by John Cusick
It’s been three years since Colorado Mesa’s baseball team finished runner-up in the national championship.
Manager Chris Hanks has his sights set on getting back to the highest stage.
“I think if we don’t return to the world series at the end of the year, in our mind it’ll be viewed to some degree as a failure,” Hanks said.
With more than six players still on the team from that 2013 championship bid, the Mavericks experience this year runs deep. After last year’s disastrous end to the season the Mavericks look to begin another deep run into the playoffs.
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released its preseason All-Conference team on Jan. 31 and the Mavericks were picked to finish atop the conference once again. After winning the RMAC in 2016 for fifth straight year, it seems that the championship will once again have to be attained through Grand Junction.
Along with being picked first in the conference, the Mavericks had four players selected to the Baseball Preseason All-RMAC team. Catcher Kyle Serrano, shortstop Zach McLeod, designated hitter Andrew Contreras and starting pitcher JR McDermott were all selected after stellar 2016 campaigns.
McDermott’s 2016 campaign as a freshman was not overlooked as he was selected as the Preseason RMAC Pitcher of the Year for 2017. As a freshman McDermott finished with the third best ERA in the nation at 0.96. McDermott also set the RMAC record for most strikeouts in a game with 19 against Metro State. McDermott missed the last of the season last year with a sore elbow but looks to be ready for 2017.
“I think he’s ready to go. We didn’t have him to finish the year because he had a sore elbow. He’s healthy now, he’s back and we’re going to be very guarded here early on with all our pitcher,” Hanks said of the sophomore.
Coming into the season ranked 12 by the Collegiate Baseball National Poll the Mavericks headed to St. George, Utah this past weekend.
The task on hand? The Dixie State Trailblazers.
The 15 ranked Trailblazers began the series at 4-0 after sweeping their opening opponents Cal Baptist last weekend.
The two teams opened on Friday, Feb. 10 with a doubleheader that the two teams split. The Mavericks took game one behind a five-inning performance from McDermott. Serrano led the Mavericks for game one as he hit a grand slam notching his first homer on the year. Adding to effort was redshirt sophomore Bligh Madris who went 4-6 and Contreras who added two hits of his own including his first home run. The Mavericks won game one 10-8.
During game two, the Trailblazers looked to bounce back. Tyler Day took the mound for the Mavericks and only lasted three innings after giving up four runs. Greg Reynolds added his first run batted in on the season in a losing effort, 5-2.
The next day’s game was delayed by 47 minutes due to rain but when it got started Colorado Mesa didn’t waste any time to jump on the board. Serrano once again led the charge early driving in his lone RBI of the day in the first inning. PJ Gonzalez went 3-6 and drove in four RBI to help beat the Blazers 13-2. Chris Ramirez, a Northwestern transfer, went his prescribed five innings and received his first win of the season.
In the fourth and final game, the Mavericks squeezed out a close victory as it came down to the final inning. Bligh Madris drove in the go ahead runs in the top half of the ninth inning to give the Mavericks a 7-6 lead. In the bottom half, Madris was asked to come in from the outfield and get the last three outs.
The Mavericks will play another four game series next weekend against Montana State-Billings (0-3) as they open up home play at Suplizio Stadium Feb. 17-19.
