Niwot baseball aiming to build on last season's success

Under second-year head coach Ken Rosales, the Niwot High School baseball program took a major step forward last spring.

The Cougars finished 14-9 - the team's most wins since 2014 - and never lost more than two straight games en route to reaching the postseason for the first time in seven years. While the 2023 campaign ultimately ended in disappointment with a loss to Riverdale Ridge High School in the Class 4A Region 7 championship game, Niwot has plenty of momentum entering its 2024 campaign.

"The energy is really high right now," Rosales said. "The guys are really excited about the season to get started."

From that postseason team, Rosales lost only four players to graduation, although two played critical roles in pitcher/shortstop Jed Kilpatrick and catcher Diego Castro. Still, the Cougars bring back more than enough talent to compete for a state tournament berth.

Two of the bigger names returning to Niwot's lineup are junior twin brothers Haden and Charlie Shaw. Haden, who batted a team-high .439 last season, is expected to catch this year while his brother will play in the outfield. Last year, Charlie hit Niwot's only two home runs and was second on the team with four triples.

"They're a couple of good leaders on our team, Charlie and Haden," Rosales said. "Haden's going to be catching this year most of the time, but he can play a good third, and we found that he's not bad at pitching... Charlie, he had an injury last year, and he's coming off that. He is healthy and he is raring to go. He's a good worker, and he's always working before and after practice."

Niwot also returns speedy senior shortstop Sergio Pimentel, who led the team with 10 stolen bases last season. Pimentel is one of three seniors on varsity, joining pitcher/shortstop Brock Rothstein and Julian Wu, who is expected to play a utility role.

Rothstein is back after leading Niwot with 46 innings pitched last season. In addition to posting a 3.96 earned run average on the bump, he flashed power at the plate with a team-high 13 extra-base hits.

Other arms in Niwot's pitching rotation include Jagger Kilpatrick, Kaige Kennedy, Drew Stapp, and Henry Noblin. In just under 20 innings pitched last season as a freshman, Noblin struck out 15 and allowed only seven earned runs.

Both on the mound and in the field, it may take some time for Rosales to discover his optimal lineup. Rosales shared that there's still plenty of competition for all four of Niwot's starting infield positions.

"We have good players that can play at any of those spots," Rosales said. "We just have to figure out what the good rotation is." Others competing for varsity playing time include Arlo Richards, Jack Schrock and Bo Gardner, who was joined the team as a senior after a stellar prep soccer career.

To complicate things further, several younger players are knocking on the varsity door, including freshman pitcher Jack O'Hara and sophomore twin brothers Nico and Matias Castro.

"Nico and Matias, they have really been coming on these last couple of weeks," Rosales said. "I would like to give them a little bit of varsity work, but they're going to be great leaders on JV."

Joining Rosales on his varsity coaching staff are assistants Greg Wilcox (pitching), Bobby Matthews and Nick Bierbrodt. Wade Connor will head the younger levels alongside assistants Ed Weimer and Biff Warren.

After scrimmaging against Fairview on Tuesday, March 5, Niwot's season opener will come at home against Timnath Middle-High School on Thursday, March 7. Two days later, the Cougars will travel to face Weld Central High School. Other non-conference opponents for Niwot include Silver Creek High School, Thornton High School and Greeley Central High School.