BASEBALL

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Bob Bote, longtime teacher and coach at Niwot High School, has retired from teaching at Niwot. Bote began his teaching and coaching career at Niwot in 1977 as an assistant baseball coach for Bill Stephens, then took over the program in 1978 when Stephens left for Skyline High School.  Bote also coached football at Niwot, including a stint as head coach in the mid-1980’s.  He was also an assistant boys basketball coach at times during his tenure at Niwot.

Bote coached the NHS Baseball team to five state championships in Class 4A, in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005, before resigning the position after the 2006 season following a disagreement with administrators over the team’s travel restrictions.  Bote continued to teach PE at Niwot until the second week in January of 2011 when he made the decision to retire from teaching. Bote plans to serve as an assistant coach this spring for the Faith Christian baseball program, where his son Danny Bote is the head coach, and his son David is one of the top players.

The Niwot High baseball program is sponsoring a dinner, silent auction and poker tournament at the Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Tap Room at 1800 Pike Road in Longmont on Sat., March 5 from 5 to 11 p.m. The cost for the dinner and silent auction is $20, with random prize drawings for poker tournament participants.  Proceeds will be used for program expenses.  The team plans to travel to Arizona in late March to compete against out-of-state competition.  The Cougars are also selling tickets to select Rockies games, with outfield box seats available at two games for $38.  As part of the promotion, the Cougars will play a non-league game at Coors Field against Skyline High School, coached by former Cougar player Mike Hoog, on March 11.  Tickets are available from players, or by contacting Barb Messinger at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or any player.

Mike Olsen (Niwot) has signed to play in the California Winter League.  Olsen will play first base, and hopes to attract the attention of scouts for major league organizations.  Games began in late January.

The Denver Post sports section featured a back page story on Forrest Carpenter (Niwot), who transferred to Metro State this year after two years at the University of Northern Colorado.  The Post story focused on Carpenter’s world class goose-calling talents and followed a report in the January issue of the Courier on Carpenter’s world championship Live Goose Calling title at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Md., in November.

Sean Ratliff (Niwot) was mentioned in the USA Today Major League Baseball Organization Report on the New York Mets.  Ratliff, an outfielder who hit .317 with 16 homeruns in 73 games at Class AA, is mentioned as a leftfield prospect behind Fernando Martinez and Lucas Duda, who back up starter Jason Bay.

Pat Perry (Niwot), an assistant coach for the University of Northern Colorado, is conducting hitting clinics for players ages 10-18 years old Saturdays and Sundays in January and February through Pro Ball Services, LLC.  To register, contact Perry at www.proballservices.com.