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Category: History

  • Notebook: Camp honoring former Ponderosa kicker is Saturday

    (Courtesy of the Ekhoff family)
    Last year’s event featured 13 volunteer coaches who had either college or NFL experience. (Courtesy of the Ekhoff family)

    It’s an event to honor his memory, but the Nate Ekhoff Kicking Camp also aims to help local kickers, punters and long snappers.

    The camp honors former Ponderosa kicker Nate Ekhoff, who was diagnosed with leukemia just after his senior season in 2011. He died from complications of the disease less than a year after that.

    Last summer, Nate’s family started the Nate Ekhoff Kicking Camp. It featured 13 current and former college/NFL kickers, punters and long snappers as volunteer coaches. Thirty Colorado high school players took part. Ultimately, the camp provided $4,000 in college scholarships to four Colorado athletes who went on to play at the Division II level.

    (Courtesy of the Ekhoff family)
    (Courtesy of the Ekhoff family)

    “Our family is very excited to help them out a little,” Marshall Ekhoff, Nate’s dad, wrote in an email.

    This year’s event is Saturday at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration is $125 and includes lunch and a t-shirt.

    Coaches include former Northglenn and Colorado State punter/kicker Jimmie Kaylor; former Mullen and CSU long-snapper John Treacy; former Arvada West and CSU punter/kicker (and current A-West baseball coach) Matt McDougal; former Oregon State and NFL punter/kicker Sam Paulescu; former Arapahoe and CSU kicker Jason Smith; and former Nebraska punter/kicker Dan Wingard.

    To register, or for more information, email nateekhoffkickingcamp@gmail.com or marshall.ekhoff@countryfinancial.com. Walk up registrations will also be accepted on Saturday.

    The camp is organized by National Camp Series.

    In addition, there will be a concurrent tailgate party from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot at Sports Authority Stadium. Admission is free. The tailgate will feature games, music, grilled food and there will also be a silent auction and drawings.

    Donations will be accepted, as well, on behalf of the Nate Ekhoff Kicking Scholarship Fund.

    [divider]

    Local short stuff

    • John Hickey will be the new football coach at Flager. He has more than 25 years of coaching experience, most of it in DPS. He was Denver South’s interim coach in 2006, and has also headed Stratton. His stops as an assistant include Denver North, Denver East, Denver South and Alameda. His son, Johnny Hickey — who played at Broomfield — will serve as defensive coordinator.
    • North Park hired Chad Carlstrom as its football coach.
    • Cherry Creek hockey announced it has hired Brent Tollar as an assistant coach. Tollar was Steamboat Springs’ head coach last season as the Sailors went 10-7-1.
    • Denver East graduate Chyna Ries will head to the University of Texas instead of USC. “Initially I verbally committed to USC but was unable to get in,” Ries told co.milesplit.com. “Texas was one of my favorites as well but I had some additional work I needed to do to get in there. This was a long process and I want to reinforce to others to take your academics serious day one.” Ries won the long jump, was second in the 200 meters and third in the 100 at the Class 5A state track and field meet this past spring.
    • Fossil Ridge boys lacrosse’s Jake Frane committed to Notre Dame. He will be a sophomore this coming season.
    • Fairview girls basketball’s Annika Lai committed to Montana State. She’ll be a senior.
    • Big news in the administrative realm: Russ McKinstry, the very successful boys basketball coach, has taken over as the athletic director at Monarch. Said McKinstry, to BoCoPreps.com: “There are high standards and expectations, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    • The Colorado Athletic Directors Association has a new twitter account: @CoAD_Assn.
    • Doherty boys basketball coach James Lane resigned in late June. He was there for three seasons, and went 16-8 last spring as the Spartans made 5A’s second round.
    • Former Air Academy baseball coach Bernie Moncallo is moving to Vista Ridge.
    • Silver Creek alum Valarie Allman was named the Pac-12’s track and field freshman of the year after her initial year at Stanford.
    • Dakota Ridge teammates Gillian Vance and Sydney Merchant, Regis Jesuit’s Jaclyn Murray, Jefferson Academy’s Jennifer Kupcho and Silver Creek’s Erin Sargent (who plays for Skyline) all qualified for the U.S. Girls Junior Golf Championship, set to be held July 21-26 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Denver East’s Sarah Hunt is an alternate.
    • Kyle Freeland, the Thomas Jefferson product who went No. 8 overall to the Rockies in this summer’s MLB Draft, made his pro debut on Wednesday night. He pitched just two innings, but didn’t allow a run and struck out two against three hits. He also topped out at 96 mph. “When I got done with that second (inning), I just felt like I was getting in my groove,” Freeland told the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, “but they said, ‘We’re done after two. You threw 17 pitches, your two innings are up, we’ll just prepare for the next start.’”
    • In mid-June, Mead’s baseball and softball fields were vandalized by “unidentified youths” who sliced up the Mavs’ windscreen with a knife. The damage was estimated to be roughly $5,000.
    • Genoa-Hugo and Karval will co-op once again in 2014-15 in volleyball, football, boys and girls basketball, as well as baseball.
    • The Broadmoor hotel is buying the Norris-Penrose Event Center, which is home to the state cross country meet for the next two years.

