Excitement was in the air at All City Field in Denver on May 27 as the RCHS Varsity Baseball Team took its first ever 5A state title.

A number of RCHS baseball players are Castle Pines residents and have been crossing paths with each other since Little League.  Pictured back row, left to right:  Coaches and CP residents Mike Myers and Jay Owens; Middle row, left to right: Bobby Rexroat RCHS, Ben Sneider RCHS, Dane, Michael Wunderlich, Bryce Dietz RCHS, and Daryl Myers RCHS; Front row, left to right:  Elliott Stoltz, Walker Owens RCHS, Adam Schiller RCHS, Gage Brady, Rhys Pollock, and Glen Swank.  This photo was taken five years ago in Omaha, Nebraska.

By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Julie Lamb and Stacie Sneider

The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) baseball team won its first ever 5A state championship after a 9-2 win against the Chatfield Chargers on May 27 at All City Field in Denver.  

Seven of the varsity players are Castle Pines residents and have been playing together for years: Ben Sneider, first base/pitcher; Bryce Dietz, pitcher; Adam Schiller, outfield; Nick Lamb, third base/second base/shortstop; Daryl Myers, infield/outfield; Bobby Rexroat, outfield/pitcher; and Walker Owens, third base/catcher.

HOA1 resident and RCHS senior Sneider had a successful day with an RBI and two scores.  Sneider remarked, “The state championship was amazing.  Many of us had played together since we were in little league and even back then, we felt this might be our year.  That vision came together this season!”

Julie Lamb, in true mother’s intuition-style, recalled, “Nick was not a starter but a team player and motivator.  I told Principal Abner and a few parents I thought they would make it to state, win state, and Nick would get a chance to help make it all happen.”

Daryl Myers (left) and Tanner Reidy (right) have some soggy fun with Coach Steve Tschetter (middle) who has been coaching for RCHS since the school opened in 2003.  This dousing is a sports tradition where players dump a bucket full of liquid over the head of their coach after a meaningful win.

Sure enough in the top of the seventh inning, the Jags were in the lead when Lamb came in to pinch hit.  Julie Lamb continued, “Everyone in the stands was on their feet chanting for Nick and he hit an RBI single to make the score 6-2.  Two little old guys with world series rings asked me who Nick was, and when I stopped crying I told them his story.  They, too started chanting for Nick.  This isn’t about Nick, it is about a great group of boys who worked hard together.  But it was certainly the greatest experience of Nick’s life thus far!”

Hidden Pointe resident and former Colorado Rockies pro baseball player and Little League coach Mike Myers commented, “Watching the boys mature on the baseball field and understand the mentality and work ethic it takes for success is very rewarding.  These boys deserve all the credit for making the effort to improve as ball players and as men.”

Myers’ son Daryl recounted, “It was great playing with all the guys I’ve looked up to since I was in eighth grade and watching my older brother play on varsity.  The seniors this year were the best thing any program could ask for, and I’m blessed to be able to say I won a state championship with them!”

Daryl Myers (left) and Tanner Reidy (right) have some soggy fun with Coach Steve Tschetter (middle) who has been coaching for RCHS since the school opened in 2003.  This dousing is a sports tradition where players dump a bucket full of liquid over the head of their coach after a meaningful win.