By Neil H. Devlin
Senior Writer
Denver Metro Area  

"Should I stay or should I go?'

It's more than a title of a vintage 1980s ballad by The Clash. No, it's a question Conner Nantkes has asked himself over and over ... and will continue to ask himself over the next several weeks.

The senior-to-be, who committed verbally to Washington State baseball on Wednesday, is staring at one of those life-changing decisions -- does he return to Colorado and Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora for a 12th-grade year or does he remain in the Seattle area, where he's currently residing with his family and playing summer ball?

Nantkes' parents left the Denver-Metropolitan area this past March because Kurt Nantkes, Conner's father, headed northwest because of his job. He's an executive with a software company. Conner had been staying with his mother's parents to finish his junior season.

And what a junior season it was -- he was instrumental in helping the Cougars to their first Class 5A championship in late May, a glorious run that he enjoyed.

So it's not too difficult to follow Nantkes' plight ...

Now in Seattle's Federal Way area, "so far, so good," Nantkes said of his summer baseball.

He's playing for the Federal Way Buzz, enjoying new faces and new places ... and new talent.

"It's not that much different (from Colorado)," he said.

Kurt Nantkes, who starred at Aurora's Hinkley in football and baseball into the late 1990s, said, "the talent pool definitely is comparable with Colorado."

The younger Nantkes, who has gone back and forth in his mind about staying in Washington or returning to Colorado, currently says "I'll be coming back for my senior year ... there's something, I think, about winning a state championship that makes it just about impossible to leave. I'm definitely coming back right before school starts (Aug. 11)."

He added that he won't be playing football for the Cougars and wants to gain some weight on his now 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame.

Kurt Nantkes has no problem with his son's thinking. Indeed, he acknowledged that yanking his son away from his original school for a senior year would be a lot to ask. And, sure, being a leader in an attempt to defend a state championship would be difficult to pass.

Plus, Conner Nantkes is a strong student with a 4.3 grade-point average, his father said, and having scored 31 on the ACT.

Still ...

"Selfishly, Dad wants him to stay (here in Seattle)," Kurt Nantkes admitted.

Playing ball with future teammates is something he hopes would help his son stay in the northwest, as he would probably attend Thomas Jefferson High, about 3,000 students, again, similar to Cherokee Trail.

The past season, Conner, a left-hander, was 7-2 in 10 appearances with a 1.62 earned-run average. He led the Cougars in innings pitched (56.1) and surrendered a rather high 32 walks, but permitted only 37 hits and struck out 51. At the plate, Nantkes batted second and hit a robust .449 with a home run, 10 doubles and 22 runs batted in.

And don't think for a second that he has forgotten about tossing a two-hitter against Rocky Mountain in what could have been the championship-game clincher. The Cougars went down 2-0, then rallied to win the second and deciding game 9-4.

"Oh, no," he said. "I remember."

Soon, a son and his father have a decision to make and they said they will make it.

Kurt Nantkes, who played in the Oakland Athletics farm system before returning to college and playing quarterback for UNLV and coach John Robinson, and won a prep football title under popular Thunderbirds coach John Pounder (the 1997 4A championship in a 5A system), has mixed feelings. He also has considered if his son would lean toward staying in Washington after committing to Washington State. It's maddening and emotional, he admitted, but he remains positive.

"It has been good (seeing his son again)," he said. "Ultimately, I'm empathetic to picking up and moving for his senior year, leaving the Cherokee Trail program, the school, the teachers ...

"In my eyes, it's still up for debate. But after winning a state championship and him being a big part like of it, he'd like to defend the state championship.

"Ultimately, we'll sit down and make the best decision for everyone."

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