The Colorado Rockies don’t look like they’re headed back to the playoffs, but two NOCO ballclubs are. The Fort Collins Foxes and the Johnstown-based Colorado Cyclones won their respective summer leagues and will be representing the state and the region next month in the National Baseball Congress World Series.
The Cyclones, winners of the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League for the 5th straight year, made it all the way to the quarterfinals in last year’s NBC tournament and will try to bring home the national title this season. They’re coached by Greeley native J.L. Buchanan and feature a NOCO-heavy roster of college players, including UNC outfielder Matt Burkhart and recent alumni from high schools in Greeley, Fort Collins, Eaton and Berthoud.
The Foxes, now in their 15th season, joined the Rocky Mountain Baseball League this year and won the league championship in their first go-round. They’ll be appearing in the NBC World Series for the first time.
We’ll be following both teams’ fortunes in the national tournament, which begins in Wichita on July 27 and concludes on August 10. And keep your eyes peeled for our August print edition — it features an article on the MHCBL, which has four NOCO-based teams and dozens of players who played high school or college ball in the region.
