SPRING 2009 PEAK PERFORMERS: Baseball

BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Classical Academy senior Austin Kaiser hit .562, drove in 46 runs and anchored the middle of one of the best batting orders in the state for Rampart, garnering him 5A Metro Conference Player of the Year honors.

Other honors include being chosen to play in the Colorado Rockies Top 50 Senior All-Star Game. The game begins after the Seattle at Rockies interleague game scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Sunday.

He helped the Rams reach the state final four and is The Gazette's Baseball Player of the Year.

How does it feel to garner the player of the year award?

It truly is an honor because there are so many kids that work hard and do well.

How does making the Top 50 game rank?

It's a pretty big honor to be picked as one of the top 50 seniors in the state. A lot of hard work paid off for this and college (Mesa State) too.

How did you end up playing baseball at Rampart?

When I started at TCA four years ago they didn't have a team. Since there were only a few kids like me that year they let us pick where we wanted to play, and I've been playing with some of these guys since I was 10.

What was it like playing on this team this season?

It was amazing, knowing that everybody on this team had the same mind set and seeing the results of a team effort was great.

What was your favorite moment of the season?

I think beating Doherty at home to clinch the league championship. It was special for us to beat our rival.

What are you most proud of as far as your personal stats this season?

Honestly, I'm just happy with my consistency at the plate. I just knew I was going to hit the ball when I went up there.

What are your college plans?

I'm going to Mesa State to play baseball and study kinesiology. I want to be a physical therapist or a trainer, and I also want to minor in business.

How long have you been playing?

My dad was throwing whiffle balls to me when I was like 2 or 3.

What is your favorite baseball team/player?

I've always been a Mariners fan, so I like Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro (Suzuki). They have proved what hard work can do, and that you don't need steroids to be successful.

What celebrity would you most like to meet?

I think Ichiro and Albert Pujols. I would have trouble communicating with Ichiro, but I would like to know what he does to prepare so well. I like Pujols because he is a man of faith like I am.

Which player did you emulate in the backyard when you were little?

Griffey, only as a righty.

How important were Miguel Ortega and the guys in front of you in the batting order to your success?

They were the reason that I was so successful, and I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for them.

How was it to play at state?

I was relaxed and felt normal, we just tried not to get too high or too low. Things didn't go the way we wanted, but it was a great experience.

What is something that most people don't know about you?

I like to watch chick flicks, and sometimes I sing and dance when nobody is around.

So will you be trying out for "American Idol" next season?

Absolutely not.

How important was coach Adam Strah to this team's success?

He and the other coaches were such a big part of our success. Their steady demeanor and the fact that they wanted to make us better men and not just better players meant a lot.

How close was this team?

I think that many of us will keep in contact because we are very close and have played together since Little League.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Cheyenne Mountain faced a scenario at the 4A state baseball tournament in which it had to win three games in a row in two days to win a state championship.

Under the guidance of third-year coach Bernie Moncallo, the Indians' playoff run ended with a 24-3 record and the school's first state baseball title since 1962.

It was the first large (5A-4A)school title for the area since Air Academy in 1989.

For leading that historic run, Moncallo is The Gazette's Baseball Coach of the Year.

"It's an honor to win this award, because I've never won it in my entire coaching career," Moncallo said. "I'm so proud of this team. They are the best I've ever coached in 33 years."

The Indians rallied from a 7-2 sixth-inning deficit to win the title 9-8 over Mountain View.

"We got some lucky breaks and bounces in those last three games, but it was such an amazing run," he said. "We created a little bit of our luck by working so hard and never giving up."

Moncallo gives most of the credit to the players.

"This senior class had great leadership, and they made the younger players feel like they were really part of the team," Moncallo said. "We got complete team efforts in all the games, and Austin (Darby) really carried us with his arm in the semifinal game against Wheat Ridge."

Darby led the Indians in most statistical categories.

But the comeback win against Mountain View required a series of fortunate plays before freshman Scott Bowen's fly ball landed safely on the grass in left field and the celebration began.

"It was like that scene in ‘The Longest Yard' when everything was in slow motion," Moncallo said.

"It was one of the weirdest, but most satisfying moments in my coaching career."

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Contact the writer at 636-0250.



FIRST TEAM

P: Austin Darby

So., Cheyenne Mountain

Led the Indians to the 4A state title as the ace of the staff (7-0 and 2.32 ERA). Also batted team-high .430.

P: Robert Forrest

Jr., Rampart

Went 9-1 with a 2.66 ERA while leading the Rams to the state semifinals, and batted .425.

P: Alex Reiter

Sr., Manitou Springs

Went 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Hit .480 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs to lead the Mustangs to the 3A final four.

