They've erupted to the most sizzling start in the state, put up RBI Baseball-type numbers and caught the eyes of the pollsters. But don't count on
Fruita Monument players getting ahead of themselves.
The Wildcats made that mistake last season.
The Fruita Monument baseball team has been
focused all season, racing to a 13-0 mark and a
No. 7 ranking in Class 5A.
Courtesy photos Fruita Monument baseball
They started 6-0 in Southwestern League play and needed only to win one of the final four league games to clinch the league crown. They lost all four. And although the Wildcats advanced to the Class 5A postseason, they were quickly dispensed by Arapahoe (Centennial) in districts.
That's why the Wildcats are looking at their 13-0 start with a bit of cautious optimism, despite ostentatious stat lines from the likes of
Dylan Row,
Cuba Bess and
Sam Schroeder.
"We knew we could turn things around, kind of build off what we had last year and learn from the mistakes," Row said. "We're not going to get too high on ourselves for winning a few league games. We're trying to stay a little more levelheaded this year, not get so high but not get so low at the same time."
It's difficult for the Wildcats not to be somewhat hyped at the glorious start to the spring. Schroeder, a fireballing right-hander, is 5-0 with an 0.51 ERA. The junior recently was clocked at 90 mph six times in his first inning of work and has struck out 50 batters in 27 1/3 innings. He's teamed with
Devon Canup (3-0, 3.23) for an ace tandem featuring diametrically opposing styles. Canup is the prototypical crafty lefty.
Row anchors the defense at shortstop and the Scottsdale Junior Colleg-bound senior is batting .444 with two home runs and 21 RBIs. Bess has simply clobbered the ball. The left-handed-hitting junior is batting .625 with 11 doubles, three triples, two homers and 26 RBIs. If only his extra-base hits counted, he'd be batting .400.
"A lot of work in the summer, just working on my swing and the mental aspects of the game," Bess said. "I've been learning a lot, taking in a lot and just taking it into the games. I've been seeing the ball really good."
Chris Cordova, Fruita Monument.
The Wildcats have started 4-0 in league play entering Friday night's showdown against
Grand Junction Central (10-2, 4-0) at Suplizio Field. Fruita's marvelous start has led to a No. 7 ranking in this week's CHSAANow.com poll and a No. 8 designation in the AP Media Poll.
Perhaps it shouldn't serve as much of a surprise. Despite the rocky finish last season, the Wildcats pointed to 2015 as their potential breakout season. Little roster turnover existed and the Wildcats' primary corps of athletes have morphed from JV-looking kids to individuals who belong on a Class 5A diamond.
"A combination of experience and maturity has led to what we're seeing this season," Wildcats coach Ray McLennan said. "We were disappointed with the way things ended last spring, and they used that as a springboard."
With many of the same players in the fold in summer ball, McLennan tweaked the traditional approach and beefed up the summer schedule while instituting a plan to become more mentally tough. That, coupled with the players' increased familiarity with each other, has paid vast dividends to this point. Selfish play is essentially nonexistent with the Wildcats.
"We try to worry more about our team as a unit versus individual things," Row said. "We've been working a lot more on having better team at-bats, picking each other up when the opportunity occurs and just following suit with one another."
Center fielder
Sam Graf and third baseman
Chad Goodrich also have had stellar starts at the plate for the Wildcats, with Graf also contributing on the mound (3-0, one save, 1.66 ERA).
Chris Cordova and
Gabe Treider give Fruita six players who are batting above .400 this season.
Devon Canup, Fruita Monument.
It is not unprecedented for a team from the Grand Junction area to fare well in the state tournament. Each Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central have captured 5A titles since 2000 and Southwestern League teams have the luxury of better weather in the early spring. Row said that when Fruita took on ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) in a preseason scrimmage, it marked one of the first times the Grizzlies had been outside.
But even with extra outdoor practice time, you still need to be talented to start 13-0.
"We're a big team, we're a fast team," McLennan said. "I don't know how we stack up against some of those (Denver area) schools size-wise, but we look like a 5A baseball team this year."
The Wildcats have already won three more games than last year, and although they are careful not to get ahead of themselves, they clearly have concrete ambitions.
"With the team we have this year, we're really focused on a league title and going deeper in the playoffs than last year," Bess said. "We definitely have the team and the talent to do it."
