Grand Junction — For the first time in four years (three as a journalist) I was unable to attend the opening day festivities for the Colorado Rockies rookie-ball team in Grand Junction. And it sounds like I missed a classic.
Four years ago, David Dahl and Eddie Butler stole the show, the year after it was players like Jon Gray, Ryan McMahon, Raimel Tapia and Jordan Patterson. Then came Kyle Freeland and Forrest Wall and eventually Brendan Rodgers. As is often the case on both counts, many of the players with the spotlight were not yet in action for the opener but it was still a game that loudly announced the beginning of the baseball season in the western part of Colorado.