PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo Baseball squad returns home to Pueblo this weekend as the ThunderWolves host an important four-game series against Adams State University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
CSU Pueblo sits in the sixth and final spot in the RMAC standings, as six teams qualify for the RMAC Tournament. The Pack have a 23-18 overall record to go along with their 12-12 conference record.
Adams State comes into this match-up one of the hottest teams in the conference despite having a losing record overall. The Grizzlies are 18-20 overall on the season and have a 13-7 record in RMAC play to hold down the second spot in the league.
The two teams open up the weekend with a single game tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Runyon Field in Pueblo, before transitioning back to Rawlings Field for Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday with a single game, starting at noon.
Sunday's game will be Senior Day for CSU Pueblo Baseball. The Pack will honor
Dylan Weaver (Fruita, Colo./Highland CC),
Zach Pratt (Belton, Mo./Metropolitan CC),
Cole Knightley (Solvang, Calif./Santa Ynez),
Tyler Curtis (Las Vegas, Nev./Southern Idaho), and
Edwing Corrales (Delicias, Mexico/Otero JC) in a pre-game ceremony.
PACK THE PARK
Reminder fans that Friday's game at 7 p.m. will be CSU Pueblo Baseball's Annual Pack the Park Night. The game will be held at Runyon Field in Pueblo, with a youth clinic beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Registration for the Pack the Park Youth Clinic is available
HERE. For more information, please contact the CSU Pueblo Athletics office at 719-549-2013.
Coaches and players from the CSU Pueblo baseball team and local high schools will provide instruction for the clinic, which is open to K-8 players. Each participant at the clinic will receive a free t-shirt, hot dog, chips, and a drink.
Participants are asked to wear their uniforms and bring their gloves and bats. They will be instructed in hitting, fielding, throwing, and pitching.
Here is the complete schedule for this year's 19th Annual Pack the Park event
3:30 p.m. – Registration/check in and hand out t-shirts to the participants at Runyon Field
3:55 p.m. – Welcome message
4:00 p.m. – Youth Baseball/Softball Clinic
5:10 p.m. – Closing Remarks
5:20 p.m. – Team Photo
5:40 p.m. – Watch CSU Pueblo batting practice at Runyon Field
6:45 p.m. – Pack Parade
6:55 p.m. – Ceremonial first pitch and National Anthem
7:05 p.m. – CSU Pueblo vs. Adams State Baseball Game
ABOUT THE PACK
CSU Pueblo is led by their All-Conference outfielder
Christian Castaneda (El Paso, Texas/Otero JC), who is one of the deadliest hitters in all of NCAA Division II. Castaneda leads the Pack in almost every offensive category.
He leads the team in average at .378, and is 13th in the RMAC. His 15 home runs is first on the team and third in the conference. Nationally he ranks 10th in that category. His RBI total is at 57 which is only second in the conference and 10th in the nation.
Outfielder
Elijah Borjas (Denver, Colo./Lakewood) has been a fantastic complement to Castaneda, as the junior is batting .367, has nine home runs, and has driven in 42 RBI's. Borjas also has a cannon of an arm out in right field, as the gold glove winner from a year ago has base runners on lockdown.
Kade Snodgrass (Derby, Kan./Neosho County) has been a deadly Swiss Army knife for
Head Coach Bobby Applegate. The Skipper has been able to move Snodgrass all over the place as you will see Snodgrass in centerfield from time to time or patrolling the infield at second base. Snodgrass is able to hit in the leadoff position or occupy a spot lower in the order.
Snodgrass is batting .361 with seven home runs and has 33 RBI's on the season.
Leading the pitching staff for Pitching Coach
Pablo Arevalo is senior ace
Tyler Curtis (Las Vegas, Nev./Southern Idaho), who is 7-2 on the season, with an ERA of 5.66, and has a WHIP of just 1.42 in just 62 innings of work. Curtis leas the RMAC in wins and is second in complete games.
Freshman pitcher
Luke Ruby (Fort Collins, Colo./Resurrection Christian) has emerged as a gem for the pitching staff. The freshman has quietly put together a fantastic season, leading the team in ERA at 4.06 and a 3-2 record. Ruby is coming off a career performance against Colorado Christian in which he went seven inning, allowing just five hits and no runs. Ruby was also this week's RMAC Pitcher of the Week.
Leading the Pack is
Bobby Applegate, who is in his third season as the program's head coach. Applegate who was the Colorado Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year in 1995 playing for at the time, the University of Southern Colorado, has put together a 72-74 overall record at the helm for the Pack.
ABOUT THE ADAMS STATE GRIZZLIES
Adams State has been a little bit of a surprise to everyone this season as the squad from Alamosa, Colo. has put together a fine season on the diamond. The Grizzlies have had a nice bounce back season after going 13-36 last year, improving to second place currently in the RMAC late in the season.
Including this weekend, Adams State has three series remaining in the regular season.
Adams State has a team batting average of .345 which is the best in the RMAC. The Grizzlies have 436 total hits which is third in the conference, and have scored 338 runs this season.
Adams State is led offensively by Ayden Tauscher and Mike Bathauer. Tauscher is just ahead of Bathauer as he has a .421 batting average to just edge his .419 average. Bathauer leads the team in homers with nine on the season, and in RBI's with 52.
Cesar Loma leads the Grizzlies pitching staff with a 4-2 overall record and a 4.20 ERA. Loma's ERA is the best in the RMAC. The Grizzlies have a team ERA of 8.49.
Adams State is led by Head Coach Bruce DelTondo.
