Snow Canyon Little League’s historic trip to the Little League World Series was a stormy affair.
The team from Santa Clara became the first team from Utah to qualify for the beloved youth baseball championship that is celebrating its 75th anniversary. But as soon as it arrived in Williamsport, Pa., things began blowing sideways for the representatives of the new Mountain West Region.
A trip that started with a player being airlifted to the hospital after hitting his head during a fall off the top of a bunk bed a week earlier ended Sunday afternoon with a drawn-out loss to Iowa in the consolation bracket. Snow Canyon was defeated 10-2 in a game interrupted once by lightning and again by rain — the second being a break of three hours with just one inning left to play.
It was the second loss for Snow Canyon in the double elimination tournament. The Utah team also lost its opener, 11-2, against a team from Nolensville, Tenn., on Friday.
Easton “Tank” Oliverson, 12, missed both games while recovering in the hospital after fracturing his skull during his fall. The fall resulted in an epidural hematoma — a life-threatening condition characterized by a collection of blood between the skull and the membrane that covers a person’s brain. After doctors ruled it was unsafe for him to return to the field for the Little League World Series, his 10-year-old brother, Brogan, was selected to take Easton’s spot on the team.
Santa Clara, Utah, players stand in the dugout during the bottom of the sixth inning of a baseball game against Nolensville, Tenn., at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. Tennessee won 11-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Oliverson did recover enough to be able to watch Friday’s game on TV. A photo posted on an Instagram account set up to provide updates on him showed the player dressed in his orange Mountain Region T-shirt.
“Rightfully so,” the post, published Saturday, said, “this was a very emotional afternoon for him.”
It was unclear whether he watched Sunday’s loss as well.
Oliverson reportedly suffered some setbacks over the weekend.
Most concerning is another blow to the head that he is believed to have suffered Saturday night when he fell while getting up to use the bathroom. He was scheduled to have another CT scan Sunday to ensure the hit didn’t prompt more swelling, according to the Instagram post. In addition, he will be placed back on a feeding tube after he hardly ate on Saturday and was acting lethargic most of Sunday.
Compounding that, according to the Instagram post, Oliverson’s face began to swell in recent days, obscuring his vision.
“The swelling in his face has gone up, and the doctors have told his parents that it will get worse,” one post read. “This has limited Easton’s ability to see, creating a unique challenge for him.
“While we have seen a countless amount of miracles in Easton’s journey (and still are), he is still going to have hard moments like today.”
His family, friends and community have tried to help a little sunshine break through the rain. Oliverson reportedly visited with Brogan, a cousin and some friends Saturday. He also got video messages from Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash as well as Mike Trout and several other members of the MLB’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
“Heard about the fall,” Trout said. “Just want to let you know we’re all thinking about you.”
Saturday produced another rainbow as well. According to the Instagram account, Oliverson’s parents had made travel arrangements with Children’s Primary Hospital to return the slugger to Salt Lake City on Tuesday.
That’s just about when his teammates will get back as well.
After giving up Iowa’s final run in the rain-delayed sixth inning, Cody Ruffell did all he could to help Snow Canyon battle back. Pitching his third innings of relief for Reggie Ence, he struck out the final two batters — one swinging, one looking — then took a ball to the kidneys to get on base in his at-bat. But Utah’s bats ultimately couldn’t find contact with Iowa’s pitches, thwarting any kind of rally.
One game after going hitless, Ruffell finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Colton Gainey went 2-for-2 and scored a run and Kolby Lamoreaux hit 2-for-3 with an RBI. Chaz Hickman notched the other RBI after taking a walk.
In the field, Dash Avery, Falynn Randal and Gainey all turned in double plays.
(Gene J. Puskar | AP) Santa Clara, Utah's Reggie Ence delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against Davenport, Iowa, at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
Iowa will next play Tuesday against either the West team from Honolulu or the Southwest team from Pearland, Texas. Those teams meet Monday at 5 p.m. MDT.
Other teams eliminated as of Sunday included Italy, Australia and Puerto Rico on the international side of the bracket and Middleboro, Mass., and Bonney Lake, Wash., on the United States side.
