Niwot Youth Sports home run derby

The Home Run Derby kicked off the Opening Weekend of Niwot Youth Sports baseball May 5. With the first clicks of the bats and the smell of fresh cut grass, the boys of summer have arrived.

“We had a blast at the MLB Junior Home Run Derby last weekend,” organizer Bobby Turner said. “Niwot Youth Sports had good representation with the Cougars 13U team. Several boys had multiple home runs with the win going to Josh Lurie, a student at Altona Middle School.”

“Josh has been a standout on the NYS Cougars, managed by Niwot High School alum and coach Jason Lathrop,” Turner said. “Josh will no doubt be an asset to the Silver Creek baseball team in future years.”

Notable local players with home runs in the Derby included Ian Turner, a current Sunset Middle School student starting Legion Ball with Niwot this summer, according to Turner. Others included Ben Classen of Sunset Middle School, Atmik Vattakandy of Altona Middle School, and what Turner described as “surprise long ball hitter” Zach Schmeeckle of Altona Middle School.

Turner gave special thanks to Jim Ehrets for preparing all the fields for Opening Weekend, and to Coach Lathrop for the use of his throwing arm for the Home Run Derby.