    [divider]

    National short stuff

    • One school district in South Carolina has voted to prohibit parents from coaching their own kids at the varsity and junior varsity levels. According to The Post and Courier, a newspaper which covers the district, that extends to volunteer coaches, as well. There is a waiver, however, which would allow a parent to coach their kid if they are “determined to be vital to the existence of the program.”
    • Ohio is revamping its classification system. Some are hailing the change as a solution to competitive balance, though it only affects football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball. Essentially, enrollment numbers are being adjusted based upon if a student’s parents reside in the attendance zone or not, and if the student has been in the same district since seventh grade. Here are more details from theSuburbanite.com.
    • There’s an interesting transfer case brewing in Pennsylvania. It revolves around a Philadelphia-area football player.

  • Former Rocky Mountain standout Marco Gonzales makes MLB debut vs. Rockies

    Marco Gonzales, a 2010 graduate of Rocky Mountain, made his Major League debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday — against the hometown Colorado Rockies, no less.

    He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks, and struck out three in five innings of work at Coors Field. True to his history as a talented two-way player, Gonzales also doubled to left-center field in his first major league at-bat and later scored.

    Coors Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Coors Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

    Gonzales ultimately got a no-decision, but the Cardinals came back to beat the Rockies with a late rally, 9-6.

    Gonzales was the winning pitcher in each of Rocky Mountain’s baseball championships from 2007-10, and remains the only high school player in Colorado history to do so.

    He went on to star for Gonzaga as a left-handed pitcher and outfield/infielder. As a junior, he won the John Olerud Award award — given annually to the best two-way player in college baseball.

    Gonzales was then selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2013 draft at No. 19 overall.

    He made meteoric rise through the Cardinals’ farm system. After playing at the organization’s Rookie and High-A affiliates last season, he began 2014 at High-A, and then made seven starts for Double-A Springfield. Then, the 22-year-old Gonzales was called up on Wednesday.

    Wednesday, he cruised through the first three innings — in fact, he didn’t allow a hit — but then surrendered all five earned runs in the fourth.

    “It was a blast,” Gonzales told the Fort Collins Coloradoan afterward. “I had people flying in from everywhere and I’m very grateful for it. I’ve seen my fair share of games and I’ve played here a few times, so coming here and having family here was a blast.”

    Gonzales is the first Colorado product to make their Major League debut this season, and the most recent since Grandview grad Kevin Gausman debuted for Baltimore in May 2013.

    “(Gonzales) was really good, all things considered,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com after the game. “First opportunity here in the situation we put him in, it was an incredible test. Hopefully he answered a lot of questions for himself about himself.”

    Gonzales’ father, Frank, played baseball at La Junta, and later coached at Fort Collins. He’s now the pitching coach for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Rockies’ short-season Class A affiliate in Washington.

  • 18 more locals picked on final day of MLB Draft, bringing total to 23

    Chaparral Rocky Mountain baseball
    Chaparral’s Keenan Eaton was among locals selected in the 2014 MLB Draft. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    A slew of local products, including a host of 2014 graduates, were selected on the third and final day of the MLB Draft on Saturday.

    Eighteen former Colorado high school baseball players were taken, bringing the total number of local products who were drafted this year to 23. Of those 23, 12 just completed their senior season this spring.

    True to Colorado’s history, 14 of the draftees are pitchers.

    Saturday was a good day for 2014 graduates. Ten of them went:

    • Ralston Valley’s Jordan Holloway
    • Grand Junction’s Owen Taylor
    • Rocky Mountain’s Carl Stajduhar
    • Regis Jesuit’s David Peterson
    • Pueblo South’s Cory Voss
    • Mountain Vista’s Nick Leonard
    • ThunderRidge’s Brody Westmoreland
    • Fairview’s Ryan Kokora
    • Legacy’s Lucas Gilbreath
    • Chaparral’s Keenan Eaton

    In addition, eight more alumni were selected out of college on Saturday. Those are:

    • Thomas Jefferson alum Brennan Henry
    • Arvada West grad Gavin Glanz
    • Rock Canyon grad Tanner Krietemeier
    • Montrose alum Nate Robertson
    • Rocky Mountain alum Jess Amedee
    • Resurrection Christian grad Jordan Piche
    • Fairview alum Tucker Tharp
    • Ponderosa grad Keegan Ghidotti

    Kyle Freeland, a 2011 graduate of Thomas Jefferson, was picked by the Rockies with the No. 8 overall selection on Thursday. Friday, four local kids were picked, led by 2014 Evergreen grad Brock Burke.

