Staff Report

The Roaring Fork High School senior boys continue to add to their athletic legacy.

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Pitcher Jake Boyle became the first player in head coach Eric Nieslanik’s seven-year tenure to earn Class 3A All-State baseball honors and leads a quartet of Rams who captured All-Western Slope League kudos.

Boyle finished the season with a 1.78 ERA, a school record 109 strikeouts, three shutouts and an 8-3 record on the season. On the offensive side, the senior led the team with a .442 batting average, 34 RBIs, four homers and nine doubles.

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“Jake’s been a solid kid for me – especially on the mound – for three years,” Nieslanik said. “With 109 strikeouts, and he only walks 15, it makes my job a lot easier. And, to be honest, the team kind of hopped on his back.”

Roaring Fork finished 2004 with a 14-9 overall record and advanced to the 3A Regional Tournament. Boyle, who Nieslanik said plans to play college baseball at NAIA Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, Calif.) next season, was also runner-up in league MVP voting.

Joining Boyle on the all-league first team are classmate Dan Markoya and sophomore Jake Bowman.

Markoya finished the season with a school-record 14 doubles, a .430 batting average and 26 RBIs. Bowman, who will be the only returning starter next season, posted a .408 average with 15 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples and three homers.

“Basically, we had seniors and Jake Bowman,” Nieslanik said. “Next year it’s just that one returning starter, so he’ll have to carry the load for sure.”

Senior Max Green wrapped up his prep athletic career with league honorable-mention accolades. Green finished the season with eight doubles, three triples and a .411 average.

The complete all-league list was not available.