Ex-CSU Pueblo player, assistant coach lands on his feet with Colorado Recruits 17U team
Jul. 17—When Stan Sanchez retired as the longtime Colorado State University Pueblo head baseball coach, assistant coach Eddie Williams also left the program and was left without a job.
Not to fret. Williams, a former player for Sanchez and the ThunderWolves, has landed on his feet. And he's doing so in the sport he loves — baseball.
"I was looking for anything to stay in college baseball," said Williams, Sanchez's son-in-law. "At the time is was the perfect storm of not being able to do that. Everybody was going through COVID-19 and nobody was leaving their job.
"On top of that, athletic departments were cutting their programs and the market was flooded."
Williams did get an interview at CSU Pueblo but turned that down because the day before he had an interview with a baseball academy in Castle Rock called Marucci Clubhouse Denver.
That position was made for the former catcher at CSU Pueblo.
"I was offered this job as director of operations," he said. "It was an awesome opportunity to get to run the nicest indoor facility in the state of Colorado. Plus, I get to coach the 17-U Colorado Recruits team."
That team is one of 12 teams competing in the annual Tony Andencuio Memorial Baseball Tournament this week at the Runyon Sports Complex.
"I get to deal with some really, really talented kids, Division I-caliber guys capable of playing college baseball," Williams said. "We have five Colorado Recruits teams, four on the baseball side and one on the softball side."
Two of those players had big impacts in the opening game of the tournament Thursday on Andenucio Field.
Pitcher Evan Moll threw a complete-game two-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Recruits defeated Diamond Club 9-2.
Moll's appearance was his only one of the tournament as he left for Ohio for some family time. But he made the most of it.
"Baseball is fun," said the left-hander who only pitches "I love Eddie and love the guys. We're here to compete with everybody. That's why we put the team together."
Moll played at Flatirons Academy and helped his team reach the championship game of the Class 1A state tournament where it lost 1-0 to Holly.
"The spring season went well," Moll said. "We made it to the state championship and lost 1-0 on a solo home run."
Moll is headed to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season.
"There's some guys who can play there," he said. "I just want to keep playing ball.
Teammate and centerfielder Brady Webb, who will be a senior at Lutheran High School in Parker, is enjoying the experience of playing with different players from all over.
"This is the first year for most of us," said Webb, who had a big two-run single in the opening-game win over Diamond Club.
"We're from the Parker, Castle Rock area. We have a few kids from Flatirons. It was cool everybody getting together. We've all known about each other but it's nice to get together and play."
Webb believes playing with the Recruits will only make him better.
"It's a good environment to be a part of," Webb said. "There's a lot of work that goes into it. It's kind of like a job at this point. It's what you sign up for..
"I'm looking at junior colleges, Division I or Division II. Definitely somewhere I can go and play and get into a good environment."
Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky
