Out in Leftfield

BASEBALL

David Bote, son of former Niwot High Baseball Coach Bob Bote, is in his first major league spring training camp with the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, AZ. Bote, playing second base, opened the exhibition season in the starting lineup and collected a single in his first plate appearance. He followed with another base hit in the second game of the spring, coming in as a replacement for Javier Baez. Bote, the Cubs’ 15th-ranked prospect, is featured on a video on the Cubs’ website, talking about working with Hall-of-Famer Alan Trammell last fall.

Jamie Hollowell (Niwot) is working for the Colorado Rockies, where his title is “Data Architect, Baseball Research and Development,” a position he has held since 2016. Hollowell was a part of Niwot’s last state 4A championship team in 2005, and played in college at Haverford, where he earned recognition as the most improved player his senior season. Hollowell didn’t envision a career in baseball until after his playing career ended.

“It didn’t seem like a reality until after college,” Hollowell said. The Rockies are very protective of the data they analyze, which is part of the growing field of sabermetrics. “Our process is very important to us and we feel it gives us a competitive advantage,” Hollowell said.

Sean Ratliff (Niwot) is entering his fourth season as a minor league hitting coach with the New York Mets organization. Ratliff, who was part of Niwot’s last state 4A championship team in 2005, played at Stanford before being drafted by the Mets in 2008. Ratliff’s playing career was cut short by an eye injury from a foul ball during an exhibition game. He coached with the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones last season.

Pate Katechis (Niwot) is hitting .263 for the University of Nebraska-Kearney in early season action. Katechis, playing in all 10 games for the Antelopes, has two homeruns and five RBI, with a team-leading 10 runs scored. In a doubleheader split against UCCS, Katechis was 3 for 7 with a double Feb. 18.

Skyler Messinger (Niwot) is hitting .273 in early-season action for Kansas, starting two of the first six games. Messinger, a freshman, has played third base in a starting role for the Jayhawks, and came off the bench to play shortstop as well.

Hunter Stephens (Niwot) is perfect at the plate for Otero Junior College in early-season action. Stephens, a freshman outfielder, had a base hit in his only appearance so far this season.

SWIMMING

Lucas Bergeson (Niwot), a sophomore at Whitman College, finished seventh in the 1650Y Freestyle event with a time of 16:57.46, at the Northwest Conference Championships Feb. 9-11. Bergeson’s performance helped Whitman to a second-place finish, and was the fifth-fastest time in the event in Whitman history. He also finished 14th in the 500Y Freestyle, and 15th in the 200Y Freestyle at the conference meet.

Hannah Driscoll (Niwot) finished 27th in the 50Y Freestyle for Kansas at the Big 12 Conference Championship Feb. 21-24. Driscoll also finished 18th in the 100Y Breaststroke and 30th in the 100Y Freestyle.

TRACK AND FIELD

Valarie Allman (Silver Creek), who competed for the U.S. at the World Championships last summer in the discus, won the UW Indoor Preview 20-pound weight throw with a 64’1” effort. Allman competes for Stanford University as a fifth-year senior. She managed to break the meet record twice during the event, finishing more than five feet better than her nearest competitor.

Elise Cranny (Niwot) set a new record for Stanford University and a new meet record in the mile run at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 24, with a time of 4:31.29. Cranny’s winning time also bettered the Stanford outdoor record by almost five seconds. The time was also her personal best. Cranny is a fifth-year senior after sitting out one season due to injury.

Gabby Casey (Niwot) was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week Feb. 20 after she broke her own school record in the pole vault for Colorado Mesa. Casey cleared 12 feet at the Air Force Collegiate Open, which broke her school record by 2 and ¾ inches. She is the first Maverick female to ever clear 12 feet and her performance was an NCAA provisional qualifying height for indoor pole vault. She followed up with a winning vault of 12 feet 5 ¼ inches at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 24, which moved her up to the 13th-best mark nationally in Division II.

SOFTBALL

Brooklynn Delozier (Niwot) has started two games for New Mexico Highlands in early season action. Delozier, a sophomore, is playing right field.

Bailey Kleespies (Niwot) is hitting .273 in early-season action for Colorado Mesa. Kleespies , a sophomore, had a homerun Feb. 9 against Western New Mexico to spark a 7-1 victory. She has been playing third base and designated player primarily.

Jordyn Ballard (Silver Creek) has played in two early season games for Black Hills State. Ballard, a junior, has been a designated hitter for Black Hills State.

Meghan Waidler (Niwot) has pitched in two early-season games for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Waidler, a sophomore, has a record of 0-1 in two innings of work.

Grace Ladd (Niwot) has pitched a total of five innings in three appearances in the circle for Brown University. The freshman has allowed only 3 hits and one walk, and has yet to surrender a run. Ladd picked up a save with three scoreless innings in a season-opening 6-1 win over Colgate.

FOOTBALL

Mo Bandi (Niwot) has moved to defensive line for the University of Colorado. Bandi, a junior who walked on as a freshman, initially started out on the D-line, but moved to offensive line soon after. With graduation losses on the defensive line, and a new coach arriving, Bandi is back on the defensive line for CU.

HOCKEY

Michael Sdao of Niwot has played in 30 games as a defenseman for the Rapid City Rush of the East Coast Hockey League, but has yet to score.