Mike Moat joins NHS Hall of Fame

Mike Moat was not supposed to go to Niwot High School.

He spent his younger years in Gunbarrel on the Boulder Valley School District side of the line. His older sister Christine had gone to Boulder High School. After his parents divorced, his father still lived in Gunbarrel, but his mother moved to Niwot. Their son spent alternate weeks with each parent.

Although his home in Gunbarrel was targeted for Boulder or Fairview High School, he ended up a Cougar because of a neighborly favor, one that he feels changed the course of his life.

"I would have never gone to Niwot if not for Biff and Susan Warren," Moat said. "They would pick me up [from Gunbarrel] before their son Michael got his license. All my buddies were at Niwot, and I was fortunate to go because of Biff and Susan."

Moat's mother's backyard touched Michael Warren's backyard, with only a cow field in between. "We had to dodge the cows and used a wooden stump to jump over the fence quickly so they wouldn't get us," he laughed. "That's just family stuff, but it meant something to me."

Now, Moat is being inducted into Niwot High School's Hall of Fame. As a student, he quickly etched his name into the school's history books. The hard-throwing right-hander helped deliver the school's first-ever baseball state championship in 1998 as a sophomore, and then again in 1999 as a junior, and again as a senior in 2000. At the time, Moat was the only pitcher in Colorado history to win three consecutive state titles.

"I was too dumb to even realize what I was doing," he joked of his one-hit state title performance against Broomfield High School as a sophomore. "They told me afterward, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh.'"

His senior year included a perfect game in regionals against Lewis-Palmer High School, thrown to longtime friend and catcher Michael Warren. "After that last pitch, our team hugging, I didn't think I'd ever throw a perfect game, but it was crazy."

Moat's dominance earned him All-Conference, All-State, and All-American honors, as well as the 2000 Bauldie Moschetti Award, given to the top senior baseball player in Colorado. Drafted by the Texas Rangers out of high school, he opted to attend San Diego State University on a full scholarship.

"It was a big decision," Moat said. "The Rangers called me during my senior trip in Mexico. I was in my room just waiting for the call."

It is a decision he does not regret for a second. "College was amazing. Being coached by Tony Gwynn, getting to go to his house, seeing all the trophies. It was an incredible experience."

After three years at San Diego State, he was drafted again, this time by the Chicago White Sox, and spent four seasons in the minor leagues before retiring due to an arm injury.

"It's a grind," Moat said. "Buses, hotels, being gone 15 days at a time. But you see so many places, stadiums, and cities. It was great." He continued, "Biff always made sure I was ready for that path."

Back in Colorado, Moat transitioned to coaching. While standing on a 15-foot ladder painting his house, he got a call from NHS Head Coach Craig McBride offering him the chance to be Niwot's pitching coach. He said yes and stayed for four seasons.

Today, he remains a fixture in local youth sports, coaching his kids and serving on the board of Niwot Baseball, Inc. "Biff asked me if I'd be on the board, and I said absolutely," Moat said. "I want to support Niwot sports, youth sports, baseball, all of it."

Through it all, his love for the Niwot community has only grown.

"My mom lived in Niwot, I played GLVRA [Gunbarrel Lefthand Valley Recreation Association] and Niwot Youth Sports. I just fell in love. The people, the support, it was absolutely amazing," he said. "I try to give back, and I just love it."

Looking back, one moment still shines above the rest.

"Winning the 2000 state championship with all my buddies. High school was awesome, so much fun," he remembered. "That game meant everything."

Now, as he joins the Niwot High School Hall of Fame, Moat says the honor is deeply personal.

"It means the world to me. To follow the people who have been inducted before me, I look up to all of them. I feel like I should give more. It's humbling."

But those who know his story, and the players, friends, and community members he has impacted, would say he has already given plenty.

Moat will be formally inducted into the Niwot High School Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 1, during the Night of Champions ceremony at Niwot High School, alongside Elise Cranny and Mabel Miyasaki.