Bws 8 29 2014 editorial layout and design

Page 1

“In towns where there is a strong sense of community, there is no more important institution than the local paper.” — Warren Buffett

Follow us on twitter @BerthoudSurvey

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor is on Facebook

Thursday, August 28, 2014 © Berthoud, Colorado

“Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot ... where good things grow” BerthoudSurveyor.com

Spartans come out swinging

Volume 11, Number 35

75¢

Mollie’s Longs Peak summit attempt proves challenging By May Soricelli The Surveyor On Aug. 2, 9-year-old Mollie Davidson faced a 14,000-foot mountain, set on summiting to raise money for charity. Her ambition was to join Second Mile Water’s “Colorado 54” effort to climb one of Colorado’s 14ers to raise funds to provide clean drinking water for families in Nicaragua. “We’re never going to change the world by standing still,” Mollie said prior to the hike. She, unfortunately, did not reach the summit of this immensely challenging mountain peak, due to altitude illness and ice at the summit; however, through her effort and commitment she did raise enough money to change the lives of about 30 Nicaraguan families who will now have sustainable clean water.

The Team “Changed people changing the world means that God created us to do something, and I’m going to do something; I’m climbing Longs Peak for clean water,” said Mollie in July. Her team “Changed People Changing the World,” included her father, Colter Davidson, and another 9-year-old, Kaleb Johnson, and his father, Jeremiah Johnson, as well as three others who accompanied them on their hike. This was also Kaleb’s first time hiking a 14er. The children and their fathers teamed up and took the hike as a challenge to gain new experiences, learn new life skills, and support a good cause. “Growing up in Colorado, I have always had a special place in my heart for the mountains. Now, having just moved back to Colorado while having two young boys, I’m thankful for the opportunity Second Mile Water and Colorado54 gave us to take our first adventure,” said Jeremiah. “As a parent it’s important for me to put my boys in situations that help them grow in character and faith. Colorado54 put us in a place that gave us some great father-son time, and we rallied around a great cause. We had the privilege to be on Mollie Davidson’s team to help get clean water for families in Nicaragua.”

Ascent Day One Due to snow on the peak the previous day, Colter had concerns about the weather the day of the hike. After staying several days Photos by John Gardner

Berthoud’s Sydney Kouns, left, and Taylor Armitage celebrate after the 13-3 victory over the Thompson Valley Eagles at Bein Field in Berthoud, Friday, Aug. 22. BELOW: Hannah Langer gets a fist bump from assistant coach Anthony Heronema after making it safely to third base in the home opener against the Thompson Valley Eagles on Aug. 22.

Lady Spartans rout Thompson Valley in softball home opener

T

By Dan Karpiel The Surveyor

he cool, dreary, overcast weather at Bein Field on Friday night gave the game the feel of October rather than August softball. And the Lady Spartans looked to be in October form as they routed the visiting Thompson Valley Lady Eagles 13-3. “I don’t think the girls realize how good they are,” said Head Coach Ashtin Williamson after the game. “They’re scary good; this is a championship-quality team.” Berthoud coupled a small-ball approach from the top of their order — leadoff hitter Hannah Langer reached base in all four of her plate appearances and two-hole hitter Sydney Kouns put down successful sacrifice bunts in the first, second and fourth innings — and then allowed their power hitters in the heart of the order, Taylor Armitage and Jessi Boruff, to clean up the base pads. Langer said that she likes the small-ball approach with the top of the order. “With the players we have, they’re quick, they’re fast, they’ll lay the bunts down,” Langer said. The sophomore catcher added that she embraces her role as the leadoff hitter. “I just do what my coaches say and then I know the people behind me will do their job and push me around [the base pads],” she said. “I just try to get on base, move a runner if there is one on base, just make a movement somehow.” Armitage and Boruff, hitting third and fourth in the order respectively, combined for eight of Berthoud’s nine RBIs on the night. Boruff, playing in her customary centerfield position, was named player of the game with a three-for-three, five RBI night from the plate. Berthoud did have some early hiccups in the field where a pair of errors in the field in the first two innings allowed the visiting Lady Eagles to cross home plate twice. Despite the miscues, Berthoud stayed in control of the game, tightened up their defense and held a 5-2 lead by the end of the second frame. Three singles from Delaney Fouts, Langer and Armitage sandwiched a Kouns’ sacrifice bunt before a Boruff double and a pair of passed balls by Thompson Valley allowed three Lady Spartans to come home and give Berthoud the three-run advantage from which they would not look back.

