Denver Capitals coach Mark Kearns looks out onto the field with some of his players during a tournament game. As a volunteer-led neighborhood team, the Capitals are unique among Colorado tournament teams of their level.

After an undefeated season, the McAuliffe International School baseball team secured the championship win in the Denver Public Schools prep league on Oct. 19, led in part by eight McAuliffe eighth graders with a uniquely shared baseball history: These eight have played together, outside of school, for nearly a decade on a neighborhood baseball team.

The longstanding Central Park team formed in 2016, when Kari and Mark Kearns’ son Connor wanted to play baseball at age five. The Kearns rustled up a few of Connor’s friends, who recruited other children from the neighborhood, and Mark has served as head coach from day one. Kari, who co-coached for a few years, recalls with a laugh, “I said, ‘I’ll do the YouTube research and figure out how to be a good coach.’”

First base coach Matt Staub “low-fives” Tyler Yong. Staub uses an individualized greeting with each teammate when reaching first base.

The team, eventually christened the Denver Capitals, flourished under the coaching of volunteer parents who love the game and love their kids, says team dad Fernando Lara. Off the field, teammates attended the same schools, celebrated birthdays, and became a “brotherhood,” says Nick Lara, Fernando’s son.

With time, the Denver Capitals also became a baseball powerhouse. They competed in tournaments in Colorado and beyond, and several teammates made it to the youth World Series in Branson, Mo. in 2023. Lara explains, “(While) most of the teams that compete at this level are baseball clubs that draw players from all over Denver and the metro area and pay thousands of dollars to be part of them with big baseball facilities, the Denver Capitals are just a neighborhood team.”

The eight Denver Capitals, who also played for McAuliffe International School this year, celebrate after their DPS prep league championship win on Oct. 19. Left to right are Cal Staub, Tyler Yong, Coleman Mahnke, Nick Lara, Riley Rosenberg, Nick Weider, Connor Kearns, and Brayden Dirst.

This was on display at the Colorado Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) State Championship in June. Even as about a dozen elite youth baseball teams warmed up with their clubs, the Denver Capitals ran onto the field as “neighborhood kids who have played together since elementary school and are coached by their dads,” Kari says. Fernando adds, “It is very rare to have such good talent condensed into one area.”

The Denver Capitals lost their first game at the CABA championship, but following a few wins and some earnest parent encouragement, they won the final against the team that beat them early in the tournament. Nick says the CABA triumph was his favorite moment of the season, especially “because it happened on Father’s Day, and everyone on the team played exceptionally well.”

Head coach Mark Kearns circles up with the team after their win at the Colorado Amateur Baseball Association State Championship in June. After games, he takes time to commend every player’s effort.

Teammate Riley Rosenberg believes the Capitals’ secret to success is their deep-rooted connections: “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and can help each other. And it’s a lot of fun playing with my friends.” Kari agrees, noting, “Teamwork is their strength.”

To further sharpen their skills, this spring the team enlisted three professional-level players from Latin America to provide tailored coaching at practices (games remained coached by volunteer parents). “We quickly saw the results,” Fernando says. “They’re not your dad. They’re not going to take it easy on you, but they are fun.”

The Denver Capitals started their past season in January with indoor training or practices at least two nights a week and played in 15 tournaments between February and September, then eight of the teammates joined the McAuliffe Sun Devils. Most of the Capitals’ players hope to continue playing with club leagues or in high school next year.

“I’ve loved watching the team grow up together,” Kari says. “They’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime.” Josh Rosenberg, Riley’s father, adds, “We’ve seen our son overcome a lot of emotions and feelings and become more resilient. The team really cares about each other and the players have developed leadership skills through the game.”

At home, Connor and Mark still bond over baseball. “It all started when Connor was three years old out on the courtyard,” says Kari. “To this day, he’ll say, ‘Hey Dad, let’s play catch.”

Photos courtesy of Kari Kearns