Montezuma-Cortez senior Cory Carver looks to lead the Panthers to another Intermountain League title and third state tournament appearance in the past four years. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
Panthers return experienced roster aiming for another state tournament run
CORTEZ – Montezuma-Cortez baseball has become one of the toughest road trips in Class 3A, thanks to a home stretch that has turned McAndrew Field into a reliable advantage.
Over the past three seasons, the Panthers have posted a 23-3 record at home, including four regional-round wins that propelled them to two state tournament appearances. This year’s seniors helped ignite that rise, and they enter their final season aiming even higher.
After reaching the final weekend of the 2025 Class 3A tournament as one of the last four teams standing, M-CHS is focused on taking the next step. The Panthers plan to push for a third straight outright league title while continuing to protect their home field, where they’ve been one of the state’s most consistent programs.
Head coach Jake Huff returns for his second full season after guiding the team to 23 wins last spring. He leads a veteran roster anchored by first-team all-state shortstop Cory Carver, who signed with the Naval Academy and enters the season as one of Colorado’s top returning hitters. Carver reached base in more than half his plate appearances last year, recorded 48 hits – 22 for extra bases – and drove in 38 runs.
Junior Michael Krupa, an honorable mention all-state pick, also hit above .400 and became a steady presence as his role expanded during the season. Opposing pitchers had few options; even if they tried to pitch around the top of the order, production continued throughout the lineup.
Senior first baseman Jaris McDonald, an Ottawa University (Arizona) signee, returns after finishing second on the team with 30 RBIs and third with 27 hits. Seniors Parker Conrad and Bodie Stiegelmeyer were everyday starters and add stability across the field. Juniors Easton Pixler and Jaiden Istenes look to build on strong sophomore seasons that helped deepen the lineup.
“We have high hopes heading into this season, and we’re looking for our upperclassmen to lead by example,” said Huff. “The work ethic from those boys is the reason that this program has been as successful as it’s been over the past few years.”
Pitching depth shapes up as a strength, with McDonald and Krupa returning after delivering valuable innings a year ago. Senior Kallan Wirth and junior Connor Rosenbaugh also logged frequent appearances, giving Huff multiple options for long weekends and tournament sets. Sophomore Zye Kuenzler is expected to take on more varsity innings as the Panthers continue developing a multi-arm rotation.
“We’ll have a group of a half dozen or so that we’ll be working with this year, because we’ll need to have plenty of guys available for the big tournaments, both at the beginning and end of the season,” Huff said.
Defense and speed also return as key assets. M-CHS fielded at a .931 rate last spring, and the Panthers’ aggressive base running led to 96 steals. Huff expects both traits to remain central to their identity.
“Speed is an asset for our team, and we’ll continue to be aggressive, but in smart situations,” he added.
The Panthers open the season March 12-14 in Moab, the first of several early tournaments. They will also compete in Delta on March 20-21 and in Carbondale from April 2-4. Their home opener is March 24 against Montrose, followed by a matchup with Durango on April 7 at McAndrew Field.
League play includes three road doubleheaders, beginning April 18 in Pagosa Springs. The only Intermountain League doubleheader in Cortez comes May 9, when Centauri visits in what could be a decisive late-season matchup. With a deep roster, returning firepower and a home field that has become one of Colorado’s toughest stops, the Panthers expect to position themselves for another postseason run.
