From the moment Jaris McDonald first stepped onto the field as a Panther, he was determined to make a meaningful impact on the Montezuma-Cortez High School baseball team.
This season, McDonald did exactly that. Playing at first base and on the mound, he joined forces with a close-knit group of teammates he’s grown up with to help lead the Panthers through a record-breaking year to earn the most wins in a single season and making their deepest run yet in the 2025 state tournament.
Montezuma-Cortez began posting at least a .500 record since his freshman year, and McDonald said he feels confident that the team has more for them in his upcoming senior year.
“All of us have played together since we were 7-8 years old, so our team chemistry has gotten bigger and better over the years. We’re at the highest point we can be right now, and it’ll only go up from here.”
McDonald was one of only two left-handed pitchers on the team last season, alongside now-graduated Seth Oakes from Mancos. Heading into next year, he’s expected to be the Panthers’ lone lefty on the mound.
His left-handed delivery gives him a unique edge, offering hitters a different look and giving the team more strategic flexibility.
During the Panthers’ state tournament run, McDonald said he hoped for a shot at Eaton who were the reigning 3A champions in 2022, 2023, and 2024. That opportunity finally came in his most recent season with the Panthers. Backed by a strong defense and his dependable arm, McDonald helped shut down the opposing offense.
Their matchup against Eaton came on the heels of a win over Valley earlier that day. McDonald turned in a strong showing on the mound, pitching five innings with a 2.80 ERA. He held Eaton’s struggling offense to just three hits and four runs while striking out six, playing a crucial role in containing their lineup.
McDonald said he anticipated any challenges Eaton could potentially present him with.
“They’re a very good hitting team and they’re also good defensively,” he said. “In my pitching, I knew what I had to do to beat them and know my offense was going to perform better than theirs.”
McDonald said he credits his success to breaking down film and occasionally reviewing stats with his father – habits he’s adopted to gain a strategic advantage over opponents.
“Before games, I do a lot of research. I look at MaxPreps and Game Changer and all sorts of videos I can find to see if I can find weaknesses in their game. I just have to believe I can perform.”
The victory over Eaton is a special moment McDonald said he and his teammates were never going to forget.
McDonald's journey to success was not easy. He described last year’s regional tournament loss with Coal Ridge as the toughest moment of his prep baseball career. But rather than dampen the team’s spirits, he said the setback only strengthened their determination to improve and come back stronger.
“I think it made us all realize that we lost a bunch of seniors the year before and to get where we want to be, we’re going to have to work for it,” McDonald said. “I think we had done just that this year.”
McDonald also finds steady encouragement from those closest to him. He said his parents, sister, and longtime teammate Cory Carver have been his biggest supporters throughout his years on the diamond.
“Both of my parents and my sister have been there for me 110%. My shortstop, Cory Carver, has been there too and we’ve done a lot of stuff together.”
In addition to baseball, McDonald is also a member of the basketball team and enjoys analyzing stats across different sports. Still, he said nothing compares to his love for baseball.
“I’ve loved baseball since I could walk. It’s such a hard game to understand, but when you understand it and become good at it, it’s just hard to pull away from it.”
As he reflects on the season and looks ahead, McDonald said he’s filled with pride and gratitude for both his progress in the game and the support he's felt from his community.
“It means the world to me. It’s all I dreamed about as a kid was being able to success at a sport I love.”
