IHS Baseball boasts six of SJBL’s best
Already ready to extend its four-year re-emergence under successful head coaches Duke Baker (2022-23) and Isiah Valdez (2024-present) into a fifth, Ignacio Baseball will have, again, a solid foundation in 2026 as five of six players honored with inclusion in the ’25 All-San Juan Basin League Team can return.
Only recently graduated third baseman/pitcher Cole Wagner, named a Second Team All-SJBL infielder in the wake of the circuit champion Bobcats’ quality campaign (8-1 SJBL, 15-6 overall) is guaranteed not to return. Otherwise, Valdez and his staff can almost begin penciling in a lineup sure to be strong through – at least – the middle of the diamond.
Senior-to-be Ambrose Valdez was IHS’ go-to on the mound, and primary shortstop when he wasn’t, and was named First Team All-League at pitcher – along with graduated Dove Creek senior first baseman/pitcher Sheldon Gardner, voted Player-of-the-Year after helping the Bulldogs post a third-place 4-5 mark in league.
“I just keep composure, have confidence I go up there,” he said during the season, explaining his approach when on the hill. “And every time (I’m) telling myself that I’m going to hit the ball … I find my pitch and drive it. And … I’m pleased with the way we played; I wouldn’t change anything if we did it again.”
Other than, perhaps, the outcome of a season-ending 13-2 loss in the Class 1A-District 1 semifinals to rival Nucla – leaving the ’Dogs standing 9-10 overall. Still, sophomore Cael Beanland was named a First Team All-SJBL infielder and junior Trevan Ivie a First Team outfielder, while sophomore Konner Spigner earned Second Team for his infield efforts and junior Josh Kibel likewise for his work behind home plate as DCHS’ catcher.
First Team All-SJBL recognition at that position went to Ignacio junior Gabe Archuleta who, like Kibel, would don the proverbial ‘tools of ignorance’ on defense, then immediately lead off his side’s offensive attack atop skipper Valdez’s batting order. Fellow senior-to-be Stoney White Thunder (1B/P) and sophomore William Mendoza-Lechuga (SS/3B) were named First Team infielders, and senior-to-be Sonny Flores received First Team All-League as IHS’ regular centerfielder.
Led by First Team junior Brycen Rummel (OF), sophomore Jackson McCabe (IF), senior Paxtin Caruso (designated hitter) and senior Josh Platt (utility player), NHS followed up the aforementioned win over Dove Creek with a 17-2 destruction of non-league Sargent in that afternoon’s championship – advancing Nucla (5-3 SJBL) into the 16-team Class 1A State Tournament.
Seeded fifth, the Mustangs’ run unfortunately ended on May 10 after a 5-3 loss to No. 4 Simla in the quarterfinals. Having eliminated Denver-based 12-seed Rocky Mountain Lutheran 12-2 in six innings earlier in the day, the loss to SHS – which had clipped No. 13 La Veta 4-3 in first-round action – finalized Nucla’s 2025 record at 13-9 overall under SJBL Coach-of-the-Year Randy Gabriel.
Having faced NHS only twice (but both Ignacio and Dove Creek thrice) in regular-season action, Dolores – whose April 1 home single versus Nucla was canceled due to weather and apparently not rescheduled – struggled in ’25 and finished 0-8 in league. Two of DHS’ three total victories (against 18 reported losses; results of a slated 5/13 finale versus 3A Bayfield’s JV had still not been reported as of press time) came in late April, before the Bears began May play losing 13-0 and 15-0 at non-league Cedaredge, champion of the 2A Western Slope.
Still, Dolores was represented on the All-SJBL roster; sophomore Gus Vaughn was named Second Team pitcher, while sophomore Orin Samulski and freshman Branson Lee received Second Team as outfielders.
On the statewide scene, Arvada Forge Christian – upon whose field IHS’ season ended after a 12-11 loss to Wray in the Class 2A State Tournament’s opening Round-of-32 – captured the State Championship on May 31 by blanking Lakewood-based Denver Christian 11-0 upon Hobbs Field at the Runyon Complex in Pueblo.
Akron had earned the 1A crown, 8-7 over Westminster Flatirons Academy, on May 15 at All-Star Park in Lakewood.
EXTRA CREDIT
NHS’ Platt was also named Second Team All-1A at season’s end by the Colorado Dugout Club Coaches Association, while Rummel and Dove Creek’s Gardner each received Honorable Mention.
And Monday afternoon, June 9, the Colorado High School Activities Association released its 2025 All-State Teams, and Archuleta, Flores and White Thunder were each awarded Honorable Mention All-2A. Gardner was Second Team All-1A, while Beanland, Ivie, McCabe, Platt and Rummel each received Honorable Mention All-1A.