasta County youngsters some excellent skills, up and beyond normal Little League play.

“These are dedicated youngsters who want to play ball and always try to sharpen their skills to play,” said coach Bob Wert.

Clayton Rhodes and Charlie Edwards attend Pacheco School and Scotty Farris attends West Cottonwood School. Edwards went 5 for 8 as did Eli Putman. Matt Hambly went 3 for 5 and Scottie Farris went 2 for 5. Austin Coleman went 3 for 8 for the game.

The $100-a-year fee keeps the team going and there is an additional tournament fee of $30 per tournament. Tournaments have been held in Oregon and around the area.

The team has qualified for the western BPA world series in San Diego August 4-8 and, hopefully, they will attend.

The team, which plays baseball year round, will now take a few weeks off as the All Stars Little League playoffs take place.