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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Irondale’s Poster Family
St. Paul, MN
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By: Bryan Horwath, VYPE High School Sports Magazine
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The fact that the Colwell boys have been able to find success on the baseball diamond should come as no surprise -- it’s in their genes.
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History has a funny way of repeating itself.
Back in 2006, there was a junior on the Irondale High School varsity baseball team named Joe Colwell. Joe’s younger brother Nick was a talented freshman who got a look in spring practice and also found a spot on the varsity team.
While Joe has since moved on to the University of St. Thomas to play for legendary coach Dennis Denning, Nick has been a fixture with the Knights on the baseball diamond ever since.
This spring, Nick’s role from two years ago is reversed. He is now the established veteran on Irondale’s team, and it is his younger brother Tim, a sophomore, who is shooting for a spot on the varsity.
As a senior this year, Nick quarterbacked Irondale’s football team to a 7-2 record while amassing 1,264 total yards and accounting for 13 touchdowns. Nick also averaged 10 points a game for the Irondale basketball team this year.
Now that spring is here, however, he finally gets to play the sport that he lists as his favorite. “Baseball has always been my first love,” Nick said. “It’s the one I enjoy the most. I like the other sports too, but baseball is my favorite.”
After suffering a shoulder injury last spring, Nick – who is a pitcher, outfielder and occasional first baseman -- was forced to DH for the Knights. Nick batted .484 for the season and hopes he and his teammates can improve on last season’s 9-12 record.
With his throwing shoulder feeling great, Nick is looking to have another good season and so far is being recruited by the baseball programs at Illinois, Minnesota and Creighton.
“I feel great and think we’re going to be a lot better as a team,” Nick said. “A lot of the guys on the team have been on varsity since they were sophomores. My older brother Joe was the only senior on that team when we were sophomores.”
The fact that the Colwell boys have been able to find success on the baseball diamond should come as no surprise -- it’s in their genes. John Colwell, the boys’ father, wasn’t bad in his day when he played baseball for Hill-Murray and St. Mary’s University in the 1970s. In fact, John is tied for seventh on the St. Mary’s All-Time list with 11 career homeruns.
“The Colwells work extremely hard at all their sports,” Irondale baseball coach Chris Fink said. “They live across from a diamond and (John) throws them batting practice most nights. Whenever Joe is home from college, he’s over there, too. They’re all great kids who are a coach’s dream and they work hard in the classroom too.”
Both parents are involved in athletics at Irondale. John is the president of the Irondale Homerun Club while Barb is president of the Irondale Hoops Club. “The boosters are great, “ John said. “But the most fun is just working with the boys. You know, like throwing batting practice to them or helping them hit off a tee.”
As for goals this baseball season, Nick points out that Irondale hasn’t won the North Suburban League championship since 1994. “We want to win the conference,” he said. “With all the starters we have back, this would be the time to do it.”
When it comes to athletics at Irondale, there’s often a Colwell connection. And if the Knights do have a breakout season this year, expect Nick to be right in the middle of it.
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