Hard to believe it was all so wide open just a year ago. Now that the up-and-comers have established themselves, the 4A field is packed to the gills with great players around the diamond and teams with loads of playoff experience. To put it in the language of “Bull Durham,” these guys have shaken off Nuke LaLoosh and should more resemble the sage Crash Davis. Player of the year Chris Grandinetti, now a senior, makes the defending champions from Broomfield tough, although the No. 1 spot goes to a loaded Cherokee Trail squad that lost to the Eagles in the final. The Cougars are senior-heavy, as are second-ranked Liberty and No. 3 Cañon City, a surprise semifinalist in 2006. Pitching purists will get their fill with 4A’s four aces: Bradshaw Perry (Cherokee Trail), Cameron Maldonado (Cañon City), Rhett Morgan (Northridge) and Matt Skipper (Ralston Valley). The Northern, South Central and Jefferson County leagues should offer the best depth. Bubble teams: Delta, D’Evelyn, Cheyenne Mountain, Skyview, North, Skyline, Moffat County, Longmont, Niwot, Pueblo County and Mountain View.
TOP TEAMS
1. Cherokee Trail
2. Liberty
3. Cañon City
4. Broomfield
5. Ralston Valley
6. Northridge
7. Thomas Jefferson
8. Pueblo South
9. Golden
10. Pueblo Central
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miguel Avitia, North, Sr., SS-P; Andrew Behan, Fountain-Fort Carson, Sr., 2B; Jarod Berggren, Broomfield, Jr., CF; Brian Chritz, Ralston Valley, Sr., INF; Zach Cleveland, Golden, Sr., P; Blair Cooper, Pueblo South, Sr., P; Anthony Fontana, Liberty, Sr., C-P; Carl Formolo, Westminster, Sr., INF; Michael Fuentes, Pueblo East, Sr., INF.; Travis Godec, Pueblo Central, Sr., C; Miles Gorham, Cañon City, Sr., U; Chris Grandinetti, Broomfield, Sr., SS; Jay Gromelski, Woodland Park, Sr., U; Mikel Huston, Northridge, Sr., CF; Kyle Koch, Liberty, Sr., OF; Marco Macaluso, Pueblo South, Sr., OF-1B; Cameron Maldonado, Cañon City, Sr., P; Tim Moore, Cherokee Trail, Sr., OF; Rhett Morgan, Northridge, Sr., P; Brett Nathan, Thomas Jefferson, Jr., P-OF; Patrick Oliver, Broomfield, Sr., P; Bradshaw Perry, Cherokee Trail, Sr., P; Matt Presley, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr., INF; Mark Rivet, Rock Canyon, Sr., P-INF; Matt Skipper, Ralston Valley, Jr., P-1B; Thomas Stainbrook, Mountain View, Sr., C; Tyler Thornton, Thomas Jefferson, Jr., SS; Zach Whitmore, Rifle, Jr., P-SS.
