| Coaches’ Corner |
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| Written by Bruce Warren |
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BY BRUCE WARREN This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Longmont Twins Baseball The Longmont Twins returned from a trip to Italy in June where they played several games and toured the country. Niwot High coach Craig McBride and Skyline assistant coach Dale Nehls accompanied the team, which consists of the top players from Longmont area high schools, including Niwot grads Connor Messinger and Dylan Kaczues.“Several of the players said this was the best trip they ever had,” McBride said. Messinger pitched the first game against the Verona senior team, consisting of players age 17-28, losing a tough decision, 3-2. “We played the Verona 19 and under team after that and beat them handily,” McBride said. “The players stayed with host families and got to see the lifestyles first-hand.” After the team toured Venice, the players traveled to Tirrenia, where the Italian Olympic Training Facility is located. The team practiced there for three days as the Italian team was on the road at the time. The Twins played the Italian Junior National Team in Trieste, winning the first game and losing the second, while beating another Italian team in between. The players ended their tour in Rome, with a side trip to Siena. “It was just a really great time,” McBride said. “Connor and Dylan both played very well.” Messinger is currently suffering from a back problem, McBride noted, and his status, if the team qualifies for state, is uncertain. Niwot Legion B Baseball Niwot’s Legion B team, coached by NHS coach Craig McBride, is 22-14 entering the district tournament. McBride expected to be seeded seventh out of 18 teams. “We’re playing pretty well at times,” McBride said. The squad ended the regular season finishing second in the Cheyenne tournament. Niwot beat Laramie, 16-0, Gillette 17-1 and Cheyenne 11-0 before losing to Casper, 5-2. “We gave up four runs due to errors and walks,” McBride said. The team’s youth has been a problem at times. Most of the players will only be sophomores at Niwot next fall. “They have to learn how to play under pressure,” McBride said. Jake Sarosi leads the team with a .487 batting average, and four homeruns. Tanner Morris is next at .417 with three homeruns. Other top hitters include Jesus Ramirez at .415, Ryan Sypher at .413, Pate Katechis at .412, Kyle Howe at .412, Connor Kopplinger at .412, Alex Kinneson at .395, and Tanner Kirkpatrick at .393. Brian Meek has solidified the defense at shortstop. “Bryan Hawthorne has really stepped up,” McBride said. Hawthorne, who spent the spring season on the JV squad, has earned a spot in the outfield, hitting .358. Dan Caruso, who played hockey in the spring, has been a pleasant surprise, hitting two homers in the last week. Pitching has been inconsistent for the young Cougars. Morris hurt his elbow and has been limited to DH duties. Howe, Sarosi, Sypher, Meek, Katechis, Kinneson, Caruso and Aldair Cintora have seen mound duty. NHS Softball Niwot High coach Bobby Matthews will hold a pre-season camp Aug. 8-11 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day. “A lot of the girls have had great summers,” Matthews said. The week concludes with a Niwot High School Alumni Game on Friday, August 12, at 1:00 p.m. Matthews is hoping that many of Niwot’s former players will be on hand. He can be reached at 303-709-3391. NHS Football Niwot’s Coach Ron Tesone and his staff conducted a two-week football camp the last part of July, which ended with a scrimmage July 29 against Frederick and Stanley Lake. After a week off, the team will attend another week-long camp beginning Aug. 8 before the start of official fall practices. “We’ve had 65 kids signed up,” Tesone said. “There’s a very good spirit.” The players will be selling Cougar cards offering discounts at local businesses to help fund the program. Tesone has several new coaches on his staff this year, including his brother, Jim Tesone, who recently retired from the Adams 30 school district. Jim Tesone will be the defensive coordinator and coach the defensive backs. J.B. Hall, who has coached at Boulder High, will coach the defensive line. Hall came to Tesone through NHS soccer coach Jeremy Drake, who has known Hall through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program. Ben Garcia, a Niwot grad who was a sophomore on the 1990 state championship team, will coach the running backs and serve as a JV assistant. J.P. Lefever, who played at Berthoud High School, will coach the freshman offense.
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