Classic Baseball Ballparks, BYU Games Highlight KSL Sports’ Favorite Memories

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Right now, we don’t have live sports because nearly every league has suspended their season and major events have been canceled in the interest of preventing the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19.

To keep spirits up and remind us how great sports can make fans feel, the KSL Sports team is sharing their favorite memories of sporting.

Hema Heimuli – Sportsbeat Producer, Host of Sportsbeat Afterhours

My favorite sports memory is my son Hendrix’s first BYU game.

It was October 14, 2016 BYU’s 2OT win over Mississippi State at LES. It was Kalani’s first year, my dad (Lakei Heimuli) and uncle (Vai Sikahema) ran out the flags and by the grace of God, my dad didn’t tear anything running out to the 50.

It’s special because it was kind of our family’s olive branch with BYU – the Cougs won, and my son hit on some BYU cheerleaders.

Zak Hicken – Sportsbeat Producer, Host of Sportsbeat Afterhours

Maybe this is recency bias, but this last college basketball season as a whole was so much fun to cover. I’ve been covering college hoops for five seasons now and this season had so many special moments from Utah State’s run in the conference tournament, the Aggies’ improbable win over LSU, BYU’s dominating performance against Gonzaga and the court getting rushed, TJ Haws’ game-winners, the stone-cold baby-faced killer Rylan Jones playing like a seasoned vet down the stretch in key games for the Runnin’ Utes, Utah upsetting Kentucky down in Las Vegas, Jerrick Harding becoming the all-time leading scorer in Weber State history, and of course, BIG THUNDER!

The group of seniors that are moving on were both incredible on and off the court and represented their universities so well on the biggest stage. I’m talking about guys like Sam Merrill, Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws, Jake Toolson, Zac Seljaas, Diogo Brito, Dalton Nixon. Those were the guys I had a chance to cover the most, and I’m so grateful I was there for the highs and lows of so many of their careers. Sam Merrill created so much buzz and excitement during that MWC tourney run, it was so cool to see one of the greatest Aggies in school history put his team on his back and win back-to-back titles.

I look at BYU’s senior group and all the adversity they’ve faced this season. Childs’ nine-game suspension, missing time with a finger injury, but when he was on the court he was special and was clearly (in my opinion) the best player in the WCC. TJ Haws hitting two game-winners was incredible, especially when you consider the fact that he hit the game-winner against Saint Mary’s then introduced a baby boy into the world hours later, like what?! Jake Toolson coming back to BYU for his senior year and being an automatic bucket from 25 feet out was so cool. I remember his freshman year and he came such a long way. I look at guys like Zac Seljaas, Dalton Nixon, and Justin Bean who were the ultimate glue guys, transforming their game to help the team succeed.

Last week, I didn’t think it would be the last I’d see these players don their respective uniforms. I was looking forward to deep tournament runs from the Cougars and Aggies, but instead, I’m asking, what if?

While the season is over much earlier than we ever expected, it’s a season I’ll never forget.

Alex Kirry – Host of KSL Unrivaled

I played a lot of sports growing up but I never really got to play baseball because of other conflicting sports during the same season.

A couple of years ago, my son’s baseball team needed a coach and while I didn’t play much baseball competitively growing up, I signed up to coach and loved every second of it.  It was my first time coaching my own kid’s team and the boys got better and better all season long and I hadn’t been able to feel such accomplishment in sports since I had stopped playing team sports after High School.

Coaching is a totally different kind of satisfying.  Bonus: as a coach, I got to pick the team and made the kids suffer through being Seattle Mariners.

Ben Anderson- KSL Sports Jazz Insider

Ben Anderson’s favorite sports memory was a Yankees v. Orioles game at Camden Yards in the mid-’90s.

It was iconic with a young Derek Jeter against Cal Ripken Jr.

Yankees v Orioles at Camden Yards, mid 90’s.

Young Jeter v Cal Ripken Jr. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/pLFQspFbhm pic.twitter.com/lJOHtf2kmP

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 13, 2020

Madisan Hinkhouse – sports.ksl.com Executive Producer

My favorite memory of sports, and what made me want a job in sports, was the fanhood I shared with my dad over the Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Rockies.

Each year, there was one day when the Rockies would play an afternoon game at Coors Field and the Avalanche would play an evening game at the Pepsi Center. We would go to both. As a kid, it was the most exhausting, yet fun day I had ever had.

Sunset at Coors Feild. Rocky mountains in the background. pic.twitter.com/t5BxXtTq5e

— Corey Miecielica (@EnemyofGLaDOS) August 28, 2019

Jeremy Mauss – Producer of KSL Unrivaled 

Mine has to be the 2008 Utah football team that saw the Utes get off to a huge 21-0 lead over Alabama in the first quarter and then end up beating them 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl and the No. 2 spot in the AP poll.

The best part outside of the win was shutting up Barry Switzer who gave the Utes no shot in the pregame broadcast.

#TBT to pure perfection and a Sugar Bowl championship for @Utah_Football. #100Pac12 pic.twitter.com/ryPY5vWjq1

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) December 24, 2015

Matt Glade – Sportsbeat Executive Producer, Host of The Scotsman 

My first professional sporting event was a Trappers game when I was 5 or 6. I had a hot dog. It was a great night.

For those who don’t know what the Trappers are – they were a minor league baseball team.

My first professional sporting event was a Trappers game when I was 5 or 6.
I had a hot dog.
It was a great night. https://t.co/pPeNWkLayk

— Matthew L Glade (@matthewLksl) March 13, 2020