    Saturday, Henry was the first local off the board. He went in the 17th round to the Kansas City Royals at No. 513 overall.

    A 6-foot-4, 205-pound left-handed pitcher, Henry was picked out of Bellevue (Neb.) University, where he just finished his junior season. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 2010, then went on to play two seasons at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling.

    Henry just finished his junior season at Bellevue, an NAIA school, where he was 9-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 77 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 101 against 51 walks.

    Ralston Valley Standley Lake baseball
    Ralston Valley’s Jordan Holloway was a 17th-round pick in the MLB Draft on Saturday. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    Holloway was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round, becoming just the third local 2014 graduate taken in this draft. He went with the No. 587 overall pick.

    At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Holloway is a sizeable right-handed pitcher. He was 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 43 innings during his season year at Ralston Valley, and struck out 50 batters, while walking 26.

    But Holloway also played third base for the Mustangs, and made plenty of noise with his bat. He hit .419 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. Included was a three-homer, nine-RBI game against Standley Lake on April 19.

    Holloway is a Nebraska-Omaha recruit.

    Glanz, a 2010 graduate of Arvada West, was the third Colorado product taken by the Rockies this year when he went to the local club in the 23rd round with the No. 683 overall pick.

    A 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, Glanz played two seasons at Seward (Kan.) Community College before heading to Oral Roberts. As a junior this year, Glanz was 3-5 with a 3.27 ERA and 50 strikeouts to 30 walks.

    Glanz’s father, Scott, was also drafted, going to the Angels in the 13th round in 1982.

    Later in the 23rd round, the Atlanta Braves took 2010 Rock Canyon graduate Tanner Krietemeier, a first baseman.

    Krietemeier spent his freshman season at Nebraska, then moved to Iowa Western CC as a sophomore. He transferred to Oklahoma State as a junior, and just completed his senior season there.

    This season, Krietemeier hit .275 with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs.

    As the draft hit the 27th and 28th rounds, six further Colorado products went in quick succession. The group was selected over a span of 50 picks.

    Taylor, a 2014 Grand Junction grad, went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 27th round, No. 804 overall. He’s a 6-foot-2, 200-pound first baseman, and is a Kansas recruit. Taylor hit .266 with 15 RBIs this season.

    Robertson graduated from Montrose in 2011, and also played basketball for the Indians. He was a 27th round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and went No. 810 overall.

    A 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior shortstop, Robertson hit .356 with six home runs and 48 RBIs this season as the Mavericks made the Division II final. He also stole 25 bases on 28 attempts.

    Amedee is a 2011 alum of Rocky Mountain, and was part of multiple championships with the Lobos. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 27th round, as well, at No. 821 overall.

    After graduating, Amedee went to Northern Colorado, Central Arizona Community College and spent last season, his junior year, at Texas-Arlington. A right-handed pitcher who stands 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he was 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA in 48 1/3 innings as a junior.

    Rocky Mountain Regis Jesuit baseball
    Rocky Mountain’s Carl Stajduhar went in the 27th round. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Stajduhar went two picks after Amedee at No. 823 overall, becoming a 27th-round pick of the Braves. A 2014 graduate, he led Rocky Mountain to the Class 5A championship this spring, capping a brilliant career.

    As a senior, Stajduhar hit .489 and led the state with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs. He is a New Mexico recruit.

    Piche went to the Los Angeles Angeles in the 28th round, No. 854 overall. He’s a 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who graduated from Resurrection Christian in 2010 and is now at Kansas.

    Prior to becoming a Jayhawk, Piche spent two seasons at Indian Hills CC in Iowa — which is where Fountain-Fort Carson graduate Nick Green was drafted out of in the seventh round Friday.

    As a senior this past season, Piche went 6-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 82 1/3 innings. He had 69 strikeouts to 29 walks.

    Next off the board was Regis Jesuit pitcher David Peterson, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound lefty who fractured his right fibula prior to the season. Peterson, a 2014 grad, went in the 28th round to the Boston Red Sox, No. 854 overall.

    Peterson battled back from the injury to return to the Raiders in mid-April and finished with a 1.15 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. He held opponents to a .180 batting average. Despite the shortened season, he was 3-0 and had 40 strikeouts to 12 walks.

    Peterson is an Oregon recruit.

    “I want to thank the Red Sox for drafting me,” Peterson tweeted Saturday. “It is such an honor to be picked by one of the best organizations there is.”

    Tharp, meanwhile, went to the New York Mets in the 30th round, No. 895 overall. He was also a football star for Fairview before graduating in 2010.

    A 5-foot-10, 195-pound outfielder, Tharp hit .310 with six home runs and 39 RBIs as a senior at Kansas this season. He also stole 11 of the 15 bases he attempted to.

    Voss became the fourth local picked by the Rockies this draft when they took him in the 34th round, No. 1013 overall. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher, he hit. 469 with four home runs and 22 RBIs this past season.

