After a one-year hiatus, all eyes are back on the Patriot League.
Riding a wave of emotion and a strong senior class, Bishop Machebeuf stunned everyone in last year’s Class 3A baseball championship by defeating Patriot League champion Roosevelt 11-5 and took home the first title in the school’s history.
This year looks to be a return to the status quo.
Eaton, the state baseball champion from 2001-04, intends to return to dominance, but will have to contend with fellow Patriot League member Roosevelt, which went 10-0 in league play last year (23-2 overall).
The Roughriders of Roosevelt are returning three senior pitchers and five other starters from last season’s team.
“Of our eight returning starters, seven are seniors, so we will be a veteran team with plenty of talent,” said coach Alan Gibson, who has coached Roosevelt the past two seasons.
Not to be counted out in the race for the Patriot League crown are the Brush Beetdiggers, who are returning seven starters and have a strong bench.
While some consider it a foregone conclusion the 2006 champion will hail from the Patriot League, there are many who feel the Metropolitan League has a serious chance to defend its state championship.
Faith Christian, Denver Christian and reigning champion Bishop Machebeuf keep their opponents on their toes with their usual influx of talent and solid coaching.
Even Sheridan, the only public school in the Metropolitan League to hail from the Denver area, makes opponents wary because of pitcher Otto Bene- vides.
Elsewhere, Lamar looks to dominate this season in the Tri-Peaks League, while Bayfield appears to be an early contender for the Intermountain League crown.
In the Western Slope League, a tough race is forecast between Hotchkiss and Olathe.
3A
TOP 10
1. Roosevelt
2. Eaton
3. Faith Christian
4. Lamar
5. Brush
6. Bishop Machebeuf
7. Denver Christian
8. Hotchkiss
9. Olathe
10. La Junta
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Travis Bass, Brush, Sr., C
Peter Baumann, Kent Denver, Sr., 3B-C-P
Otto Benevides, Sheridan, Sr., P
Ty Cardona, Roosevelt, Sr., P-OF
Jared Carlson, Eaton, Sr., C
Shane Dyer, Eaton, Sr., P
Cam Gibson, Roosevelt, Sr., 1B
Matt Green, Middle Park, Sr., CF-P-SS
Josh Gutierrez, Brush, Sr., OF
Chris Harper, Ellicott, Sr., U
Hess, Roosevelt, Sr., C
Jerry Hildreth, Roosevelt, Jr., 2B
Sean Lydon, Roosevelt, Sr., P
Gerard Mohrmann, Manitou Spr., Sr., P-U
Sean Mulligan, St. Mary’s, Sr., Util.
Kyle Ottoson, Eaton, So., P
John Piche, University, Sr., SS-P
Brady Quarry, Manitou Spr., Jr., C-P
Cody Schlagel, Roosevelt, Sr., P-OF
Terry Steiner, Brush, Sr., SS-P
Jeremy Young, Florence, Sr., OF.
