Prep Baseball Report

Inside the Wyoming Dugout: Interview with SS/RHP Carter Young of Natrona County HS


Neil Devlin
Denver Metro Senior Writer

As one of Colorado’s frequent, late-winter snowstorms again interfered with early season high-school baseball at midweek, Carter Young must have enjoyed a good laugh.

The past Sunday, Young, a junior at Kelly Walsh High Trojans in Casper, Wyo., was at Joe White Field at ThunderRidge in Highlands Ranch for a Prep Baseball Report-Colorado Preseason All-State event. It was in between storms and the first real opportunity for locals to play ball outside, although it was relevant to Colorado in the first part of March as the temperatures were in the high 30s and the wind made it even nastier.

“This is nothing,” Young said as spectators, mostly fathers, wore hoods and gloves, participants tried to keep in motion to stay warm and event personnel bundled up as best as they could.

Being from Wyoming, one of the two states that don’t offer prep baseball – Montana is the other -- Young is used to difficulties in attempting to play the greatest game that ever was.

For instance:

--- With no prep teams, Young is just like others in Wyoming who are relegated to Legion and club teams that are forced to get used to travel quite quickly.

“You either play with Legion or stick to club teams,” he said. “And there are only about eight Legion teams.”

--- There is practically zero chance for exposure, he said. It’s why he made the 4.5-hour drive to Highlands Ranch.

“It’s hard to get seen,” Young said. “But the trip is worth it, I think. Just trying for exposure … in Wyoming, there’s, like, none.”

--- And if you’re from Wyoming and love the game, playing elsewhere is a good idea. Even the University of Wyoming Cowboys don’t field a team.

“I don’t know, it’s just a passion,” he said. “There’s not much to do in Wyoming, unless you hunt and fish. Baseball is another road … and I don’t hunt and fish.”

A 5-foot-10, 145-pounder, Young pitches and plays shortstop and second base. He bats left. On the mound, he hovers between 84-85 mph and mixes in a curveball and changeup. It’s difficult to gage his batting statistics because he’s limited to the Oilers in Wyoming Legion in Casper, but PBR-Colorado noted that Young sports a slightly open batting stance with a short stride during load and he’s mostly balanced.

His first game won’t be until April 19 and the season is short – his teams will have completed its season by July.

“It is what it is,” Young said.

Despite the difficulties he faces, college baseball is next on his radar and, if he’s lucky enough, he said, “I’d love to go play professionally.”

He remembers following his brothers when they played in Wyoming, so he knew what he was facing when it was his turn.

Perhaps any Colorado schoolboy who gets frustrated by weather during the prep baseball season can take a cue from someone who has it worse. Much worse.

“I’m a little bit envious,” Young said while in Highlands Ranch. “I wish Casper was more of a baseball town. I just have to try to make the best of it.”