Sports

Call ‘em whatever you want, you definitely can’t beat ‘em. Bayles Exploration won their fifth straight Blue Mountain Invitational Softball championship on Saturday, July 26 during Monticello Pioneer Day celebrations. The team, in one form or another, has been a longtime staple in the annual tournament. Courtesy photo

Bayles Exploration wins fifth straight Blue Mountain Invitational Softball championship

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor Bayles Exploration of Herriman, UT clobbered Bountiful, UT’s Kings 12-1 to win their fifth straight Blue Mountain Invitational Fastpitch Softball Tournament championship on Saturday, July 26. Bayles Exploration has dominated the Pioneer Day softball scene in...

Utah Food Bank to Host Second Annual Golf Tournament in Monticello Aug. 8

Utah Food Bank is hosting their second annual Fore Corners Against Hunger golf tournament on Friday, August 8, at Hideout Golf Club in Monticello. This scramble-format tournament will directly benefit Utah Food Bank Southeastern Distribution Center’s work to fight hunger in the San Juan and Grand...

Trez Perkins and Ana Martinez are first-time Hideout Club Champions

by Jeff Simon Hideout Golf Club PGA Professional There’s a new club champion at the Hideout Golf Club. Monticello’s own Trez Perkins dethroned two-time defending champion Josh Keyes on Saturday, July 12 to win the 2025 Hideout Club Championship. Perkins shot a 3-over-par round of 75 to win the 18-...

Members of the championship team include: (top row, left to right) Lynden Lang, Austri Shumway, Abbi Crofts, Remy Bradford, U’niq Dandy, Lucy Harris. Bottom: Briggz Singer, Brock Harrison, Korbin Jones, Archer Johnson, Aiker Palmer, Tucker Nielson, Roman Shumway, and Braez Andersen. Courtesy photo

Jason Workman Memorial mini madness Softball Tournament champions 2025

Energy Fuels won the younger division of the annual Jason Workman Memorial Mini Madness Tournament during the Blanding Fourth of July Celebrations on Thursday, July 3. Balla$ won the older division in the annual Jason Workman Memorial Mini Madness Tournament during Blanding Independence Day...

Members of the team include: (left to right) Josh Yardley, Jade Yardley, Ta’ssi Su’esu’e, Swayzi Jack, Ramsey Holliday, and Nate Einerson. Courtesy photo

4th of July Volleyball Tournament

Team Grillin’ defeated Team Whitney Ivins to win the 6-on-6 volleyball tournament during the Blanding Fourth of July Celebration on Saturday, July 5, dethroning the defending champions of the 2024 tournament. Team Grillin’ dominated the event, going 8-0 on the weekend.

Exciting competition in horseshoe tourney

Horseshoe tournament brings exciting competition during Fourth of July Celebration Jerome Stash and Tyler Stash defeated Amos Holliday and Jamal Holliday to take the doubles championship in the 2025 Horseshoes competition during the Blanding Fourth of July Celebrations on Friday, July 4. Leroy...

Team Corn Dawgs (Kevin and Josh Kennedy) were the last ones standing in the annual Fourth of July Cornhole Tournament in Blanding this past weekend. The Kennedys were visiting from Porter, TX for the Arthur family reunion. Courtesy photo

Pickleball, cornhole tourneys bring fun and competition to Blanding

Independence Day celebrations in Blanding were packed with exciting action as the community hosted two thrilling tournaments on Saturday, July 5. The city’s first-ever pickleball tournament and a competitive cornhole showdown both served as fundraisers for the San Juan High School track and field...

Team Ferda outlasted the competition and defeated Lyle Northern Electric twice to win the 2025 Midnight Madness softball championship during Blanding Independence Day celebrations. Members of the team include: (top row, left to right) Whitney Shumway, Charley Landis, Mesa Jones, Anissa Geiser, Brook Hirshie. Bottom: Jace Johnson, Kash Shumway, Kyle “Bubba” Marian, Zeb Hirshie, Relan Jones, Tanner “Fire” Johnson. Courtesy photo

Team Ferda takes Midnight Madness title

The annual Shane Warenski Memorial Midnight Madness Softball Tournament has been a staple of the Blanding Fourth of July Celebration for many years and it serves as an excellent fundraiser for the San Juan High School baseball team. Twenty teams vied for the 2025 championship this past Thursday and...

Richard Backstrom and Maddy Francis won the men’s and women’s divisions of the 2025 Blanding Fourth of July Firecracker 5K race at Centennial Park on Friday, July 4. Backstrom traveled all the way from Sweden to compete. Francis hails from Moab. Courtesy photo

Visitor travels long distance to win July 4th 5K

Richard Backstrom, visiting all the way from Molnlycke, Sweden, paced the field to win the 2025 Blanding Fourth of July Firecracker 5K on Friday, July 4. Backstrom completed the course in 16:39, which was nearly two minutes faster than the winning time in last year’s race. He won the men’s 40-49...

Honorable Mention All State Softball player - Morgann McPherson

Morgann Mcpherson San Juan Junior ~ center field 2A honorable mention .393 Avg / .514 OBP / 16 SB 6 2B / 5 3B / 6 HR / 45 RBI / 35 RS Head Coach Mike Bowers: “Morgann is a three-year starter in our program. She has caught, played second base, shortstop, and outfield. Morgann is one of the most...