Football has reigned supreme at Idalia since 2000, as the Wolves have won five state titles.

Now, the Idalia baseball team is considered one of the favorites to win the inaugural Class A state championship. A big reason why is senior pitcher Scott Cure.

Cure, the Class 2A pitcher of the year last season, again should be one of the best pitchers in the state. Along with trying to win a state championship, though, he also has the pressure of impressing college and pro scouts.

At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and with a fastball that ranges in the mid-80s, it's easy to see why schools such as Arizona State, Air Force, Regis, Trinidad State Junior College and Metro State, as well as the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, have shown interest in Cure. Oh, and in case it wasn't mentioned: He is a left- hander.

Blocking out these distractions and concentrating strictly on baseball will be the challenge for Cure this season.

"I just need to focus on baseball, my team and getting better, and everything else will come along," Cure said. "I think the attention from these colleges and scouts won't have any effect on me."

It will be hard for Cure to improve on last season. He had a 7-2 record with a 0.86 ERA and struck out 106 in 48 innings. Still, Cure knows there is room for improvement.

"Last year, all I threw was my fastball, mixed in my curve once in a while, but I didn't have the greatest location, but it worked at the 2A level," Cure said. "This summer, though, I went to play in Denver and I learned that just a fastball won't do it, that I needed to work on my curveball and to have more control and mix up my pitches."

• Twenty-eight teams are expected in the new Class A classification, with four having qualified for the 2A playoffs last season. One team that dropped down is Haxtun, which lost to Limon in the state title game.

• The Class A playoffs will be played over two days, May 18-19, at the Runyon Complex in Pueblo. The quarterfinals will be May 18, with the semifinals and championship coming the next day.

• Last season, Primero fielded a team for the first time in eight years but played only 10 games. This year will mark the first time in nine years that the Bulldogs will play an entire season. The team will consist of 16 players, including three girls. Primero returns all nine starters from last year.

"I expect our team to finish .500, which would be good, considering that this is only our second year," said coach Lee Daugherty, whose team went 3-7 last season.