    Like Stajduhar, Voss is a New Mexico recruit.

    “Thanks to the Rockies for drafting me!” Voss tweeted on Saturday. “Huge honor to be selected by such a great organization! Thanks to everyone for the support!”

    Leonard, Mountain Vista’s right-handed pitcher, was next, going to the Braves later in the 34th round, at No. 1033 overall.

    Leonard graduated this spring, is a Washington State recruit and was flat out dominant this season. Listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he went 8-3 with a microscopic 0.88 ERA in 80 innings this season. He had 105 strikeouts to 16 walks.

    ThunderRidge Cherry Creek baseball
    ThunderRidge shortstop Brody Westmoreland was drafted by the Rockies in the 35th round. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    ThunderRidge’s Westmoreland, a 2014 grad, then went in the 35th round to the Rockies, becoming the fifth local selected by the team. A San Diego State recruit, he hit .420 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs this season, and also stole 12 bases.

    Westmoreland is listed as 6-foot-3, 185 pounds — and despite speculation to the contrary, he has not been approached about moving to a corner infield spot and will stay at shortstop at San Diego State, or as a professional should he sign. In fact, he’s been told by scouts that he’s a prototypical shortstop.

    “Thank you Rockies for drafting me today!” Westmoreland tweeted. “Want to thank everyone for all the support and looking forward to playing at San Diego State!”

    Fairview’s Kokora, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who graduated this spring, was the fourth Colorado product selected by the Braves on Saturday. He went in the 35th round, No. 1063 overall.

    A Hawaii Pacific recruit, Kokora went 9-0 with a 1.38 ERA this season. He held batters to a .166 average, and struck out 65 to 15 walks in helping the Knights to the 5A Final 8.

    Gilbreath, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed pitcher from Legacy, was the Rockies’ sixth and final local selection when he went in the 36th round, No. 1073 overall.

    Gilbreath graduated this spring and is a Minnesota recruit. He went 6-2 with a 1.45 ERA this season. Gilbreath had 111 strikeouts, which led 5A, to just 22 walks.

    Ghidotti just finished his senior season at Ouachita Baptist, a Division II school in Arkansas. He graduated from Ponderosa in 2010.

    A 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, Ghidotti was 0-1 with eight saves and a 2.06 ERA in 35 innings this past season.

    Chaparral’s Eaton, who graduated this spring, was the final local product selected in this year’s draft. He went in the 39th round, No. 1162 overall, to the Philadelphia Phillies.

    Eaton, who is a Wichita State recruit, was drafted as a 6-foot, 195-pound left fielder. He hit .328 with with a home run and 13 RBIs this season.

    The 2014 MLB Draft started with the first, second and compensation rounds on Thursday. Rounds 3-10 were Friday, with Nos. 11-40 Saturday.

    [divider]

    Colorado products taken in 2014 MLB Draft

    Alumni
    Rd. Ovr. Team Name Position High School College
    1 8 Colorado Rockies Kyle Freeland LHP Thomas Jefferson (2011) Evansville
    3 98 Los Angeles Dodgers John Richy RHP Golden (2011) UNLV
    7 216 Texas Rangers Nick Green RHP Fountain-Fort Carson (2013) Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
    17 513 Kansas City Royals Brennan Henry LHP Thomas Jefferson (2010) Bellevue (Neb.)
    23 683 Colorado Rockies Gavin Glanz RHP Arvada West (2010) Oral Roberts
    23 703 Atlanta Braves Tanner Krietemeier 1B Rock Canyon (2010) Oklahoma State
    27 810 Arizona Diamondbacks Nate Robertson SS Montrose (2011) Colorado Mesa
    27 821 Pittsburgh Pirates Jess Amedee RHP Rocky Mountain (2011) Texas-Arlington
    28 839 Los Angeles Angels Jordan Piche RHP Resurrection Christian (2010) Kansas
    30 859 New York Mets Tucker Tharp OF Fairview (2010) Kansas
    38 1141 Baltimore Orioles Keegan Ghidotti RHP Ponderosa (2010) Ouachita Baptist
    2014 graduates
    Round Overall Team Name Position High School Commit
    3 96 Tampa Bay Rays Brock Burke LHP Evergreen Oregon
    6 173 Colorado Rockies Max George SS Regis Jesuit Oregon State
    20 587 Miami Marlins Jordan Holloway RHP Ralston Valley Nebraska-Omaha
    27 804 Toronto Blue Jays Owen Taylor 1B Grand Junction Kansas
    27 823 Atlanta Braves Carl Stajduhar 1B Rocky Mountain New Mexico
    28 854 Boston Red Sox David Peterson LHP Regis Jesuit Oregon
    34 1013 Colorado Rockies Cory Voss C Pueblo South New Mexico
    34 1033 Atlanta Braves Nick Leonard RHP Mountain Vista Washington State
    35 1043 Colorado Rockies Brody Westmoreland SS ThunderRidge San Diego State
    35 1063 Atlanta Braves Ryan Kokora RHP Fairview Hawaii Pacific
    36 1073 Colorado Rockies Lucas Gilbreath LHP Legacy Minnesota
    39 1162 Philadelphia Phillies Keenan Eaton LF Chaparral Wichita State

