Montezuma-Cortez High School’s remarkable 2023 run has been a steady work in progress in the past four years.
At the center of it all, M-CHS senior Evan LaMunyon has enjoyed a fantastic final year that has steered the Panthers to the program’s first winning season in his lifetime.
With the sunset of his high school career approaching, LaMunyon made sure that his playing days will extend beyond his walk across the M-CHS graduation stage this month. The pitcher and infielder, and one of the most lethal bats in the region, set his course to Missouri, where he intends to play baseball for Park University.
LaMunyon built off a strong junior season with a brilliant final campaign for head coach Tim Passell – hitting better than .400 while leading a high-octane offense with RBIs and extra-base hits.
The right-hander has dominated all season on the mound, holding a perfect 7-0 record and an ERA under 3.00 while serving as the Panthers’ Game 1 starter for their weekend league sets.
His head coach appreciates the leadership that LaMunyon brings to a highly motivated group.
“He’s shown this group what a team captain should be,” lauded Passell. “He makes everyone else around him better.”
When he’s not on the hill, LaMunyon has paired with freshman standout Cory Carver in the middle of a steadfast Panther infield. His versatility in the field and power at the plate made him a prime prospect for college coaches, and after scouting his available options, LaMunyon settled on Park University.
The NAIA institution, based in Parkville, Missouri – just north of Kansas City – competes athletically in the Heart of America Conference. The Pirates baseball program competes against top programs across Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.
“They had the academics I was looking for,” said LaMunyon of his choice to join the Pirate program, “and Park provided a small school atmosphere combined with the access to a big city, which was what drew me there.” LaMunyon looks to pursue work in physical therapy, and is well on his way to his degree, given the number of college credits he’s accrued while at M-CHS.
Park is a private university in Parkville, Missouri. It was founded in 1875 and in 2017 had an enrollment of 11,457 students.
In the fall, LaMunyon also served as a major catalyst for the M-CHS soccer team, serving as one of the top scorers for the Panthers in both his junior and senior seasons.
Meanwhile, with graduation just a few weeks away, the M-CHS baseball program is enjoying one of its best years in school history, and the development of team chemistry, according to LaMunyon, has played a large part in the team’s ascendance to the top of the 3A classification.
“Being a part of this program has helped me develop to the level I’m at,” added LaMunyon, “but more than that, this team has been supportive – there’s no negative energy – and that’s allowed this group to be good, and continue to get better.”
