Despite tough start in Monroe, Monticello baseball team is optimistic in 2023

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
With all the snow that has fallen in Monticello this winter and remains on the Monticello High School baseball field, it has been impossible for the Buckaroo varsity baseball team to get any on-field practice in the weeks leading up to the start of the season.
Obviously that poses a huge challenge for any team, but even more so for a team that lost several seniors to graduation and is beginning anew in 2023.
Monticello officially opened the season with a trip to Monroe, UT for a 2A East showdown with South Sevier on March 22. The Rams had their way with the Buckaroos in 17-1 and 27-1 wins.
Despite the tough start, Monticello coaches and players are optimistic – that they’ll get on the field in their own hometown first of all, and that they’ll play some good baseball this season.
Buckaroo Head Coach Josh Keyes, who begins the second year of his second stint with the team and eighth overall, recently shared several thoughts and expectations for his team as they embark on a new journey together.
Rhett Sifford: With the new season just underway tell me a little bit about your team.
Coach Keyes: Monticello baseball graduated a bunch of seniors last year but are returning very optimistic. Easton Young is back after having a great junior season. He batted over .500 and improved behind the plate as our catcher. We also return JD McDonald, Shane Lewis, and Javlin Robison from last year’s team.
We expect great things from Trayden Harris who rejoined the team for his senior season. Underclassmen Mason Atwood, Traken Lee, Tyson Wheeler, Zac Thayn, Skyler Peterson, and Camren Carpenter will contribute as well. We also introduce a class of freshmen that will bring some excitement to baseball in Monticello: Kooper Nielson, Jaeden Camacho, Even Carpenter, Landon Shumway, Peyton Hatathley, and Jackson Keyes.
Sifford: Who are your leaders?
Keyes: Easton and Javlin are the leaders of this team. They led throughout football before going their separate ways into basketball and wrestling, but have joined forces again to finish their senior year off with baseball. They have the skill set and are willing to accept the responsibility.
Sifford: Who is impressing you early on?
Keyes: I have been very pleased with the players who returned from a year ago. Many of them had never played baseball and they have made amazing strides. Tyson Wheeler and Zac Thayn have especially taken a jump forward primarily due to their great work ethic and impeccable attitudes.
Sifford: What’s the feeling you get from your players in the first weeks of the year?
Keyes: We have been in the gym and a home game isn’t looking very promising. The players would have a lot to complain about, but credit the culture at MHS, these players have shown up every day to work hard and enjoy their time playing baseball. They want to improve and compete. We are facing an uphill battle playing 2A baseball as a 1A school, but it doesn’t deter our focus and mindset.
Sifford: What do you think your strengths are going to be?
Keyes: We will be strong at catcher with Easton and at the top of the lineup with him leading off with a couple nice bats following him in the order.
Sifford: Where might you be weak?
Keyes: Our pitching will be young, but that type of experience is invaluable. We will take some lumps as the season progresses but the learning opportunities will be endless.
Sifford: What goals do you have this season?
Keyes: Our goals are simple. We really want the scoreboards in the gym to be intact when we finish the year (not a simple task considering our practice environment). Other than that, baseball is an amazing sport that feeds off of repetition and consistency. We want to improve throughout the season to the point where we are consistent in all aspects of the game.
Sifford: Can you tell me about the coaches who will be helping you this year?
Keyes: My coaching staff is solid. I have Coach Ryan Young returning. He has been coaching baseball in Monticello for a long time. Coach Kirby is the field czar and we hope we give him a chance to make the diamond beautiful before the end of the season. Coach Baylr Eldredge is returning to the bench. He is great with the boys and his love for baseball is second to none.
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The Buckaroos are in the midst of a busy week that will see them play five games in seven days if conditions permit. They traveled to Gunnison, UT on Tuesday, March 28 to take on the Bulldogs in a 2A East doubleheader.
Their “home” game against Dove Creek scheduled for this Thursday, March 30 has been moved to Moab. Then, on Monday, April 3 Monticello will travel to Duchesne to take on the Eagles in another region doubleheader.