  • TJ grad Freeland is Rockies’ first-round pick in MLB Draft

    Former Thomas Jefferson baseball player Kyle Freeland, now playing at the University of Evansville. (Courtesy UE Athletics)
    Former Thomas Jefferson pitcher Kyle Freeland, now playing at the University of Evansville. (Courtesy UE Athletics)

    How fitting. Kyle Freeland, a 2011 graduate of Thomas Jefferson, was selected by the hometown Colorado Rockies in the first round of the MLB Draft on Thursday.

    The Rockies took Freeland, now a junior at the University of Evansville in Indiana, with their No. 8 overall pick. He is the tenth Colorado product taken in the draft’s top-10 — and the third from Thomas Jefferson.

    “Beyond blessed to now be part of the Rockies organization!” Freeland wrote on Twitter on Thursday night. “Thank you for the opportunity! #hometownkid”

    Freeland, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound left-handed pitcher went 10-2 with a 1.90 ERA in 99.2 innings this season. He struck out 128 against just 13 walks, and didn’t allow a home run. According to an MLB.com scouting report, he has a fastball in the low-90s and a “plus” slider.

    Freeland was 8-2 with a 1.39 ERA as a senior at TJ. He was also a four-year letter-winner in golf. After he graduated, he was picked by the Phillies in the 35th round of that year’s draft. But Freeland didn’t sign out of high school, and instead decided to head to Evansville — where his stock has since skyrocketed.

    Thursday, he became the third Spartan to go in the draft’s top 10.

    TJ alum John Stearns, a catcher who graduated in 1969, was taken No. 2 overall by Philadelphia in the 1973 draft out of the University of Colorado, back when the Buffs had a baseball program. And former Spartans pitcher Tyler Green, a 1988 grad, was the No. 10 pick by Philadelphia in 1991 out of Wichita State.

    Colorado’s other top-10 MLB Draft picks are:

    • Rampart alum Jeff King, a third and first baseman (No. 1 overall in the 1986 draft out of Arkansas)
    • Former Fowler pitcher Luke Hochevar (No. 1 overall in the 2006 draft out of Tennessee)
    • Northglenn’s Kyle Sleeth, a pitcher (No. 3 overall out of Wake Forest in 2003)
    • Grandview alum Kevin Gausman, a pitcher (No. 4 overall out of LSU in 2012)
    • Cherry Creek alum John Burke, pitcher (No. 6 overall out of Florida in 1991)
    • Columbine alum Darrel Akerfelds, pitcher (No. 7 overall in 1983 out of what was then Mesa State)
    • Cherry Creek’s Matt Brunson, a middle infielder (No. 9 overall straight out of high school in 1993)

    Other high picks who went to high school in Colorado include:

    • Lamar’s Doug Brocail, a pitcher, at No. 12 overall in 1976 out of Lamar Community College.
    • Cherry Creek product Brad Lidge, a pitcher, went No. 17 overall in the 1998 draft out of Notre Dame.
    • Arvada West product Roy Halladay, a pitcher, was also the No. 17 overall pick. His selection came in 1995, straight out of A-West.
    • Former Bear Creek pitcher Dennis Rasmussen, also at No. 17 overall, in 1980 out of Creighton.
    • Rocky Mountain’s Marco Gonzales, a pitcher, went No. 19 overall in 2013 out of Gonzaga.

    The draft features the first, second and compensation rounds on Thursday. Rounds 3-10 are Friday, and rounds 11-40 are Saturday. A number of other local products figure to be selected.

    Watch Freeland’s selection below:

  • Colorado products continue to be selected on MLB Draft’s second day

    In a span of two picks, two more Colorado products were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft on Friday. As the day rolled on, the local draftees added up.

    Evergreen’s Brock Burke became the first local high school senior to be selected this year when he was taken by Tampa Bay Rays in the third round, No. 96 overall. Then, two picks later, 2011 Golden graduate John Richy went to the Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 98 overall out of UNLV.

    Regis Jesuit Mountain Vista baseball
    Regis Jesuit’s Max George was picked by the Rockies in the sixth round Friday. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Regis Jesuit shortstop Max George was the Rockies’ sixth-round pick, No. 173 overall.

    And in the seventh round, 2013 Fountain-Fort Carson graduate Nick Green was picked by the Texas Rangers out of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. He was the No. 216 overall pick.

    Through two days, Colorado now has five total selections in this draft. Thursday, 2011 Thomas Jefferson grad Kyle Freeland went to the Rockies in the first round at No. 8 overall.

    Burke, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound left-handed pitcher who graduated this spring, was 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA for the Class 4A Cougars. He struck out 79 in 40 innings pitched, against 29 walks.

