After seeing his talented Miners split an intense pair with Ignacio last season, Trinidad Baseball head coach Greg Guzzo knew he’d seen a true southwestern Colorado sleeper capable of springing even bigger surprises.
“They play in that 1A league over there, (but) play up in 2A, and people don’t give them a lot of respect,” he said. “But that’s a nice ballclub – a lot of good athletes in there. The coaches are disciplined with their kids; they do a nice job.”
Still to play a 2A/1A San Juan Basin League schedule, but amped to also have a THS-like, 2A Southern Peaks-heavy itinerary in 2023, the Bobcats were most energetic over at long last practicing this past week on IHS Field, sufficiently cleared of snow and ice, in making final preparations for this week’s slated opening contests.
“We did the ‘gym’ thing for a couple days. And then we … got the last part of the infield done, so we could practice on the infield – finally – today,” second-year head coach Duke Baker said on Friday. “The (players) were excited; we took B.P. to end practice tonight, and they were pumped. First live B.P. we’ve taken, besides soft-toss in the gym.
“And we had a couple kids up in the bullpen; it was nice to get out there,” he said.
Weather and field conditions permitting, the ’Cats will begin a long-anticipated 2023 season Tuesday, versus SJBLers Nucla, ranked No. 8 in the preseason CHSAANow.com Class 1A poll after advancing to last year’s state semifinals.
Varsity play is set to begin at 1 p.m., though Baker said if for some reason IHS field is unusable, the action may be moved all the way up to far western Montrose County, with the Mustangs then hosting.
Ignacio is then slated to welcome SJBLers Dove Creek – eliminated by NHS in last season’s state quarterfinals – for a doubleheader Thursday, before an April 1 twofer at Del Norte. Fellow SPLers Monte Vista will then come to town for a doubleheader on the April 8, giving IHS four postseason caliber foes right off the, well, bat.
DNHS qualified for the Class 2A State Tournament’s opening Round-of-32 as the No. 28 seed, but promptly lost 15-0 to 5-seed Ault Highland. MVHS, meanwhile, earned the 26-seed and shocked No. 7 Swink in the first round before then losing 21-1 to 10-seed Buena Vista. Each crew also went 8-4 in SPL play, trailing only Trinidad.
“I love that they put all that on us right away; it builds character for our boys and we’re up to play,” said Baker, whose ’Cats (15-8 overall, 4-2 SJBL in 2022) earned the No. 9 seed and defeated No. 24 Evergreen Clear Creek before losing 6-1 to Region VIII-hosting, 8-seed Wiggins.
The Bobcats will be without reigning SJBL Player-of-the-Year and Honorable Mention All-2A pick Jacob Gallegos, a shortstop/pitcher and now a junior, who moved out of state. Baker, however, beamed about the prospects of a roster returning mostly intact from last spring’s resurgence.
Key infielders Eppie Quintana, Marcus Maez and Rylan Maez are all returning, along with catcher Phillip Quintana, while Devante Montoya, Dylan McCaw and Elliott Hendren can all return in the outfield. Junior Wade Dunbar-Burger battled injury last season, but could return as an infielder, while sophomore Eli Arthur emerged late in aiding Ignacio’s postseason push.
“Jake ended up moving to Texas, and he’s doing amazing down there, but we didn’t lose anyone else,” Baker said. “And they’re looking good, you know? Eppie’s raring to go like always, Phillip’s back behind the plate for sure and Elliott’s come a long ways (during) the last year.
“Nate Hendren’s actually come a long ways, too; he’s probably going to be my backup catcher, when I need Phillip to pitch,” he said. “And then I’ve got Ambrose Valdez, who just came off of basketball, and Sonny Flores – another freshman coming off basketball – and they look pretty solid.
“Devante’s still there as our leadoff,” he said. “Marcus is going to step up this year, I believe ... Our graduation is the same Saturday as regionals, and our goal is to host … so our four seniors can walk. And these boys have it in them; what we did last year … once they believed in themselves, they just soared.”
IHS’ pitching staff will again feature the Quintanas, though Baker hopes not as heavily as in 2022. And with Gallegos gone, meaning Eppie Quintana will likely play shortstop when not on the mound, the boss hopes to find a strong third arm – at the very least – to shoulder some of the load.
“Because our games are really, really clustered, I’ve got to rely on probably five pitchers this year,” Baker said. “Rylan, he’s throwing the ball hard. Devante’s going to throw a lot for me this year, and Stoney (White Thunder) is going to throw quite a bit also – in summer ball he did pretty good.”
