By LAURA ROBISON
The Progress
The annual Robison/Sandoval Memorial alumni baseball game was played on Friday night, Feb. 24. This pre-season tradition brings the Moapa Valley High School (MVHS) varsity baseball facing off against a motley crew of alumni players on the MVHS baseball field.
This year’s friendly expo fundraiser saw about 200 people in attendance.
The event is coordinated each year by Shannon Phillipenas, who was friends with two former teammates, BJ Robison and Shawn Sandoval, who both passed away not long after graduating. Robison died in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2005, while Sandoval had a sudden heart attack in 2007.
Phillipenas began an alumni game in 2004, with the school administration and Pirate coaches giving it their blessing. But after the tragic deaths of Robison and Sandoval, he asked the two families if the expo game could become a fundraiser in honor of his fallen school mates. In 2008, the rivalry game was formed.
The annual event raises funds for a scholarship of $1,000 given out each year to a senior on the MVHS baseball team.
Ben and Kay Robison, parents of BJ, said they love this idea of friends and family honoring these two boys. “All three of these boys have been best friends since elementary school,” Ben Robison said.
Lori and Carl Sandoval, parents of Shawn were very appreciative of the outpouring of love and sportmanship at the game.
“This game is a little bittersweet for me,” Lori said. “But I love the event and look forward each year to see family and friends come out and support the cause.”
Lots of raffle prizes were donated for the event including a camp stove, griddle, quilts, wreaths, rugs, dolls, bread and so much more. Chad Bierstedt donated all the shirts for the alumni team and their families.
Phillipenas coached the alumni team. “We don’t really keep score, as this is a friendly rivalry game,” he said.
“We used to win in the beginning,” he added laughing. “But as we are all older now, we just don’t move as fast as we used to.”
In a twist of fate, local mom Hannah Hadley had two sons playing in the game: one on each team. Gavin graduated in 2021. He is a shortstop and a pitcher. Garrett who is an MVHS sophomore, is a 3rd baseman and a pitcher. Both boys argued that they were the better pitcher.
“If I was batting and my brother was pitching to me, I would hit a homerun off of him,” Garrett said.
The unofficial score (which wasn’t kept) was 15-6 in favor of the MVHS team. No trophies are awarded, but the winners get bragging rights.
Both families of BJ and Shawn expressed thanks to everyone involved for living the game and honoring their children. At the end of the evening, everyone was all smiles as it was a great night for some baseball.
