Another Powell Pioneer will be continuing his baseball career at the next level, as Powell High School senior Kolby Gates made it official and signed with NCAA Division III Hibbing College in Minnesota.

“I really enjoyed the coach on my visit,” Gates said. “I really enjoyed what he had to offer for me and that’s kind of what made me decide that that was home for me.”

Gates has primarily featured as a pitcher for the Pioneers, being inserted into the lineup and was instrumental in the run at the state tournament a year ago.

He ended the 2025 season with the most innings pitched for the Pioneers at 66-2/3, starting in 10 of 17 games played.

He finished the year with 59 strikeouts to only 32 walks, recording a 4.83 ERA while finishing the year on one of his best games in the state tournament against Wheatland with a complete game.

Gates gave up only three hits along with two earned runs and four strikeouts in that game.

“I’ve definitely gotten a lot better, and that’s a big thank you to all of my coaches, and I wouldn’t be here without them or my teammates pushing me every day at practice,” he said.

Gates has primarily focused on control and finding the zone while pitching to contact, but said he has been attempting to up his velocity this year while continuing to maintain his focus on the mound.

“I just go out there and clear my mind and just try to do the best that I can do for my team and that all starts with throwing strikes,” Gates said. “My main focus is trying to get more velo behind my fastball. My off speeds are pretty good, I can locate them well. So it’s just really focusing on that fastball velo and getting it up more.”

Heading into his senior season as a Pioneer, Gates said the team continues to be close even off the field, which helps them be even more competitive and successful on the field.

“We do a lot of team bonding outside of practice, and everyone really gets a kick out of that. That definitely has made us come together as a team, and that’s big for just being competitive,” Gates said.

Being competitive will be one of the main goals for the Pioneers in a new-look Wyoming Legion Baseball season, where the Pioneers will be part of a new classification that combines both the ‘A’ and ‘AA’ teams into one division.

While the Pioneers are sure to see new challenges this upcoming season, Gates said his mindset and that of the Pioneers is in the right place heading into the year.

“We want to win as much as we can win. So we just push ourselves every day to be the best that we can be. Our main focus is probably hitting right now as a team, and we’re really trying to get our bats solid for the year,” Gates said. “We are adjusting a little bit to ‘AA’ but we can definitely hang with them. We know that, so we’ve just got to keep working hard and go after it.

“It’s not unrealistic to compete with them.”

Heading to Hibbing, Gates said that he is signing as a two way player, and will be a pitcher and utility player for the Cardinals.

“Wherever (coach Will) Cantrell wants me, that’s where I’ll play,” Gates said.

Gates’ academic goals revolve around his plans to go into electrical maintenance and construction. He plans to return to Powell following the conclusion of his baseball career.

Since he started in Little League in Powell, Gates said there were plenty of coaches who have helped him get to where he is, but one has stood out from the beginning.

“All of my coaches have definitely contributed, I wouldn’t be the athlete I am without them. There’s one coach that’s been there since I can remember, and that’s Cory Nuss,” Gates said. “He’s helped me ever since I was in Little League. I’d like to thank him for always sticking with me and always trying to make me a better baseball player.”

He added that his parents have also been a big part of his life and have helped him reach this point in his career.

“I’d like to thank my parents for sacrificing all that they’ve given to me,” Gates said. “They’re always there watching games or providing gas money, food, everything. Just to get to school even or get to games or practice, so obviously I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them either.”