SERIES HISTORY WITH ADAMS STATE
The Mavericks have enjoyed quite a bit of success against the Grizzlies since Adams State brought the program back in 2013. Colorado Mesa is 47-4 since that time and at one point had a 30 game win streak that went from April 3, 2016 to May 6, 2023.

The two teams split last season's series in blustery Alamosa. The Mavericks outscored the Grizzlies in the series 86-55 at ASU Baseball Field but Colorado Mesa won the rubber match in the RMAC Tournament by a score of 17-10 in Grand Junction.

The Mavericks are 28-1 at home in Grand Junction against Adams State with their only loss coming on April 2, 2016, a 3-2 setback at Suplizio Field.

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
As opposed to year's past, Adams State played well in the non-conference portion of their schedule splitting with now nationally ranked Fort Hays State and St. Cloud State. Halfway through the conference schedule, they are in position to make the postseason for the second straight season.

The Grizzlies have a pair of 10 home run hitters in their lineup in Josiah Hall and Phil Carter. Hall leads the Grizzlies in batting at .441 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs, and 33 runs driven in.

Carter is also tied for the team lead in appearances on the mound with 13 and is 3-4 with 24 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched.

PAULY POWER
Senior outfielder Paul Schoenfeld went on an absolute terror in the Mavericks series sweep of Colorado School of Mines. He batted .529 (10-for-19) with 10 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and knocked in seven to help run the Mavericks winning streak to nine games.

The Wichita, Kan. native is batting .410 with 12 doubles, two triples, and six home runs on the season. He ranks second in the RMAC in both hits (48) and runs (45).

REMEMBER THE NAME
Freshman catcher Noah Neufeld is making a name for himself when he makes a start. The Laguna Beach, Calif. native is batting .353 on the season in just 17 at-bats. We need to take a little bit deeper dive to get the real story though. 

Neufeld has made three starts on the season and in the games he has started he is batting .400 (6-for-15) with four home runs and 11 runs driven in. He has at least one big fly in each of his three starts.

In his last start against Mines, he went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, five RBIs and two home runs for his first multi-home run game of his career. 

FERGILICIOUS
It is not confirmed but Sage Ferguson might be on his way to making his first start as a Maverick very soon. His trajectory on his outings are showing a trend of increasing his innings over the season after coming off an injury.

In his outing against Colorado School of Mines, Ferguson was nearly unhittable. He allowed just three hits and struck out five over four and two-thirds shutout innings (49 pitches) to earn his first win on the mound as a Maverick. All of those numbers, including number of pitches, were season highs.

For the season, the Kiowa, Colo. native has pitched nine innings and allowed one run (unearned) on five hits and struckout 13 batters without surrendering a walk.

WHERE WE STAND
Everyone is just over the halfway point of the schedule and it is time to take a look at where the Mavericks stand in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference race and in the NCAA South Central Region picture.

In the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mavericks are in good shape at 15-1 with a four game lead on Regis. The Mavericks and Rangers will meet up in two weeks in Denver as Regis just came off their conference bye. CSU Pueblo is currently in third followed by MSU Denver, Adams State and UCCS to round out the top six.

In the NCAA South Central Region, Colorado Mesa is in third, according to Inkblot Sports, in terms of RPI rank which encompasses strength of schedule, in-region record, and results against teams above .500. UT Tyler is currently in first with Regis is in second with Angelo State fourth followed by St. Edward's and CSU Pueblo. The final rankings by the NCAA and the Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) at the conclusion of all the conference tournaments in May.

MAVERICKS IN MILB
The Colorado Mesa baseball team currently has six players competing at some level of professional baseball. All eight finished in the minors but two of them saw action in Major League Baseball during the 2024 season. Check out the full list of Colorado Mesa Baseball Alums and ways to follow along on their professional journey:

Bligh Madris (2015-18) // Detroit Tigers
Kyle Leahy (2016-18) // St. Louis Cardinals
Haydn McGeary (2019-22) // Chicago Cubs
Spencer Bramwell (2018-22) // Miami Marlins
Caleb Farmer (2018-22) // Washington Nationals
Andrew Morris (2019-21)  // Minnesota Twins

RMAC DOMINATION
Colorado Mesa won its 12th straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title in 2024 and was the unanimous selection to win their 13th in row in the RMAC Preseason Poll as selected by the coaches prior to the season. 

Since 2009, Colorado Mesa has won 82 percent of their games against RMAC competition as they have a 488-106 record in that span prior to the season.

THE BEST AROUND
Two seasons ago, head coach Chris Hanks eclipsed the 1,000 win mark in his career. He is one of just 21 head coaches across NCAA Baseball that is over the 1,000 win mark and is fifth in wins in NCAA Division II of active head coaches.

Top-10 Division II Active Head Coaches by wins
1. John Schaly (Ashland) - 1,333-729 (38 seasons)
2. Greg Guilliams (Flagler) - 1,200-588 (35 seasons)
3. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock) - 1,137-750 (40 seasons)
4. Bob Fornelli (Pittsburg State) - 1,100-490 (29 seasons)
5. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa) - 1,091-422 (27 seasons)
6. Joe Urso (Tampa) - 1,032-293 (25 seasons)
7. Jim Gantt (Catawba) - 1,013-510 (29 seasons)
8. Greg Appleton (Columbus State) - 983-515 (28 seasons)
9. Tim Mead (Walsh) - 945-962 (42 seasons)
10. Brad Hill (Emporia State) - 923-523 (26 seasons)

NCAA Active Head Coaches with 1,000 wins
1. Paul Mainieri (South Carolina) - 1,522
2. Danny Hall (Georgia Tech) - 1,433
3. John Schaly (Ashland) - 1,333
4. Bob Babb (Johns Hopkins) - 1,322
5. Tom Austin (Methodist) - 1,301
6. Dave Van Horn (Arkansas) - 1,280
7. Elliott Avent (NC State) - 1,278
8. Greg Guilliams (Flagler) - 1,200
9. Rich Hill (Hawaii) - 1,193
10. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock) - 1,137
11. Bob Fornelli (Pittsburg State) - 1,100
12. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa) - 1,091
13. Steve Owens (Rutgers) - 1,059
14. Rick Heller (Iowa) - 1,058
15. Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt) - 1,047
16. Joe Urso (Tampa) - 1,032
17. Mike Bianco (Ole Miss) - 1,027
18. Augie Schmidt (Carthage) - 1,014
19. Jim Gantt (Catawba) - 1,013
20. Yogi Lutz (Alvernia) - 1,010
21. Rich Maloney (Ball State) - 1,007