COLORADO SPRINGS – A rough start to the season prompted a team therapy session for the Ponderosa Mustangs. Coming off the state championship in program history, the Mustangs found themselves sitting at 1-3 and not playing a championship brand of baseball by any means.
A three-hour meeting was needed to try and turn their fortunes around. It was a golden investment of their time.
On the grounds at UCHealth Park, the home of the Rocky Mountain Vibes, the Mustangs bats were still hot, and Gabe Jacobs pitched a gem to lift Ponderosa to an 11-1 win over Cheyenne Mountain to claim their second straight Class 4A baseball.
“I think we needed that rough start,” Jacobs said. “We sat in a room for three hours with our whole team just talking about what we needed to do mentally the rest of the year. It obviously paid off.”
The mental preparation was crucial. In last year’s state tournament, the Mustangs (23-7 overall) went into the final day unbeaten but dropped their first game against Holy Family. They rallied to capture the first state title in program history.
They weren’t leaving anything to chance in their quest for title No. 2. Jacobs threw all five innings and was more precise than he was overpowering. He only struck out three hitters but allowed just two hits and walked just one batter. He got ahead of hitters early, throwing 11 first-pitch strikes.
“I mentally prepared myself so well. Everyone did,” Jacobs said. “We practiced hard all week. We worked our (butts) off. We went into this game and wanted to dominate.”
It was a slow build offensively. Dylan Carey scored the first run of the game on a throwing error from Cheyenne Mountain third baseman Patrick O’Donnell in the first inning. The Red-Tailed Hawks (22-8) tied the game on an RBI ground out by Denton Damgaard in their half of that inning, but the offense went silent from there on out.
The Mustangs, meanwhile, started building their lead in the third inning. Parker Dennis scored Brant Jarvis on an RBI fielder’s choice, then he scored on an RBI double from Derek Lukes. The next inning, things broke wide open as the Mustangs put up seven runs. They chased Cheyenne Mountain starting pitcher Max O’Neil out of the game and all but secured the state championship during that rally.
“We came in this weekend scoring runs,” Dennis said. “It works for us to get that first run on the board and have our pitcher find his confidence and throw strikes.”
That’s been the M.O. for Ponderosa. The pitching has been effective for sure, but in their five state tournament games, they scored a total of 65 runs. Having experience from winning state last year was also a big factor, one that the team knows it will be missing a bit come next season.
“When we get something going, they continue it,” coach Bob Maloney said. “They run down the line. It’s great leadership and we are going to miss our 13 seniors.”
But there couldn’t be a better way to send them off. Maloney watched as the players hugged each other and lifted the state championship trophy for the fans to enjoy. It’s a sight that he’d never get tired of no matter if this is the last time he experiences it or if it’s the second time in a long run of championship wins. And it’s never for him. It’s all about the boys who give their all on the field or provide invaluable support from the dugout.
“When I started coaching years ago, you always dream of winning a state championship,” Maloney said. “To be able to do it back-to-back, I’m touched and fortunate, but it doesn’t have anything to do with me. It’s all about these 20 kids who came out here and busted their butts every day for us.”