C: Zach Looney

Jr., Rampart

Consistent behind the plate while helping Forrest and senior Zane Watkins. Batted .447 with 10 extra-base hits.

1B: Beau Kelly

Sr., Doherty

Was the Spartans' best hitter at .453 and anchored the middle of Doherty's potent batting order.

2B: Colin Bates

Sr., Cheyenne Mountain

Batted .375 and drove in 20 runs; played strong defensively.

SS: Caleb Wade

Sr., Lewis-Palmer

Batted .516 and led the team in home runs (five), RBIs (24) and stolen bases (13).

3B: Tony Schicktanz

Jr., Rampart

Had the second highest batting average on the team (.482) and played very strong defense for the Rams.

OF: Austin Kaiser

Sr., The Classical Academy

Hit .562 while leading 5A Rampart with 46 RBIs. Finished with high on-base percentage (.634) and slugging (.937).

OF: Miguel Ortega

Sr., Rampart

Batted .500 and drove in 32 runs. Set the table batting in front of Kaiser and had a solid glove in the outfield.

OF: Evan Kenebrew

Sr., Widefield

The 4A Metro Player of the Year hit seven homers and collected 21 RBIs during playoffs. Hit .441 with nine homers and 31 RBIs on the season.

DH: Sean Jergensen

Sr., Cheyenne Mountain

Batted .342 and stole 18 bases while patrolling the outfield for the Indians.

SECOND TEAM

P: Zane Watkins, Sr., Rampart

P: Trent VanHorn, Sr., Cheyenne Mountain

P: Dakota Barr, Sr., Doherty

C: Mitch Magrini, Sr., Cheyenne Mountain

1B: Jordan Loudenback, Sr., Pine Creek

2B: Alex Koehler, Jr., Rampart

SS: Matt Knotek, Jr., Coronado

3B: Mike Bartlett, Sr., Air Academy

OF: Jesse Porras, Sr., Doherty

OF: Zach Johnston, Sr., Manitou Springs

OF: John Pustay, Jr., Pine Creek

DH: Derek Skrdlant, Jr., Pine Creek


HONORABLE MENTION

Sam Applin, junior, Mitchell; Todd Brazell, junior, Peyton; Erik Engberg, senior, Manitou Springs; Jeff Karlik, senior, Rampart; David Melander, junior, Rampart; Josh Montano, senior, Air Academy; John Tosches, junior, Air Academy; Dan Talley, senior. Liberty; Justin Monger, senior, Doherty; Tyler Patterson, senior, Peyton; Gabe Salas, senior, Mitchell; Lonnie Schoon, junior, Widefield; Nick Schoon, senior, Cheyenne Mountain; Sam Schultz, sophomore, Manitou Springs; Mike Smargie, senior, Falcon; Jeremiah Struble, senior, Manitou Springs; Nick Whitbeck, junior, Rampart; Corey Keaton, senior, Sand Creek; Jermey Monty, senior, Sand Creek; Matt Martinez, sophomore, Fountain-Fort Carson; Chris Howard, senior, Fountain-Fort Carson; Josh George, senior, Palmer; Steven Stone, junior, Widefield; Zack Snider, senior, Woodland Park; Jerid Higgins, junior, Woodland Park; Jared Giambalvo, senior, Woodland Park; Zach Pedrick, senior, Lewis-Palmer; Jared Trester, senior, Wasson; Charlie Palmer, senior, Wasson; Derik Swindale, senior, Sierra;

Sean Bogardus, senior, Mesa Ridge; Everett Goldberg, senior, Mesa Ridge; Shea Bogardus, senior, Mesa Ridge; Josh Woolsey, junior, Calhan; Jake Sparks, sophomore, Calhan; Ethan Kingery, senior, Calhan; Clint Hammond, junior; Calhan; Jordan McClelland, junior, Calhan; David Diaso, senior, Evangelical Christian Academy; Markus Reuter, junior, Evangelical Christian Academy; Michael Reuter, sophomore, ECA Caleb Kipp, senior, ECA; Cody Miller, senior, Kiowa; Ryan Bowman, senior, Cripple Creek-Victor; Kenny Bigelow, senior, Cripple Creek-Victor; Josh Doak, junior, Miami-Yoder; Michael Howarth, senior, Pikes Peak Christian; Brent Harder, junior, St. Mary's; Jimmy Park, senior, St. Mary's; Malacai Colebank, freshman, St. Mary's; Rocco Bachara, senior, Colorado Springs Christian School; Nate Engesser, freshman, CSCS; Joe Cash, senior, Florence; Heath Benker, junior, Florence; Cody Whiting, senior, Ellicott.