By CONOR NICHOLL
In the winter, Colby boys’ basketball enjoyed one of Kansas’ top-five turnarounds from 2021-22. The Eagles went from eight wins to a 20-4 mark and Class 3A state quarterfinal appearance. Shane Puckett was a second team all-league selection for basketball.
A Garden City Community College baseball commit, Puckett has helped Colby enjoy a nice early season turnaround in baseball, too.
Colby was 6-14 last season. The Eagles have opened 5-5, though have several milestone victories. Of the 226 KSHSAA baseball programs, Colby ranks in the top 25 percent for winning percentage improvement from last season, per SIK research.
There were 50 teams that won six or fewer games last spring. Entering Thursday, only five of those squads – including Colby – had won at least five games this season.
On March 23, Colby opened with a split against rival Goodland, including a 5-4 victory when the Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win. Goodland led 4-2 entering the bottom of the sixth. Puckett worked five innings and allowed one earned run, and sophomore Brayden Foss delivered two shutout innings. Puckett finished 3 of 3 batting. Foss was also a key basketball player.
On March 31, Colby lost twice to Russell/Victoria, which was undefeated entering Friday and is highly experienced. On April 4, Colby swept Thomas More Prep-Marian, 4-2 and 23-6. Two days later, Colby earned an 8-5 win versus Burlington, Colorado.
On Tuesday, Colby split with previously undefeated Scott City. SC is currently 7-1. Puckett earned the victory with 4.2 innings, 10 strikeouts and one earned run allowed. Foss struck out four and permitted two unearned runs in two innings.
Colby has multiple seniors in the starting lineup: Tyler Rehmer, Mason Kersenbrock, Landon Vogler and Mac Haines. Plus, juniors Bryant Weideman, Kaeden McCarty and Tucker Wark are key players.
With longtime coach Rick Williams, Colby ended a five-game losing streak against rival Goodland.
The Eagles snapped a six-game skid against Scott City. Before this year, Colby had lost four straight to TMP and 4-21 in its last 25 games in the series. This marked the first sweep against the Monarchs since before 2009.
Puckett carries a .618 average, with Wark at .462 and Vogler at .438. Puckett has seven steals and a 2.95 earned-run average. Vogler has a pair of doubles.
Williams has coached many years at Colby, including four straight state runner-ups in girls’ golf the last four seasons.
