Cherry Creek pitcher Wyatt Rudden is the inaugural winner of the Roy Halladay Award presented to the top senior ballplayer, scholar and community member in the state. Here are the three 2025 finalists for the honor.
Ben Simons, Coal Ridge
Position: LHP/1B
GPA: 3.98
Commitment: None
Stats: .565 average, .672 on-base percentage, 51 RBIs, 15 doubles, 7 triples, 1 homer, .941 slugging, 1.613 OPS; 6-1 with 1.11 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 16 games, .177 opponent average
Community: Simons is heavily involved in his church doing lots of community work through that, including assisting the elderly with chores that they physically cannot do. He’s also involved with youth sports and mentoring in the New Castle community, having volunteered for youth basketball and baseball camps. For now, he is forgoing playing baseball in college — he had several JuCo offers, plus one to Colorado Mesa — to go on a two-year mission.
About Simons: Simons was the backbone of Coal Ridge’s run to the Class 3A state title game — the first boys championship in school history to put the small Western Slope town on the map. A two-way star, he led the entire state in RBIs and hit for contact and power as the driving force in the lineup. He was nearly untouchable on the mound and was CHSAA’s 3A player of the year, in addition to a three-time Western Slope League player of the year.
Ross Frank, Rocky Mountain
Position: RHP/SS
GPA: 3.9
Commitment: Monterey Peninsula College
Stats: 10-2 with 1.28 ERA, 106 strikeouts and only 8 walks in 14 games; .304 average with 21 RBIs, 6 doubles, 1 triple, .407 on-base percentage, .391 slugging, .798 OPS
Community: Frank volunteered at Respite Care in Fort Collins, where he worked with kids with special needs. Frank and his teammates took those kids to do activities, such as bowling and swimming, a few times a year. He was also a spirit leader at Rocky Mountain who was tasked with generating support for Lobo athletics, volunteered to serve food to those experiencing homelessness, and participated in a free baseball camp for local youth players.
About Frank: In a storied Rocky Mountain program that’s produced a few professional players, Frank etched himself into program history. The four-year letter-winner reset the Rocky Mountain pitching record book, overtaking former Mariners pitcher Marco Gonzales in single-season strikeouts and innings (71) as well as career strikeouts (245) and innings (188 1/3) while leading the Lobos back to the Class 5A state tournament in ’25.
Carter Wilcox, Cherokee Trail
Position: LHP
GPA: 3.67
Commitment: Iowa
Stats: 5-4 with 1.85 ERA in 12 games, 116 strikeouts, 35 walks, 2 homers allowed, .130 opponent batting average
Community: Wilcox assisted with Cherokee Trail’s annual Ronald McDonald House Donation and the school’s Unified Wiffle Ball game. He is also a member of the Cougars’ BE KIND program. He participated in the Unified Turkey Trot and raised money for Lahaina for school caps and gowns after the wildfires, and helped with hurricane relief. He helped run two elementary school field days.
About Wilcox: The southpaw consistently put Cherokee Trail on his back whenever he took the mound. Wilcox has drawn some Tim Lincecum comps for the way he gets the most out of his frame with a unique delivery and arm slot. He consistently revved his fastball up into the mid-90s, and when paired with a nasty high-70s slider, the Ks piled up and he led the state in strikeouts with his ability to generate whiffs in all parts of the zone.