    “It’s really awesome thinking I’m the top prospect in Colorado,” Burke told 9News on Friday. “For the Rays to think that highly of me is awesome.”

    Burke, an Oregon recruit, allowed just six earned runs and 11 hits in his eight outings — which included a no-hitter against Westminster on March 19 in which he struck out 15.

    Burke is only the second Evergreen alum to be taken in the draft, according to baseball-reference.com. Kevin Kouzmanoff went in the sixth round in 2003 out of UNLV, and has since played for the Padres, A’s, Rockies and Rangers.

    Richy just completed his junior season at UNLV. A 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, he was 11-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 121 innings over 16 starts. He struck out 113 against 24 walks.

    At Golden, Richy lettered in golf, as well. He is the sixth player from Golden to be drafted.

    George, the state’s Gatorade player of the year, is the 12th Regis Jesuit product to be drafted, and sixth since 2011.

    A 5-foot-9, 180-pound shortstop, George hit .458 with three home runs and 24 RBIs this season. He is an Oregon State recruit.

    Green, a right-handed pitcher, just completed his freshman season at Indian Hills CC, and was 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 36 1/3 innings. That includes a no-hitter against Marshalltown (Iowa) CC on May 4.

    Green is listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, and was taken by the Yankees in the 35th round of last season’s draft but opted not to sign. He is Fountain-Fort Carson’s second draftee after Chase Headley, now of the Padres. Headley was a second-round pick out of Tennessee in 2005.

    The draft’s first, second and compensation rounds were Thursday. Rounds 3-10 are Friday, with rounds 11-40 on Saturday.

    [divider]

    Colorado products taken in 2014 MLB Draft

    Alumni
    Round Overall Name Position High School College
    1 8 Kyle Freeland LHP Thomas Jefferson (2011) Evansville
    3 98 John Richy RHP Golden (2011) UNLV
    6 216 Nick Green RHP Fountain-Fort Carson (2013) Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
    2014 graduates
    Round Overall Name Position High School Commit
    3 96 Brock Burke LHP Evergreen Oregon
    6 173 Max George SS Regis Jesuit Oregon State

  • Jeffco inducts 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame class

    Jeffco School District inducted its Class of 2014 at its 29th annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday, June 4, at Mount Vernon Country Club. The three new inductees, pictured left to right, were Ed Stevens, Don Osse (widow Marie Osse pictured) and John Musciano. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Jeffco School District inducted its Class of 2014 at its 29th annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday, June 4, at Mount Vernon Country Club. The three new inductees, pictured left to right, were Ed Stevens, Don Osse (widow Marie Osse pictured) and John Musciano. (Dennis Pleuss)

    GOLDEN — The Jeffco School District held its 29th annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday.

    The Class of 2014 includes longtime principal John Musciano and coaching legends Ed Stevens and Don Osse. Jeffco has inducted 88 members into its Athletic Hall of Fame since the hall’s inception in 1986.

    John Musciano

    Musciano’s nearly 30-year career in Jeffco started at Bear Creek High School as a teacher along with coaching basketball and baseball. He later became the principal at Bear Creek before moving on to being the principal at Pomona High School and later Standley Lake High School.

    “We always talked about the importance of athletics,” Musciano said. “Extracurricular activities are the glue to complete the academic experience.”

    Ed Stevens

    Stevens was a graduate of Arvada High School in 1970. He began his teaching and coaching career at Alameda High School in the mid-1970. His major coaching success came in the 1990s at Wheat Ridge High School. Stevens coached the Farmers to state football titles in 1994 and 1996, along with guiding the baseball team to a state championship in 1992.

    “His influence over his players was remarkable to watch,” said Tom Dowd, former assistant football coach under Stevens. “What I learned from Ed was the love and loyalty his players had for him.”

    Don Osse

    Osse is credited for the tremendous growth in track and field in Jeffco during the 1970s and 1980s. He began the first organized Jeffco track club in 1972. He was a teacher, track coach and cross country coach at Lakewood High School for nearly 20 years. Osse passed away of brain cancer in 1985, but influenced many future Jeffco teachers and coaches.

    “He was more than a track coach,” said Bill Wright, current track coach at Lakewood High School who was a student and assistant coach under Osse. “He was a philosopher. A teacher.”

