Cowboy baseball dreams big

Senior leadership aims to establish a winning team culture

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Intern

During the 2022 season GHS baseball team finished seventh in their division, and this year a solid senior class aims to turn the program around. Leadership roles now rest on current seniors Justus Williams, Rocky Marchitelli, Duke Sloan, Ty Taramarcaz, and Wade Johnson following the graduation of four key players. Head Coach Tom Percival continues to set high standards for his upperclassmen.

“We have five seniors coming back, and the majority of them have a lot of varsity experience,” Percival said. “We’re looking for them to step up and be leaders, they have big shoes to fill.”

The 2023 season is set to have a fast and furious beginning, with an immediate first game scheduled for March 10 in Monte Vista, followed by a tournament in Delta on March 18 and 19. Despite a dense and quickly approaching schedule, the team must wait for its facilities to defrost and dry out. In the meantime, Percival continues to train his team using the resources that are available. While the field melts, he’s putting the boys through parking-lot ground ball and pop-fly practice.

“Spring in Western Colorado has us battling snow, rain and bad weather,” Percival said. “We’re very flexible with what we do in preparation. Sometimes we play home games in Montrose or Delta, and we’ve had the team out shoveling snow in years prior.”

The Gunnison High School baseball facilities have been plowed by Paul Morgan, the

Gunnison Watershed School District's transportation director — leaving the majority of the field dry, but with ice-hockey style berms along the sides. The team aims to play its first home games in Gunnison after spring break if the weather cooperates.

Percival said his overall hope for the Cowboys is play-off qualification this season with the ultimate goal of a state championship in the near future.

“Of course we have goals to get into the playoffs and hopefully win a state title, but all we can do now is take things day by day,” Percival said. “We play in a really tough league and consistency is the goal.”

The Cowboys baseball team is set to face off at Monte Vista in a non-league matchup on March 10 to kickstart the season, followed by a game in Buena Vista on March 21.

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)

DateTeamOpponentLocation

Friday, March 10VarsityMonte VistaGunnison High School

Friday, March 17VarsityKent DenverNorth Fork High School

VarsityPagosa SpringsCedaredge High School

Saturday, March 18VarsityBayfieldMontrose High School

Tuesday, March 21VarsityBuena VistaBuena Vista High School

JVBuena Vista Buena Vista High School

Thursday, March 23Varsity DoubleheaderCoal RidgeGunnison High School

Tuesday, March 28VarsitySalidaGunnison High School

JVSalidaGunnison High School

Saturday, April 1Varsity DoubleheaderCentauri High SchoolGunnison High School

Tuesday, April 4VarsityAlamosaAlamosa High School

JVAlamosa Alamosa High School

Thursday, April 6JV DoubleheaderDeltaDelta High School

Thursday, April 13JV DoubleheaderBuena VistaBuena Vista High School

Saturday, April 15VarsityOlatheGunnison High School

JVOlathe Gunnison High School

Tuesday, April 18Varsity DoubleheaderDeltaDelta High School

Saturday, April 22VarsityBasaltBasalt High School

Monday, April 24JV DoubleheaderDeltaGunnison High School

Tuesday, April 25Varsity DoubleheaderNorth Fork High School Gunnison High School

Thursday, April 27JV DoubleheaderDeltaTBD

Saturday, April 29VarsityAspenGunnison High School

JVAspenGunnison High School

Tuesday, May 2VarsityRoaring ForkRoaring Fork High School

JVRoaring Fork Roaring Fork High School

Thursday, May 4JV DoubleheaderBuena Vista Gunnison High School

Tuesday, May 9VarsityCedaredgeCedaredge High School

JVCedaredge Cedaredge High School

Friday, May 12Varsity DoubleheaderDelta High SchoolTBD