Boy Scout Troop One from Logan, Utah (Sponsored by the Logan Lions Club-Trapper Trails Council-Old Ephraim District) is celebrating its’ 100th anniversary as a continuously chartered scouting unit with specially scheduled activities each month throughout the year 2010. Troop One is the oldest Boy Scout Troop west of the Mississippi River and has created a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for hundreds of Cache Valley’s youth over the past century. Boys between the ages of 11-17 who are interested in joining Troop One are encouraged to visit our troop meetings at First Presbyterian Church, 12 South 200 West in Logan, Tuesday’s between 7:00-8:30 pm. Troop One is a non-denominational scouting unit.
August 17-Lindquist Field (Ogden Raptors)-Ogden, Utah
By Stu Parkinson, Asst. Scoutmaster-Troop 1
With their time winding down during their three week adventure in the western USA, seven scouts and two adult leaders from the Ashford District, Kent, United Kingdom, along with several Troop 1 leaders and scouts, had quite a day on Monday, August 17!
After departing from First Presbyterian Church in Logan at 9 am, the bunch arrived at the Ogden BSA Service Center to participate in a Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (COPE) course, testing their teamwork skills in a variety of areas. Than…..it was lunch….followed by a hot and steamy trip to Antelope Island to experience getting their feet wet in brine shrimp heaven!
Having experienced the wind, sun, mosquitoes and salty water….it was now time to take everyone to a place few have experienced over in England……food paradise…...South Ogden’s favorite place to pig out……CHUCK-A-RAMA! Seventy five minutes later……with our vehicles now one hundred pounds heavier…..it was now time to proceed to Lindquist Field in Ogden, home of the minor league (Rookie) affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Ogden Raptors. Keep in mind…this was the first baseball game most of the British bunch had ever been to!
Tuesday evening…..the Ogden Raptors were hosting the Billings Mustangs, a minor league (Rookie) affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. At the end of the first inning…..it was 2-1…Raptors. At the end of the sixth inning….it was knotted up 4-4. Though most of the Brit’s found it difficult to understand some of the rules of the game…..they did understand the score was tied with three innings to go!
At the bottom of the ninth….with the score still tied 4-4….Designated Hitter Chris Henderson reached first base on a fielding error, than moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Raptor shortstop Jake Lemmerman.
With two outs and Henderson still on second, the Mustangs intentionally walked First Baseman Blake Dean….to setup a play at first, second or third to end the inning. But….that was not to be. Raptor outfielder Jonathan Garcia walked up to plate…..and served up a Drew Hayes fastball over the left-field fence to give the Raptors a 7-4 victory. By looking at the Brits as the three base runners passed home plate….you would think they were all lifetime Raptor fans!
One more highlight of the evening was the presence of Los Angeles Dodger Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda….who was on hand at Lindquist Field to announce to Raptor fans the LA Dodgers have extended their affiliation with the Ogden Raptors through 2014. And what made the night even more memorable for Ashford District Scout Fred Webb…..a signed baseball from Tommy Lasorda! When Fred gets back to Ashford, Kent, UK this Friday, August 20…..he will no doubt be showing off his new autographed baseball….as well as a photo a fellow Brit scout took of the two together in the stands! I take that back....this Friday.....Fred will be so jetlagged.....he will be sound asleep most of the day! Perhaps another day for showing off his nice baseball!