FORT COLLINS, Colo.—It’s hard to imagine that Ryan Beck has been overlooked during his prep career at Fort Collins High School.
The Fort Collins senior stands 6-foot-5 and owns a combined 12-3 record over the past two years with 103 strikeouts and 33 walks.
But with two-time defending Class 5A state champion Rocky Mountain located in the same town and featuring three future Division I players along with a pitcher that’s won the past two state-championship games, Beck doesn’t always receive the credit he deserves.
Beck, though, doesn’t seem to harbor any resentment.
“Well, they deserve it,” Beck said of the attention Rocky Mountain’s baseball program has commanded. “They’re a great team. I just try and do my best and let my defense do the work because I’m not the only guy out.”
True. There are eight others out there with Beck when he pitches, but Fort Collins coach Brad Deal said his left-handed ace is in a league of his own.
“In my 37 years in this program, he’ll be the best pitcher to ever come through here, easily,” Deal said. “He can beat anybody on any given day because he’s got that kind of stuff.
“I mean, he’s got great stuff, but it’s the way he competes that makes him really tough.”
No team probably knows Beck’s toughness better than Rocky Mountain. Beck is the only pitcher in the state to beat the Lobos in each of the past two seasons.
“He’s good. That’s the bottom line,” Rocky Mountain coach Scott Bullock said. “He’s so tall that he forces you to adjust to that because there are just not very many pitchers in high school who are that tall. He also can locate all three of his pitches and does a great job mixing them up. He’s definitely one of the top guys in the state.”
When Beck is on, his fastball, changeup and curveball all are working, making him darn near unhittable.
“The thing about him is he throws three pitches for strikes,” Deal said. “He locates his fastball in and out, he’s got a curve and he’s got a great changeup. When you do that at any level, that’s tough.”
This year, Beck has even more faith in his repertoire.
“I’m real confident this year in my curveball,” he said. “I can place it anywhere now. Last year, it was more of just throw it and see where it goes. My fastball and changeup are still working, and my fastball’s gaining some velocity.”
Beck, who throws in the mid-to-high 80s, also is an accomplished hitter. He batted .422 with 28 hits and 14 RBIs as a junior, and he was .397 with 29 hits and 12 RBIs as a sophomore. Beck will get the opportunity to pitch, hit and play first base under Rocky Ward at New Mexico State next year.
Also on New Mexico State’s coaching staff is Ward’s dad Gary Ward, who led Oklahoma State to 10 College World Series appearances and 16 consecutive conference titles during his 19-year tenure in Stillwater.
“I’m really excited about playing there,” Beck said. “I’ll be playing for a hall-of-famer, and the weather’s good. It was 84 (on a recent Friday).”
Beck still has plenty of things left to accomplish in high school level.
Fort Collins returns seven starters from last year’s team that went 11-9. Beck not only believes the Lambkins should improve on that mark, he thinks they should advance to the 5A state tournament for the third time in four years after losing in district play last season.
“I think we could make it as far as the state championship with all the depth that we have,” Beck said. “We also can hit a lot better than we did last year. We’re going to be good.”
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