With the 220th pick in the MLB draft, the Detroit Tigers select from Highlands Ranch High School Nick Shumpert! Now that the HR baseball team has lost Nick to the pros what does this mean for the future? Nick had a .500 batting average and 23 RBIs. The HR baseball team will be looking toward their future stars like Jordan Medina, third best player in Colorado for the class of 2018, according to Prep Baseball Report, and the Dammel brothers, Aaron and Zac.
Nick Shumpert was a big part of the baseball team last year but as assistant coach Mark Robinson said, “Yes, he was a great player, but the hard part with baseball is, Nick goes up maybe four times to hit and gets three balls hit to him a game. This isn’t football where I can give it to him over and over in a game. Baseball is a true team sport and we have one of the finest teams this year.”
Jordan Medina, sophomore catcher, has played varsity as a freshman and travels around the country to play baseball. He played varsity last year in eleven games and had an on base percentage of .444. This means out of every ten at bats, he made it on base a little less that five. Gleason said, “This is one talented baseball player. He is a great kid to be around. He is one of the hardest working kids on our team.” Medina said “I am very excited this year. I love baseball and I think we have a really good team.”
Aaron Dammel is a senior for the HR baseball team and has committed to Metro State to play baseball. Dammel said, “I am excited to play in college and be around my friends.” He played Varsity since freshman year. In his junior year he averaged a run per game. Gleason said, “He’s one fine baseball player who works hard. He is a great leader.”
Zac Dammel, sophomore, has also played varsity since freshman year. He played two games last year but will be in the starting rotation this year. Gleason said, “He is a good ball player and he has a bright future. Dammel said “I am excited to follow in my brothers footsteps [Aaron] and sign somewhere I want to go and learn. I am ready this year, and with all the extra work we put in with early practices I think we will be ready.”
Going into this year they might be missing one piece but these three will make up for him. Gleason wants everyone to come out to watch the rivalry games because he “wants a piece of them. ” Go Falcons!
Dominic Dakovich, Staff Reporter
