Southern Colorado Roundup

Only one Southern Colorado high school baseball team was left standing on the last weekend of play in the Colorado state playoffs.

Unfortunately, that team -- Pueblo West -- was beaten twice in the Class 4A state championship series by Valor Christian 8-1 and 9-6, finishing as the runner-up for the second time in four years.

The Cyclones finished with a 21-6 record after winning the South-Central League and winning five consecutive postseason games to reach the title game. Valor Christian finished with a 23-4 record, claiming the school's first state baseball title.

With the prep season in the mirror, the focus turns to Pueblo's Connie Mack team -- Loaf 'N Jug -- a conglomeration of players from Pueblo-area schools.

In fact, four of the 15 players on the summer roster are from Pueblo West -- graduated seniors Rocco Arguto, Josh Drury, Lucas Quimby and Dauson Tate. Five others are from Pueblo South, three from Centennial, two from Pueblo Central, one from Pueblo County and one from Pueblo Central.

Mario Mattivi, a former Pueblo South and Colorado State University-Pueblo pitcher, will make his head coaching debut with Loaf 'N Jug.

One of Loaf 'N Jug's top priorities is to play well during the annual Tony Andenucio Memorial Tournament that will be held June 16-19 at the Runyon Sports Complex in Pueblo. The 10-team, three-day tournament is considered one of the top summer tournaments in the country.

Loaf 'N Jug's schedule is home heavy and includes only three road trips -- at Canon City June 9 and 10 and at tournaments in Lawrence, Kan., (Juune 23-26) and Alburquerque, N.M., June 30-July 3.

The team opens its season Wednesday against Evergreen with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Hobbs Field at the Runyon Sports Complex.

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