    [divider]

    Jeffco Athletic Hall of Fame Members

    1986 (Charter)
    Darrel Hafling
    Tom Hancock
    Vernon Heaston
    Bill Lewis
    Mel Schwartz

    1987
    Hugh Bradley
    Joyce Davisson
    Tom Nicholls
    Paul Phillips

    1988
    Harvey Moore
    Dean Pilcher
    Don Solem

    1989
    Irv Brown
    Paul Davis
    Stan Pivic

    1990
    Angelo Bruno
    Leslie Sabey
    Bill White

    1991
    Red Coats
    Bill Nicholas
    Don Pyle

    1992
    Alice Barron
    Ken Larson
    Bob Meisner

    1993
    Pat Druggan
    Max Osborn
    Mike Pappas

    1994
    Fred Bradley
    William Doig
    Lou Rillos

    1995
    Robert McKendry

    1996
    Bob Brown
    Lo Hunter
    Joe Romig

    1997
    Vince Greco

    1998
    George Colbert
    Don Cooper
    Frank Palmeri

    1999
    John Hoskins
    Brian McGregor
    Mike Winant

    2000
    Jayne Gibson-McHugh
    Al Morris
    Dennis Shepherd

    2001
    Sheila Hasenkamp
    Mary Kvamme
    Gary Goings

    2002
    Rob Binford
    Bob Ottewill

    2003
    Dennis Eckley
    John Groninger
    Don Shaw

    2004
    Tanya Haave
    Dennis Hastings

    2005
    Byron (By) Hanson
    Gary Klatt
    Colleen Stradley

    2006
    Tom Beeson
    Betty Krueger

    2007
    Freddie Joe Steinmark

    2008
    Laura Haase
    Ed Kintz
    Dr. H.H. Maruyama
    Bob Stokes

    2009
    Christine Bullard
    Carl Churches
    George Heath
    Dave Logan
    Sherm Pruitt

    2010
    Kevin Land
    Duane Lewis

    2011
    Sara Anundsen
    Amy McDonnell
    Rebekah McDowell
    Gary Osse

    2012
    Ray Baker
    Mark LaGrone
    John “Jack” Ponis
    Marilyn Wilcox

    2013
    Wendy Braye Davies
    Jerry Madden
    C. Thomas McCormick
    John McGuire
    Brian Schneider
    G. Stanley Ward

    2014
    John Musciano
    Don Osse
    Ed Stevens

  • Missy Franklin wins ESPY for Best Female Olympian

    Missy Franklin. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
    Missy Franklin. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Missy Franklin, the 2013 graduate of Regis Jesuit, won the ESPY Award for Best Female Olympian in mid-July.

    Franklin won four gold medals and a bronze at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London — her first. She beat out other nominees Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas, both gymnasts, for the award.

    During the winter CHSAA season, Franklin won the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle, and also helped Regis to relay wins in the 4×200 and 4×400.

    She holds individual Colorado state records in the 50 (22.41), 100 (48.45), 200 (1:43.15) and 500 (4:41.72) freestyle races; the 200 individual medley (1:56.85), the 100 backstroke (52.30); and was part of a record in the 4×400 (3:22.42).

    Franklin has signed with Cal and will enroll there this fall.

  • Chauncey Billups joins NFHS Hall of Fame

    Chauncey Billups, during his high school days with George Washington.
    Chauncey Billups, during his high school days with George Washington. View slideshow.

    Maybe Chauncey Billups didn’t see this coming. Others did.

    Billups, a 1995 graduate of George Washington, was one of four former athletes inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations’ Hall of Fame in June.

    “I never knew any of this was possible for me,” Billups said during a press conference the day prior to being inducted at the federation’s 94th annual summer meeting held in Denver.

    Billups, arguably the best boys basketball player in Colorado high school history, was part of a larger class of 13 members, which included administrators, officials, coaches and a performing arts inductee.

    “This is an unbelievable honor for me to be here,” Billups said. “I’m humbled. It’s kind of embarrassing, to be honest.”

    Billups entered the Colorado High School Activities’ Hall of Fame in 2012. In his time at GW, he won two Class 6A championships (1993, 1994), was a four-time player of the year selection by The Denver Post, a McDonald’s All-American (1995), and averaged 23.8 points per game.

    Asked to describe the impact high school sports had on his life, Billups mentioned “the life-long relationships that you build.”

    “You never know how long those relationships will ever last, and you find out once you get older that the relationships are for a lifetime,” Billups said. “No matter how my career or any of my other ex-teammates’ careers go, or went, or where their lives take them, we always have that time of our lives in common.

    “It was just so pure at that time. It was just a beautiful time, and I will always remember that.”

    After high school, Billups went on to star at the University of Colorado, where he led the Buffs to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 28 years. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and just completed his 16th season in the league, including five years over two stints with the Denver Nuggets. He’s a five-time all-star, and was named the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals when he helped the Detroit Pistons to a title.

    He’s active off-the-court, as well, and is heavily involved in Colorado’s youth basketball scene. That includes the Porter-Billups Leadership Adacemy at Denver’s Regis University which helps inner-city kids.

    Colorado now has 20 inductees in the NFHS Hall of Fame, tied for the third-most of any state. Those Colorado roots have been a source of pride throughout Billups’ career.

    “Not a lot of guys made it in basketball from this state,” Billups said. “So I carry that chip on my shoulder everywhere I go and everywhere I play, no matter what team or what the letters on the front of the jersey say, I always just carry that pride with me — knowing that I probably wasn’t supposed to be here.”

