Monument to California: LP’s Danny Cook, Palmer Ridge’s Tate Gargasz sign with rival WCC schools
Danny Cook and Tate Gargasz have played on the same diamond for as long as they can remember.
Cook, a Lewis-Palmer senior, and Gargasz, a Palmer Ridge senior, played Little League together when they were little kids. And since then, Cook and Gargasz have been opponents playing for rival baseball programs in Monument.
Soon, Cook and Gargasz will put some space between each other — but not much. Cook signed to play baseball for Pepperdine University on Wednesday, while Gargasz signed with Santa Clara University.
Pepperdine and Santa Clara are both located in California and compete in the West Coast Conference, meaning Cook and Gargasz will play multiple games against each other every year.
“It’s been fun just talking with him about it,” Cook said. “This has been both of our goals, to play D1 baseball. It’s even more fun to go play him.”
An infielder, Cook batted .535 for Lewis-Palmer in the 2023 season. He hit four home runs and logged 37 RBIs.
Cook will follow the footsteps of his brother, Billy, who also played baseball at Pepperdine.
Billy played four seasons for the Waves and now plays in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization.
Seeing his brother’s success at Pepperdine, Cook saw his college choice as a no-brainer.
“It’s a great coaching staff, great development there,” Cook said. “It’s my dream school that I got to pick.”
Gargasz, a right-handed pitcher, made seven appearances for Palmer Ridge as a junior. He struck out 48 batters in 35.2 innings.
The last few years have been a rebuild for Palmer Ridge.
The Bears went 8-13 in the spring and haven’t posted a winning season since 2019.
The Santa Clara signee’s velocity is already past 90 mph, and the program’s development throughout his high school career has aided his own.
“I think it’s been great,” Gargasz said. “Coach (Ty) Baker’s been helping me, and he’s leading the team in the right direction.”
Cook and Gargasz’s days of battling in Monument aren’t over.
The Rangers and Bears will play against each other in the spring, with Cook looking for bragging rights in the batter’s box and Gargasz doing the same on the mound. But the thought of extending their friendly rivalry excites both of them.
“It’ll be really fun,” Gargasz said. “It’s a good competitive aspect, but it’s also good to have a friend out there and take that next step with him. Obviously, on the field, we’ll be competitive. But, off the field, we’re still great friends.”
Cook said, “It’ll be cool to play against him still.”
Palmer Ridge’s Tate Gargasz signs with Santa Clara University’s baseball team on Wednesday.
Danny Cook at the plate.
Lewis-Palmer’s Danny Cook, left, signs with Pepperdine University’s baseball team on Wednesday. Palmer Ridge’s Tate Gargasz signs with Santa Clara University’s baseball team.