After advancing to Regionals last season, the Dolores High School baseball program is set to kick off what it hopes will be a successful year.
Missing from the lineup will be heavy-hitting first-baseman Evan Moore, speedy center fielder Deano Valdez and do-it-all third baseman Ethen Upton, who have graduated.
Despite those missing pieces, the Bears figure to remain competive thanks to a pitching staff anchored by seniors Kellen Gatzke and Stetson Hamilton.
"Kellen has a big arm, and Stetson brings leadership to the team," said Dolores manager Rusty Hamilton. "I look to rely on him and Kellen to lead the team and keep us focused."
"We didn't have a real big depth chart for pitchers last year," added Gatzke. "That's something that we have a little bit of this year and that's definitely going to help us."
Also figuring to play key roles for the Bears this season will be speedy center fielder Guy Wallace, freshman catcher Tel Hamilton, second-baseman Josh McCoy and new first baseman Kitty Wallace.
"Our strength is in numbers," said Dolores manager Rusty Hamilton. "I have 33 kids out for baseball, and I have a lot of returners. The biggest thing this year is going to be finding that synergy on the field."
Among the questions surrounding Dolores less than a week before the start of its season is whether the offense can keep things competitive.
"We have some big bats back, but I foresee our offense being our biggest weakness until we can get on the field and put a lineup together," said Rusty Hamilton.
"We're definitely going to have to work on our batting," said Stetson Hamilton.
The Bears schedule figures to be difficult, with Class 1A power Dove Creek, San Juan Basin League rival Nucla and Class 2A foe Ignacio.
The Bears open their season with a doubleheader in Moab on March 10 before traveling to Shiprock for a matchup against the Chieftains on March 24.
"Right now, my goal is to get back to Regionals," said Rusty Hamilton. "We lost a couple of guys, but we have some new guys coming in this year and I think we can be strong."
