BOULDER — The words love and baseball make it into so many of Ryan Madden’s sentences.
“I’ve loved the game of baseball for a long time, since I was 8, 9 or 10,” said the 18-year-old. “Maybe it’s because I love being out there. I love to hit, love to pitch and love to compete and win. I love it.”
Fairview High School coach Rick Harig said there is a simple explanation.
“He’s a baseball fanatic,” he said. “He has baseball on the brain.”
Madden, a pitcher/third baseman who gave up basketball in the eighth grade to concentrate on baseball, has huge opportunities at his doorstep. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has a chance to lead the Knights to the Class 5A state title this month. In June, he could be the state’s top choice in the annual major-league amateur draft. He also has signed to continue his career as an Oklahoma Sooner if he doesn’t turn pro.
Madden is widely considered the state’s top pitcher. He enters district playoffs this weekend 7-1 for the Knights (16-3), who clinched the Front Range League title Monday. In 50 innings, he has a 1.40 ERA, with 62 strikeouts. He’s thrown two shutouts.
Harig said his star has topped out at 93 mph and has an assortment of breaking pitches.
“You can count on him for throwing a good game all the time. He’s a come-after-you type of guy,” Harig said.
Madden is also an outstanding hitter. The Sooners like Madden, a switch-hitter, as a corner infielder. Heading into the district rounds, he led the Knights in home runs (six), extra-base hits (14) and runs batted in (24), and was second in batting average (.450), hits (27), slugging percentage (.917) and runs scored (27).
Madden said he would prefer not to give up playing in the field and batting.
“That would be tough,” he said. “I’m definitely really excited about (doing both) at OU. To do both is huge for me.”
Said Harig: “He has worked really hard and made himself a great player. He works at hitting every single day and throws a bullpen (stint) every third day. He does a lot of extra.”
However, if it comes down to pitching only, Madden is prepared.
“I think it’s probably where my career will lead to,” he said, acknowledging major-league scouts want him as a pitcher.
When he’s on the mound, Madden usually draws 10 to 12 scouts, as he did two weekends ago, when he threw a five-hitter and Fairview beat Monarch, 11-1 in six innings, and this past Saturday, in a 7-4 victory over defending Class 5A state champion Rocky Mountain to clinch a tie for the league title.
But when Madden is playing third base, it’s unusual for even one major-league representative to be found.
“That should tell you something,” Harig said.
Cherry Creek’s Marc Johnson coached Madden in a showcase in Jupiter, Fla., and said he has the raw talent scouts seek.
“He’s a guy who attacks the plate.” said Johnson, who is in his 43rd year as a head coach.”He has a real live arm.”
Added Walker Harris, the Knights’ catcher: “I’ve played with (Ryan) for five or six years coming up through youth ball and played against him. He has always been that guy who throws hard, who’s feared.
“All these kids know who he is. He’s in your head, and he has grown up a lot. I’ve watched him evolve, and it’s been crazy. He has really worked hard, and from his junior to senior year it has been the largest stride he has made.”
Fairview outfielder Tim Ryan said: “In my opinion, he’s the best pitcher in the state. I’ve always had confidence in him.”
Having dreamed of playing in the major leagues since he was a youth, Madden said he isn’t sure what he will do if he gets drafted, as expected. OU or start his pro career?
“I would definitely consider it an opportunity of a lifetime,” Madden said of turning pro. “Something to get excited about.”
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or
Knight time
Fairview senior Ryan Madden has been piling up impressive statistics. A look:
Average: .450
Home runs: Six
RBIs: 24
Extra-base hits: 14
Slugging percentage: .917
Pitching: 7-1
ERA: 1.40
Innings: 50
Strikeouts: 62
Arms race
Top five senior pitchers in Colorado:
Ryan Madden, Fairview
7-1 with a save, and Oklahoma said he could also play in the field
Logan Soole, Monarch
6-1 with 73 K’s in 45 innings; headed to Southern Illinois
Bryce Dietz, Rock Canyon
8-0 and a major reason the Jaguars won their first Continental League pennant; headed to Cal-Lutheran
Peyton Remy, Legend
Has a good arm, can reach as high as 90 mph; headed to New Mexico
Brent Schwarz, Regis Jesuit
He’s just 2-3 on an offensively challenged team but has 55 K’s in 42 innings, a 1.67 ERA and is going to Rice
Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
