Gunnison baseball’s future is bright

‘Tournament Team’ finish second in Monte Vista

Alex McCrindle Times Sports Editor

The 12U baseball Tournament Team’s season concluded in nail-biting style, finishing runner-up in the Monte Vista Invitational on July 22 and 23. Following a determined, 11-6 victory against Bomb Squad in the semi-finals, the Gunnison boys faced the Colorado Jackrabbits in the championship. The boys stayed within reach, but ultimately fell short, 12-5, to finish second.

Head Coach Jake Stone said the high-caliber contest capped off a highly successful summer season.

“This year we were able to find tournaments where we could be competitive, and really find out how we compare to some of these top-level teams,” Stone said. “It shows how special this group is. They’re really tough, competitive kids that turned out to be incredible baseball players.”

Against the Jackrabbits, the Tournament Team faced an immediate setback when Wyatt Stone fouled a ball off his shin. He was replaced at shortstop by 11-year-old Xavier Amrich, who held his own in the infield. Coach Stone said Joseph Stoeber’s pitching kept Gunnison in the contest, while the toughness shown from Rylan Holler, Tytus Williams and Cody Vick helped the team fight back.

Wyatt Stone re-entered the game in the fifth inning. Although he struggled to walk, he hit a “mammoth” three-run homer to shorten the lead.

Despite the team’s best efforts, the game ended 12-5 for the Jackrabbits. Gunnison headed home with a second place finish.

Coach Stone said he was impressed by his players' winning mindset.

“What I love about this group is that they’re not in for the ribbons, or just trying hard — they were upset,” he said. “We told them after the game, ‘Nobody at this complex gave us a chance against this team, and we had them on the ropes.’”

The tournament concludes the summer season for the 12U Tournament Team. Stone said the opportunity to compete at a high level is due to the guidance of the Gunnison Rec Center.

“For starters, Wendy Buckhanan at the Rec Center had the vision to blend the summer season, and add in a competitive element with the tournament team,” he said. “Now we can give every kid an opportunity to play.”

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@ gunnisontimes.com.)