    [divider]

    NFHS Class of 2013

    (via NFHS.org)

    Athletes

    Joe Theismann, who was a three-sport star at South River (New Jersey) High School, led the football team to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group III championship in 1966 with a 9-0 record and 24 touchdown passes. He quarterbacked the University of Notre Dame to a No. 2 national ranking in 1971, and he won a Super Bowl and Most Valuable Player honors during his career with the Redskins.

    Chauncey Billups was a four-time all-state selection and three-time Mr. Basketball at Denver (Colorado) George Washington High School. He averaged 23.8 points per game for his career and helped his team to state championships as a sophomore and junior in 1993 and 1994. Billups is in his 16th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), highlighted by six years with Detroit when he helped the Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship.

    As a senior at Cleveland East Technical in 1941, Harrison Dillard won the city, district and state championships in the 120-yard high hurdles and 220-yard low hurdles. At the 1948 Olympics in London, Dillard won gold medals in the 100-meter dash and 4×100-meter relay. Four years later at the 1952 Games in Helsinki, he won gold in the 110-meter hurdles and 4×100-meter relay.

    While helping St. Louis (Missouri) St. Joseph’s Academy to amazing records of 137-7 in volleyball and 117-5 in basketball and eight Missouri State High School Activities Association state championships, Kristin Folkl Kaburakis won all-state honors each year in both sports and graduated third in her class with a 4.2 grade-point average. She continued her two-sport dominance at the collegiate level, helping Stanford to three NCAA Volleyball Championships and an overall 125-8 record and two NCAA Women’s Final Four appearances in basketball and an overall 85-11 mark.

    Coaches

    In 37 years as girls swimming coach at Cheshire (Connecticut) High School, Ed Aston’s teams won 25 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference state championships and had a 414-21-1 record. He coached the boys teams for 33 years, claiming 18 state titles, and recorded an overall record of 410-47. His girls teams won a national-record 281 consecutive dual meets from 1986 to 2011.

    Chuck Koeppen led the Carmel (Indiana) High School boys cross country teams to 11 Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state championships and the girls teams to 11 titles as well. Five times his boys and girls teams won state titles in the same year. His cross country teams finished second 16 times, and his boys track team won the IHSAA state championship in 2000.

    Chuck Lenahan won his 19th state football championship last year at Plymouth Regional High School and is the winningest football coach in New Hampshire history. In 43 years at Plymouth, Lenahan has compiled a 345-69-1 record, which includes 13 undefeated seasons and a 57-game winning streak from 2005 to 2010.

    Since assuming the boys lacrosse coaching duties at Camillus (New York) West Genesee High School in 1976, Mike Messere has posted a 757-55 record (.930 winning percentage) – the all-time mark by a high school or college lacrosse coach. His teams have won 15 New York State Public High School Athletic Association state championships and established a national record 91-game winning streak from 1981 to 1984.

    After stops in South Carolina and Georgia for nine years to begin his coaching career, James Tate joined the Mobile (Alabama) St. Paul’s Episcopal High School staff in 1978 and started the school’s boys track and cross country programs. Combining boys and girls cross country, boys and girls indoor track, and boys and girls outdoor track, Tate’s teams have won an unbelievable 86 state championships. His girls cross country teams won 16 consecutive Alabama High School Athletic Association state titles from 1983 to 1998 – an all-time national record.

    Officials

    After 16 years as an active basketball official in Kentucky, Jerry Kimmel turned his attention to recruiting and training officials and was one of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s assigning secretaries for basketball. He also was a highly successful college basketball official for many years.

    Haig Nighohossian has been selected to officiate the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys Soccer State Finals 17 times and the IHSA Girls Soccer State Finals seven times. He has been a soccer rules interpreter for the IHSA since 1973 and has served as coordinator of officials at the state finals on several occasions.

    Administrator

    Ronnie Carter joined the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) staff in 1978 and was appointed executive director in 1986. In addition to his leadership at the state level, Carter served on the NFHS Football Rules Committee for 25 years and was chair of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee for eight years. He was chair of the Football Research Subcommittee for eight years and was a member of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee for four years. Carter was president of the NFHS in 2001-02.

    Performing Arts

    Richard Floyd is a recognized authority on conducting, the art of wind band rehearsing, concert band repertoire and music advocacy. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator and conductor with appearances in 40 states and nine other countries. As director of music for the Texas University Interscholastic League, Floyd coordinated all facets of secondary music competition for 3,500 performing organizations throughout the state of Texas.

  • Photo gallery: Chauncey Billups through the years

    A photo gallery of Chauncey Billups from his high school days at George Washington through his NBA career.

  • All-time football state championship game results

    This page use to house complete football championship game results from the Colorado High School Activities Association.

    In the summer of 2014, this data was moved over to our football championship archive.

    Use the following link to navigate to title game scores: