Pueblo's 'Nuch baseball tournament holds special memories for Chieftain sports writer
Oh, the memories.
It's been high-level high school summer baseball spanning five decades.
The talent and excitement it has generated have lingered.
And the memories are engrained in the minds of those who have been touched by and participated in the special event.
For the 42nd time, the annual Tony Andenucio Memorial Baseball Tournament will go off this week at the Runyon Sports Complex in Pueblo. The four-day Father's Day weekend affair welcomes 12 teams who will play 37 games in a unique format that tests pitching staffs and provides the winner with a sense of accomplishment.
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As a sports writer at the Pueblo Chieftain, I've been fortunate to cover the 'Nuch since 1990 when I arrived in Pueblo. The tournament has impacted countless people over the years and holds a special place in my heart.
My family, a baseball crew from Aurora, has a past with the 'Nuch. My father and brother participated in one of the 'Nuch tournaments in 1982 with the Aurora O'Shames. And my son, Logen, was an all-tournament player in 2013 with Team Loaf 'N Jug.
While those memories are special, the tournament itself has forged its memories for thousands of coaches, players, and fans who have had the opportunity to participate.
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As I embark on covering my final 'Nuch (I'm retiring this fall), I've reached into my memory bank to recall some of the top moments in 'Nuch history.
Here's a look at some of my best memories over the three-plus decades of the tournament:
To date, nine players who played in the 'Nuch have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. They include names like Luke Hochevar (2001), Darnell McDonald (1994-96), and Mickey Tettleton (1978).
"Nuch at Night" in 2001 was a special tournament where only the strong (and dry) survived. Heavy rains forced the tournament into a 24-hour cycle where games were played through the night and into the wee hours of the morning.
A couple of years ago, Pueblo's local team reached the championship game, a rarity in tournament history. Despite falling short in the title game, that run spearheaded by head coach Mario Mattivi was special.
Getting to see Cherry Creek legendary coach Marc Johnson year after year in Pueblo has been inspirational. Johnson, whose teams have played in every 'Nuch tournament and won it a record nine times, continues to coach at the "Creek" and is back this year for another run.
And lest we forget the Ward gang from Oklahoma, who has participated in every 'Nuch tournament. The team from Woodward and now Elk City has included a family that is in its third generation of coming to the 'Nuch.
As the tournament embarks on its 42nd year, more memories will be forged for those involved and I'll be there for the final time (at least as a sports writer).
Thanks for the memories.
Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Andenucio baseball tourney holds special memories for Jeff Letofsky
