team, the Clear Creek Golddiggers. This combining of teams was necessary due to the low number of students interested in playing baseball in each of the three schools, according to Head Coach Jeff Schuessler. This season is the second time that the three teams played as one and the fourth time that Gilpin teacher Schuessler coached the team. Three players from Gilpin: David Gerhardus (junior), Bobby Garza (sophomore), and Andy Schaffer (senior) each donned the blue and gold of Clear Creek to face opponents from other schools along the Front Range who have similar student population numbers. The Digger’s team played AAA ball in the Frontier League, a tough league comprised of Platt Canyon, Bennett, Sheridan and Denver Academy.

  While the team faired 10 and 10 during the season, Gilpin students stood out and were especially honored for their abilities. Bobby Garza gained his place on the Second All Conference Team by standing out on the mound. His pitching also earned him The Golden Arm Award. Also helping him to gain the recognition necessary to be named to the All Conference Team was the fact that he was a leading hitter on the Clear Creek Team, according to Coach Schuessler.

  David Gerhardus, an all-round athlete who also wrestled and played football for Gilpin this year, made the Second Team All Conference as a utility player. David played every position on the field except shortstop and excelled as both a first and third baseman as well as catcher. The baseball season doesn’t stop here for David though; he is an Assistant Coach for the Gilpin County Little League Majors baseball team. According to Head Coach Lonnie Kunz, “David brings an enthusiasm to the team that some of the older coaches may well have forgotten. David is a great young man and an asset to the team, both as a coach and as a mentor to the younger players.” Beside his normal coaching assignments, Coach Gerhardus also has the added responsibility for improving the skills of the Little League outfield players, a task he takes seriously as was evident at a recent Little League game in Idaho Springs. Coach Gerhardus was hanging against the fence in the dugout when a Clear Creek Little Leaguer hit a pop fly to center field. David watched the ball falling and erupted with a yell for the player who had indeed caught the ball and brought the team up to bat with the third out. David, as a high school student, could be doing any number of things with his summer, but volunteered to help coach when asked because “I want to be around the game as much as possible and I like helping out.” David also attended the umpire clinic brought to Gilpin by long-time coach Fred Weber and was ready to step in as an ump when Little League had an umpire cancel. David put on the umpire gear and called a good game.

  The third Gilpin student on the Digger team was Andy Schaefer. This Gilpin senior also took his place as a leader in the high school a step further. During the school year, Schaefer could be seen spending time with younger students in one-on-one situations as a mentor.

  As is often the case in small communities, the teams may not have the numbers necessary to single handedly field a top-notch team, but these three Gilpin students made the best of the situation and each proved that they were winners, both on and off the fields.