The name Hochevar is synonymous with sports success in Colorado.
For years in Fowler, Luke and Brittany put the Grizzlies on the map with their athletic prowess.
Still wearing purple, but now in Wray, it’s Dylan’s turn to prove he’s from the same talented stock as his siblings.
“I’ve been throwing every day since the beginning of basketball,” said pitcher Dylan Hochevar, a three-sport athlete for the Eagles. “I’m ready to go.”
The latest Hochevar already is being courted by the likes of the University of Oklahoma, Long Beach State (Brittany’s alma mater), Kentucky and Nebraska. Also showing interest is Luke’s old stomping ground, the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
“We are getting a lot of looks,” said Brian Hochevar, father and boys basketball coach at Wray. “(Dylan’s) handling it pretty good, but right now it’s all about having fun with high school ball.”
Dylan Hochevar is not letting the name on the back of his jersey do the talking. He knows people know the Hochevar name, but that doesn’t give him a leg up on anybody.
“Every time I go to the mound, I just have to go out and do what I do,” Dylan said. “You still have to go out there throwing.”
Said Wray coach John Cure: “It doesn’t hurt to be a Hochevar. Every time he takes the mound we have a chance of winning, and every time he comes to the plate he can change a game.”
The Eagles made the tournament last season as a 16th seed and reached the title game before losing to Las Animas. On the strength of that performance and with the likes of Hochevar, Michael Kerbs and Aaron Orr in the lineup, the Eagles will start this season at No. 3.
The defending champion Trojans sit atop the preseason polls. First-team all-staters Lane Brundage and Jason Baylor return for a rebuilt team.
The strength of 2A baseball, in its final year of the current structure before the debut of 1A baseball, remains in the northeastern corridor. Limon (Tyson Liggett), Akron (Tyler Pickens), Haxtun (Cameron Ham), Wiggins (Jonathan Potthoff) and Resurrection Christian start the season in the top 10.
2A
TOP 10
1. Las Animas
2. Limon
3. Wray
4. Akron
5. Haxtun
6. Paonia
7. Peyton
8. Rangely
9. Wiggins
10. Resurrection Christian
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jason Baylor, Las Animas, Jr., P
Josh Bowens, Ev. Christian, Sr., Util.
Jeremy Brown, The Academy, Jr., SS-P
Lane Brundage, Las Animas, Sr., OF
C.J. Cannell, Paonia, Jr., OF-P
Scott Cure, Idalia, Sr., Util.
Dillon Davison, Akron, Sr., P-C
Dan Fagerlund, Flagler, Sr., P-INF
Jacob Guynes, Dove Creek, Jr., P-SS
Alex Halcomb, Rangely, Sr., SS
Cameron Ham, Haxtun, Jr., P-INF
Josh Hernandez, Rocky Ford, Sr., C-P
Dylan Hochevar, Wray, Jr., P-OF
Perry Hood, Eaton, Sr., P-OF
Whitman Jones, Eaton, Sr., CF
Michael Kerbs, Wray, Jr., P-C
Zach Krueger, Holyoke, Jr., P-INF
Tyson Liggett, Limon, Sr., OF
Sam McKinley, Grand Valley, Sr., Util.
Brent Payne, Eaton, Sr., SS-P
Nate Perry, Denver Academy, Sr., Util.
Tyler Pickens, Akron, Sr., P
Chris Pickett, Maranatha Chr., Jr., Util.
Jonathan Potthoff, Wiggins, Sr., P-OF
Bo Randolph, Limon, Sr., P-3B
Tanner Ridgway, Paonia, Jr., DH
Zach Schmidt, Stratton, Sr., C
Justin Sieck, Caliche, Sr., P-OF
Brian Skornia, Pikes Peak Chr., Sr., P-SS
Drew Smith, Eaton, Jr., P-3B
Tommy Southern, Kiowa, Jr., P-OF
