Former Colorado Mesa University ball player and Grand Junction Rockies crowd favorite Jeff Popick skirts the Idaho Falls’ catcher Jin-Ho Shin to score on a double by Ryan Garvey in the bottom of the second inning of Saturday’s game at Suplizio Field.

After making it to third base with a triple, Cesar Galvez with the Grand Junction Rockies takes advantage of a wild pitch by Idaho Falls’ Clayton Schultz to head down the third base line and score the first run ever for the Grand Junction Rockies.

Grand Junction Rockies mascot Corky the Coyote does a cartwheel in the outfield after arriving by helicopter before Saturday’s game at Suplizio Field.

Grand Junction Rockies hitting coach Drew Saylor adds his signature to 8-year-old Keeley Clark’s notebook, which is already filled with players’ autographs, before Saturday night’s game at Suplizio Field.

Fans packed the stands at Suplizio Field for the home opener game between the Grand Junction Rockies and the Idaho Falls Chukars Saturday

Ian Hegstrom, 13, stretches to return the ball during his boys 14-and-under semi-final singles match against Bryce Atchinson at the Elliott Tennis Center during the Community Hospital Junior tennis tournament Saturday.

Nine-year-old Morgan “Monkey the Main Maker” Zimmerman, left, eyes the competition as she holds onto her lead ahead of Skyler “Drama Mama” Shave, 11, in the girls 11-12 cruisers qualifying race at Grand Valley BMX’s Olympic Day races Saturday.

A cowboy works his horse at the Mesa County Fairgrounds as the sun sets in the west.

Grand Junction’s David Dahl watches as his hit flies foul during Thursday’s game at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls.
Photographer: Monte LaOrange/mlaorange@postregister.com

Grand Junction’s Cesar Galvez fields the ball and makes the throw to third to get the out on Idaho Falls’ Travis Lane during Thursday’s game at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls.
Photographer: Monte LaOrange/mlaorange@postregister.com,

Past BMX world champion Jason Carnes, right,  puts riders through a sprint warm-up at the Grand Valley BMX in GJ.

A little Grand Junction Rockies fan is excited after getting a foul ball during an exhibition game earlier this month. Grand Junction’s new professional team opens its home season Saturday night.

Eight-grader Denton Norell, who has qualified for the National Junior High School Rodeo in Gallop, N.M., has a go at a calf at the Rim Rock Rodeo.

Jason Blasdel rides a bull to score of 82, good enough for second, in the first round of the Rim Rock Rodeo in Fruita. The rodeo will continue through the summer every Tuesday night.

With a check for almost $3 million dollars at his feet, Dave Hartung, left, of Fruita discusses issues concerning the Riverfront Trail with Greg Linza, Mesa County park manager, after an announcement Wednesday at the Blue Heron boat launch that Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) will give $2,926,000 for construction to extend the trail.

Grand Junction Rockies’ first baseman Ben Waldrip (40) hits against the Ogden Raptors at Lindquist Field in Ogden on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. NICHOLAS DRANEY/Standard-Examiner

Grand Junction Rockies’ second baseman Juan Ciriaco (2) tags out Ogden Raptors short stop Darnell Sweeney (8) at Lindquist Field in Ogden on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. NICHOLAS DRANEY/Standard-Examiner

Ogden Raptors’ Tae-Hyeok Nam slides ahead of the tag by Grand Junction Rockies’ Cesar Galvez Monday in the season opening game. Ogden won, 13-7. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)

Ogden’s Devin Shines slides ahead of the tag by Grand Junction’s Juan Ciriaco in the Rockies’ 13-7 loss. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)

Finals of Big Sky Open archery were held at the Doubletree Hotel. Braden Gellenthien, center on the shooting line, is a world-renowned archer.

Kathryn McConnell with the Grand Junction Mavs wins her heat in the Girls 13 and Over 200 meter backstroke at the El Pomar Natatorium Sunday with a time of 2:52:55.

Finals of Big Sky Open archery at the Doubletree Hotel.

Two canoers do some fishing on Enochs Lake on Pinon Mesa south west of Grand Junction.The temps are about 10 degrees cooler then in the Grand Valley.

Small creeks can provide great sport for larger trout, such as this brown trout caught earlier this month from a small tributary of the White River.

Fishing small streams can be done in shorts and wading boots, casting carefully into every spot likely to hold fish.