Baseball is a game of numbers. Batting averages, earned run averages, fielding percentages, pitch counts, you name it – if it can be quantified and analyzed, it will be.
But there’s one number that supersedes all others for the Patagonia Lobos.
The number right now, as the Lobos take on San Miguel in their season opener today at 3:45 p.m., is 10. With the hope that it will soon be 11.
That’s the roster size for second-year coach Ryan Shore – and it’s representative of the challenge of fielding a baseball team every year at a school the size of Patagonia. Not much margin for error, or injury, or any other kind of happenstance. “We’re right on the edge,” Shore said.
Only five players return from last season, and among those, the Lobos’ most experienced player, senior Noah Gallardo, is recovering from an ankle injury suffered during the basketball season. Shore is cautiously optimistic regarding his return. “He is one of our leaders – the guy I can play at just about any position, but he’s also our starting shortstop, so he’s very, very important to us,” Shore said.
Another key returnee, junior Josh Woods, also missed the end of the basketball season with a leg injury, but he’s been practicing in full and back at second base.
The other returning Lobos are junior pitcher/first baseman Kannon Shore, senior outfielder Miguel Albarran and sophomore outfielder Jose Quiroz.
Kannon Shore will be the Lobos’ top pitcher, and Ryan Shore is also expecting freshman left-hander Troy Hawkins to be a big contributor on the mound. Behind those two are senior Diego Padilla and sophomore Matt Young.
“Kannon’s throwing the ball pretty well, and I really like Troy Hawkins – he’s going to pitch a lot for us,” Shore said. “Both Diego and Matt, it’s probably three or four years since they’ve played baseball, so getting them back in the groove is a whole different thing, but they’re doing well.”
Newcomer Patrick Rodhe, a junior, takes over at the catching position. “He’s really solid behind the plate, and the kind of vocal leader that we can use as a team,” Shore said. “I’m trying to get them to talk out on the field all the time, and it doesn’t come natural to a lot of our kids, but it comes natural to him.”
Another number of significance for the Lobos is seven. That’s how many practices they’ve had prior to today’s season opener.
“It’s very much to be determined who we are,” Shore said. “I have kids who are still just learning the game. If we can just come out and do the little things, we’ll be doing all right.
“We’ve got a couple of good athletes out there that are tough-minded. Compared to what we had last year, we have a lot more contact-oriented people who can put the ball in play a little more, and I’m hoping that translates on the field.”
The Lobos’ 18-game schedule includes 10 on their home field, including six straight to open the season. After today’s opener, they are right back in action on Thursday against San Simon.
Patagonia’s record climbed to 2-14 a year ago, with the two victories bookending the season. It’s been a gradual progression from 0-15 in 2024 and 1-15 in 2024.
Shore is hesitant to put a number on his goals for the season.
“What I want to see from them is the same kind of attitude and the same kind of improvement that we had in basketball,” he said. “Being there every day, working hard, improving the whole season, and we’ll see who we can be at the end of the year.”
SCHEDULE
Feb. 25 – San Miguel, 3:45 p.m.
Feb. 26 – San Simon, 3:45 p.m.
Mar. 4 – Willcox, 4 p.m.
Mar. 6 – Baboquivari, 3:45 p.m.
Mar. 10 – Fort Thomas, 3:30 p.m.
Mar. 20 – San Manuel, 3:45 p.m.
Mar. 24 – at Hayden, 3:45 p.m.
Mar. 25 – Valley Union, 3:45 p.m.
Mar. 27 – at Duncan, 3:45 p.m.
Mar. 31 – Ray, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 6 – St. David, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 10 – at San Manuel, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 13 – at Valley Union, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 16 – at Baboquivari, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 20 – at San Simon, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 22 – Duncan, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 24 – at St. David, 3:45 p.m.
Apr. 27 – at Fort Thomas, 4 p.m.