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DOLORES – Most nights, Joe Rowell Park in Dolores serves as the backdrop for a cacophony of pinging bats and dugout chatter from youth baseball teams of all ages.
With the return of high school baseball this past spring, the Dolores Bears U15 Little League team serves as a prime illustration of how a unified effort can ultimately improve several different high school programs.
The Bears, led by Dolores alum Kellen Gatzke, showcased athletes from area schools – including Montezuma-Cortez, Dove Creek and Mancos – along with a half-dozen Bears who are following up on their spring season.
“You can see their bond growing via their fluidity in their play together,” Gatzke said. “We might be playing under the name ‘Dolores,’ but we’ve been blessed with the unique opportunity to unify our entire area.”
Dolores recently navigated a tough field in Durango to take home second place. The Bears filled their schedule with contests against other Four Corners squads.
On a team of mostly underclassmen at their respective schools, plenty of players have upped their game, expecting to play increased roles within their varsity programs this upcoming school year.
Among the collection of rising stars, Dove Creek sophomore Cael Beanland has followed up his breakout freshman season for the state semifinalist Bulldogs with a stellar summer campaign.
“He’s got great baseball knowledge whether it’s on the mound, at the plate, or in the field,” Gatzke said of Beanland. “He’s going to be a huge part of Dove Creek’s success going forward.”
Beanland pounded the ball in their Bears’ successful trip to Durango, and he looks to be an impact pitcher for the Bulldogs next spring.
“I’ve been working on my velocity and good breaking balls, including a curve and sweeping slider,” said Beanland.
He went to All-Star Park in Lakewood this past May to play in the 1A state tournament, getting a taste for what he hopes will be plenty of future trips.
Although many of his teammates were different, the focus is still the same for Beanland.
“I want to carry over the winning mindset, and I feel like our team has done pretty well achieving that goal,” he said.
That success extends to other programs as well, where some internal competition within the Bears has brought out the best in each program.
“One of the best parts of baseball at this age is the school rivalries and excitement of going after state championships,” said Gatzke, who also serves as assistant coach for the fledgling DHS program. “So that’s helped create a desire for them to work hard over the summer to improve as players.”
