Playing baseball in the current big-school era means bats of man- made material apparently stolen from NASA, players and teams “coming off a great summer” with plenty of recruiting and scouting interest, the ubiquitous out-of-state trip against unbelievable competition to begin the season, and being optimistic the pitching staff can stay just ahead of the weather for a run into the double-elimination tournament.
That format is perhaps the local game’s best move since deciding to play. Indeed, it’s a show.
On opening day 2007, the Continental League (Mountain Vista) again figures to be competitive, including throughout the class. The Centennial (Grandview, Cherry Creek, Fairview, Mullen) should be stronger after a modest period of relinquishing its grasp as the top group and Jefferson County (defending champion Columbine) enters as probably the most competitive overall.
The Colorado Springs pennant appears to be a clash between Air Academy and Doherty. Grand Junction is the Southwestern favorite, as is Rocky Mountain in the Front Range and East in the Denver Prep, leaving the four-team Skyline with work to do.
TOP TEAMS
1. Mountain Vista
2. Grandview
3. Columbine
4. Rocky Mountain
5. Arvada West
6. Chaparral
7. Wheat Ridge
8. Cherry Creek
9. Grand Junction
10. Doherty
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Everett Altman, Wheat Ridge, Sr., INF; Jake Anderson, Fairview, Sr., C; Eric Baalman, Dakota Ridge, Sr., INF; Zach Blakeley, Highlands Ranch, Sr., C; Danny Beck, Mountain Vista, Sr., OF-P; T.J. Berge, Dakota Ridge, Sr., 2B; Andy Burns, Rocky Mountain, Jr., INF; Vince Capra, Arvada West, Sr., 1B; Curtis Cunningham, Columbine, Jr., 1B; Bobby Cozine, ThunderRidge, Sr., CF-P; Brian Dean, Heritage, Sr., SS; Kirk Ehrhart, Mullen, Sr., 3B; Mike Frank, Chaparral, Sr., 1B; John Haines, Cherry Creek, Sr., C; Corey Gaudet, Chaparral, Sr., OF; Mark Gerster, Doherty, Sr., P-1B; Grant Gillespie, Regis, Sr., OF; C.J. Gillman, Columbine, Sr., C; Evan Haezebrouck, Mountain Vista, Sr., 1B; Lincoln Harmer, Arvada West, Sr., P-OF; Chris Hayden, East, Sr., P; Bubba Higgins, Grand Junction, Jr., OF; Ryan Hill, Arvada West, Sr., P; Garret Houts, Fort Collins, Sr., OF; A.J. Jacobs, Cherry Creek, Sr., P; Cole Leonida, Grandview, Sr., C; Chris Mezger, Fairview, Sr., P; Cory Miller, Green Mountain, Sr., C; Dominic Montoya, Columbine, Sr., P; Alex Oesterle, Doherty, Sr., OF; Tony Rafiti, Rocky Mountain, Sr., P-C; Tyler Sample, Mullen, Jr., P: Jared Schlehuber, Grandview, Sr., P; A.J. Schugel, Mountain Vista, Sr., 3B; Cody Scott, Arapahoe, Sr., P; Beau Stevens, Wheat Ridge, Sr., P-OF.