New look Spartans set sights on playoffs By Dan Karpiel The Surveyor

George Bernard Shaw once said, “Progress is impossible without change.” And change is the operative word around the Berthoud High School football team these days. After previous Head Coach Dan McGinn — the head coach responsible for delivering Berthoud’s lone state title — resigned last spring, administrators turned to long-time defensive coordinator Troy Diffendaffer to take the reins of a program that had fallen on hard times. Diffendaffer, who in his words, “bleeds maroon and white,” made his first order of business to follow Shaw’s sage advice — make changes in the hopes of making progress. The coaching staff was expanded, new offensive Armitage, in addition to going four-for-four with a two-run and defensive schemes have been installed and the team homer in the fourth that put Berthoud ahead 7-3 and chased significantly altered the way it conducts its practices and Thompson Valley starting pitcher Karli Kramer from the game, the offseason program. The Spartans even changed their threw a gem from inside the circle, surrendering just two hits uniforms to help usher in the new era. and one earned run on the way to her first win of the young 2014 Whether the changes will result in a sizable season. improvement in the Spartans’ win-loss record will be Trailing 9-3 in the top of the fifth, Thompson Valley did their determined in the months ahead, yet the positive energy best to make things interesting. With two outs in the frame, the around the team is palpable. Lady Eagles worked three-straight walks to load the bases. A quick “I still think there’s a very positive, very exciting buzz pitcher-catcher conference between Armitage and Langer settled around the school, around the program ... having a positive the situation and got Mariah Diediker to pop up to Fouts at second buzz around the town is a fun thing,” said Diffendaffer in base. an interview after the conclusion of Tuesday afternoon’s “I learned last year about communication,” explained Langer practice. on her role as a catcher working with the pitchers and setting the Several players echoed their coach’s sentiments. Lady Spartan’s defense. “When I’m out there catching I’m in charge “I would have to say it’s the intensity,” said junior wide and I need to tell everyone what’s going on because I can see the receiver and cornerback Jackson Hall. “Everybody’s got a whole field.” lot of emotion in it and football is a game of emotion.” Perhaps spurned on by getting out of the bases-loaded jam with As the team practiced Tuesday afternoon — with the no damage, Berthoud added four runs in the bottom of the fifth to varsity defense working against a scout team offense — the get the mercy-rule win in five innings. Back-to-back doubles from uptick in intensity that Hall explained was on clear display. Armitage and Boruff, a couple Eagles’ errors and stolen bases by Diffendaffer had to twice warn players to not tackle to the Kouns and Langer were enough to push the lead to 10 runs and ground (the team was not in full pads) and remind them clinch the win for the Lady Spartans. to break contact at the whistle. After seemingly every rep, “It feels great,” said Langer following the game. “We have this players and coaches were shouting, either lauding good win under us and we know we can get any team out there so we plays to working to correct errors, or most of the time, both; just need to go do it!” “It’s game week, let’s get focused!” an unseen player called SOFTBALL cont. on page 6 out to his teammates. FOOTBALL cont. on page 7

Look who’s in the news! Deanne Mulvihill Den Zink Eden Welker Cody Braesch

MOLLIE’S ASCENT cont. on page 8

Then and Now

Sports

Community

Chamber of Commerce building readies for new life

Spartans prepare for football opener against Valley

Berthoud BUMS party with a purpose

Micol Woodiel Mollie Davidson Kathy Burcham BUMS

Weather ..................................... 2 Opinion ...................................... 4 Then & Now ............................... 5 Sprots.....................................6&7 Classified ................................... 9 Legal notices .............................. 9 Chamber of Commerce ............ 10 Crossword ................................ 11

Page 5

Page 7

Page 11


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.