08-11-06 - Cougars Chalk Up Another Successful Summer
The Niwot summer program once again completed a successful season under the guidance of
Bob Bote.
The State Farm Legion A team finished at 38-19. The team coached by Bote lost in the
semi-finals of the Colorado State Tournament. This was the first time in the last 4 years that the
Niwot based team did not win the Colorado Legion A State Title. As always many of the
players earned college scholarships while playing for the team. Former NHS player Mike Harpe
garnered a spot on the Kaskaskia Community College team in Centralia, Ill. See Daily Camera
Article to see a list of many of the players who signed this summer. Though the team did not
win the title they once again helped many players further their baseball career.
The State Farm Connie Mack team finished just outside of the playoffs in its first year in
existence. Niwot has run Connie Mack teams in the past, but this was the first time the team
was sponsored by State Farm. Coach Jack Taylor led the troops throughout the summer and
was instrumental in helping to schedule the Connie Mack and Legion A teams in multiple out of
state tournaments this summer. All the travel definitely paid off as coach Taylor's team was
also able to collect multiple scholarship offers for its players throughout the summer.
The Niwot Legion A team struggled through a very tough schedule. The team which consisted
mostly of Niwot High underclassmen faced almost exclusively older teams including State Farm.
Head coach Mike Owens was assisted by Craig McBride and former NHS players Winslow
Taylor and Michael Perry. While the record was not what the team had hoped for, the
experience should prove invaluable come next spring.
The Niwot Legion B team coached by Colby Jones also played one level above the age of many
of its players. The team competed well all summer and the playing time that the players received
will certainly help in the future.
At the Legion C level the surprise of the summer was that the younger of the two teams was
the dominant team. While Dan Laborde's team consisted of players who will be entering High
School next year they played like seasoned veterans. The team finished with a 14-2 record
and qualified for the state tournament.
The Niwot summer program once again completed a successful season under the guidance of
Bob Bote.
The State Farm Legion A team finished at 38-19. The team coached by Bote lost in the
semi-finals of the Colorado State Tournament. This was the first time in the last 4 years that the
Niwot based team did not win the Colorado Legion A State Title. As always many of the
players earned college scholarships while playing for the team. Former NHS player Mike Harpe
garnered a spot on the Kaskaskia Community College team in Centralia, Ill. See Daily Camera
Article to see a list of many of the players who signed this summer. Though the team did not
win the title they once again helped many players further their baseball career.
The State Farm Connie Mack team finished just outside of the playoffs in its first year in
existence. Niwot has run Connie Mack teams in the past, but this was the first time the team
was sponsored by State Farm. Coach Jack Taylor led the troops throughout the summer and
was instrumental in helping to schedule the Connie Mack and Legion A teams in multiple out of
state tournaments this summer. All the travel definitely paid off as coach Taylor's team was
also able to collect multiple scholarship offers for its players throughout the summer.
The Niwot Legion A team struggled through a very tough schedule. The team which consisted
mostly of Niwot High underclassmen faced almost exclusively older teams including State Farm.
Head coach Mike Owens was assisted by Craig McBride and former NHS players Winslow
Taylor and Michael Perry. While the record was not what the team had hoped for, the
experience should prove invaluable come next spring.
The Niwot Legion B team coached by Colby Jones also played one level above the age of many
of its players. The team competed well all summer and the playing time that the players received
will certainly help in the future.
At the Legion C level the surprise of the summer was that the younger of the two teams was
the dominant team. While Dan Laborde's team consisted of players who will be entering High
School next year they played like seasoned veterans. The team finished with a 14-2 record
and qualified for the state tournament.
