Woodland Park Panthers Team Eyeing Playoff Repeat and State Title
Trevor Phipps
Photos Courtesy of James Bain
The Woodland Park Panther baseball team is continuing their historic success and is eyeing another playoff bid.
In fact, with an impressive 11-2 record, the Panthers have a chance at competing for the state title for the second year in a row. What a turnaround for a baseball program that once was mocked by rival teams.
Throughout the past two seasons, the Panthers have produced a handful of baseball stars that shine on both offense and defense. The team sports four stellar pitchers that can also contribute when getting their turn at swinging the bat.
Besides boasting the strongest bullpen in 3A high school baseball, the Panthers also are equipped with young stars that have helped make them playoff-worthy. Panther senior first baseman Landon Bain has become a standout player who has proven to be a backbone of the team.
When he is not running the infield and making key plays at first base, Bain is a beast at home plate with a batting average sitting right around .400 for the season. And at this point, Bain is the only senior on the team to have already secured a scholarship to play ball at the college level in McPherson, Kansas.
An Impressive Baseball Career
Bain started playing baseball at five years old and continued achieving success at this sport at an amazing level. But unfortunately, Bain suffered a shoulder injury between his freshman and sophomore year.
For most high school athletes, this setback at such a young age may have ended their baseball prospects.
However, Bain refused to let the injury slow him down. Ever since his injury, Bain has strived to improve his skills. “He has really fought to stay out on the field,” according to James Bain, Landon’s father.
In between his high school baseball seasons, Bain has also played on multiple traveling club teams in the offseason. During his senior year, Bain very impressive statistics as an infielder. And while at bat, he was ranked in the top 10 in Colorado at the 3A level.
According to Bain, the team’s success can be attributed to their rather new coaching staff that took over a couple of years ago. He also said that he personally improved after switching positions from third base to first base.
“I’m pretty good at what I do on first base,” Bain said. “I’m the man of the infield and if there is a ground ball they always throw to me. I am the one that always gets the ball, and I have to kind of save the team.”
Panthers Look to Improve after Devastating Double Header Loss
Saving the team has now become a definite mission for Landon Bain, if the Panthers hope to advance in playoff action at the state level.
During a doubleheader on the road earlier this month, the Panthers dropped their stellar winning streak while playing out east in La Junta. The Panthers’ undefeated record ended when they lost their first match against the La Junta Tigers 3-1, and then they dropped their second battle 14-6.
Bain said that the team still has a rather tough road ahead of them leading up to the postseason. “We’re only really worried about one team right now and it’s Lamar, just because they are very, very good,” Bain said. “Everybody on their team throws at like 80 (mph, miles per hour) and we have seen like 75 (mph) top this year. So, it’s definitely going to be different.”
And despite winning 11 games in a row, Bain agreed that the Panthers still have some room to improve before taking the ultimate test during the playoffs. The Panther first baseman cites better collaboration while playing defense.
“My team and I need to talk more,” Bain said. “We don’t talk enough in the infield. Everything we do we’re pretty good at except communicating. We just need to be louder.”
Bain and his fellow senior catcher Gavin Strouse lead the team when it comes to fielding percentage. In fact, Strouse is rated 13th in Colorado Division 3A with a .989 fielding percentage.
Bain also ranks as the team’s third best hitter. So far this season the first baseman has racked up 13 runs, 12 hits and 11 RBIs. Bain is also tied for second on the team with Strouse when it comes to significant hits, as each player has knocked away three triples over 11 games played (two of the Panthers’ wins were forfeits)
Speaking of Strouse, the team’s star pitcher/catcher leads the team with a .464 batting average. Strouse is first on the team with 19 runs and second with nine stolen bases.
Also leading the stats on the Panthers team is another senior, pitcher/center fielder, Link Bryden. Bryden has the team’s second-best batting average (.442), and he has picked up the most hits (19), RBIs (18) and stolen bases (10). The star senior athlete also has 1.68 ERA while on the mound pitching.
The Panthers play on the road this week against Sand Creek (4-13) on Monday and Florence (4-9) on Tuesday. The team then plays a double header at home the Saturday starting at 11 a.m. against their league rivals, the 4-9 Manitou Mustangs. The Panthers then end their season with a huge double header against the 7-8 Lamar Thunder on May 9.
