The 2023 spring season offered the Montezuma-Cortez baseball team plenty excuses to fall short of their potential. Head coach Tim Passell’s squad chose to not accept any of them.
Instead, the Panthers excelled on the field, making the program’s first 3A state tournament appearance, and are now earning their recognition off it.
Three Panthers earned all-state selections, led by a pair of First Team honorees – senior Evan LaMunyon and junior Miles Frost. Freshman Cory Carver picked up an honorable mention recognition as well for M-CHS.
The all-state selections follow up a haul of six Panthers earning All-Intermountain League honors from their league championship season, joining their head coach on the league’s honor roll. Frost landed the IML Player of the Year honor for his work on the mound and at the plate, joining LaMunyon, and fellow seniors Jake Blackmer, and Braden Hallman, along with Carver and classmate Darren Daves on the list of postseason honorees.
“Evan has been on this trajectory his whole baseball life,” said Passell of LaMunyon. “The amount of work he puts in the offseason is admirable, and has left a legacy for the program.”
The senior pitcher and infielder led the team in RBIs at the plate and matched a school record with nine wins on the mound, while joining Carver for a middle infield combination that would rank among the best in the state in fielding percentage.
“The impact Cory made was a blast to watch,” said Passell of Carver’s dynamic bat at the top of the Panther order. “He’s been a difference maker since Day One.” Carver led the team in hits (51), runs scored (58), stolen bases (36) and doubles (16), setting new single-season school records in each category.
Frost became a dominant force on the mound for the Panthers, posting new program-best marks of a 0.66 ERA and 92 strikeouts, while securing an 8-1 record. “Miles was amazing this year, whether as a starter or closer,” said Passell of the junior’s breakout season. “We were so confident with him with the ball.”
Passell picked up the deserved recognition of Coach of the Year in IML play, guiding the Panthers to a share of the program’s first league crown, while taking M-CHS to a new high-water mark with 22 wins.
The Panther skipper is quick to credit his staff, however, for the development of the players and success this past year.
“This is one of the best coaching staffs in the state,” said Passell of his team’s achievements, “and we believe that we’re going to continue to get better.”
Assistants Jason Hernandez, Les Likes, Jeff McDonell and Josh Cornett supported the mercurial rise of Panther baseball this past season, helping the program’s development at both the varsity and subvarsity levels.
The unprecedented success for Panther baseball this past season was several years in the making. After knocking on the door with .500 seasons, a large group of upperclassmen leaders took the 2023 campaign by storm.
M-CHS dominated local opponents, defeated Durango for the first time in more than two decades, while rattling off a program-record 11-game winning streak. The season culminated with a come-from-behind rally to win the regional title in front of their home fans, followed by the program’s first-ever state tournament win in their maiden appearance.
“Our 10 seniors are truly going to be missed for their talent and leadership,” said Passell of his departing core. “They have accomplished more than any group in the program’s history, and set a new threshold for these underclassmen to follow. We can't say enough of how proud we are of all of them.”
