It’s not been an easy season for the Mustang baseball team, a combined team made up of Norwood and Nucla players.
“We’ve been through about everything you can think of this year, but we are coming back and playing a lot better,” head coach Randy Gabriel said in an interview on Monday afternoon.
The beginning the 2026 baseball season started off a bit rocky, due to some players on spring break. After that, the Mustangs lost some kids to “disciplinary issues” and for “an extended amount of time.” Gabriel said the kids were starters, and it was tough not having them.
The guys started out 1-5, but coach said he’s got everyone back now, and during the challenging parts the younger players stepped up, filled in and did a great job.
“They busted their tail,” Gabriel said.
With baseball having back-to-back games, due to the nature of the sport, he said it can be hard when a team doesn’t have the pitching.
“It’s very tough,” he said.
Coach said he does have everybody back together at this point though, and the guys are unified. Now they’re all looking forward to good things. They hope to “keep on climbing the hill.”
Many in the community know that Gabriel’s family, too, also endured recent tragedy, and that’s been another thing to recover from. In what was one of the hardest days of coach’s life, he’s grateful to assistant Mike Redd and also Tony Bonacquista and Mike Rummel. He said those guys are all here for the kids, something they all believe in.
“Some things are way bigger than baseball, and they all get it,” he said. “This community has such great support. We are so lucky to live where we do. We are blessed."
Pivoting and rolling with what’s happening is something the guys have had to get used to. The Dove Creek game April 28 got moved to April 29. Coach said it’s a double-header, and the guys have to win one, though they definitely want to win both.
“We don’t want to end the momentum,” he said.
Districts were supposed to happen Friday, but due to weather got moved to Saturday at Del Norte. Coach won’t know anything about district play until after Wednesday of this week.
The guys are hitting the ball well, and coach said it’s been fun to watch. And, continuing to pitch are Brycen Rummel, Jackson Dinsmore, Owen Tackett, along with Jackson McCabe, Jonah Richardson and Jace Bonacquista.
Morale is good right now.
“They want to get after it and do something,” coach said. “To do that, we have to win this weekend. The kids are excited and playing well and want to keep it rolling.”
With their record now 8-8, Gabriel said it’s pretty “miraculous” what can happen in baseball.
Coach said again the guys have to win districts, or they’re done this season. If they can make that happen this weekend, they’ll advance as the No. 5 seed.
“We’ve been through a lot this year,” he said. “But, it’s made us stronger.”
