The countdown for pitchers and catchers to report to major-league spring training is down to less than two weeks.

College baseballers also are nearing their first pitches and at-bats, so high-schoolers can’t be far behind. In fact, opening day for spring sports practice is Feb. 25.

One of the more eager Coloradans is Ben Whipple. Now a sophomore at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, the native Coloradan and right-handed pitcher-first baseman missed his chance a year ago to join the vaunted Eagles.

During basketball, he had a pass come his way and injure a finger on his throwing hand that caused a fracture, ultimately required surgery, the insertion of three pins and multiple physical therapy sets for the finger and pitching arm, and kept him off the mound for the entire spring season.