The Class 4A baseball country club just got a few extra parking spots.
Gone to 5A are 2008 champion Ralston Valley along with 2007 champion and 2006 runnerup Cherokee Trail. And that means the new favorites are kind of the old favorites.
Programs such as Niwot (champions in 2005 and 2004), Pueblo South (2005 runnerup), Mountain View (2003 runnerup), Golden (2003 champion), Thomas Jefferson (runnerup in 2008 and 2007) and Broomfield (2006 champion and 2004 runnerup) are all in the preseason top 10.
Season that with a long list of traditionally strong programs (Greeley West, Skyline, Longmont, Roosevelt, Widefield, Pueblo East, Delta and Moffat County) along with some up-and-comers (Pueblo West, Fossil Ridge, Silver Creek, Evergreen, Falcon) and the stage is set for good drama, even when the weather is bad.
“We’re trying to find some guys to fill some jobs and fill some roles,” J.R. Crowell said of Pueblo South, although the Colts’ skipper could have been talking on behalf of every team.
The migration to 5A, which included Fountain-Fort Carson, Liberty and Mountain Range, didn’t go just one direction.
Wheat Ridge, which narrowly missed making the final eight in 5A last season after finishing second in 2007, drops down to 4A with a fairly loaded hand. The Farmers have Jacob Nelson and a strong supporting cast, many of whom won the 4A football title in December.
Like Pueblo South and Greeley West, the Farmers will be prone to a few knocks early as they wait for players to return from basketball. For the Colts that includes ace pitcher Tim Zufall. The Spartans will be waiting on two pitchers, 6-foot-6 Alex Seier and 6-5 Robert Hawkins.
The Northern League remains the crucible, especially with the addition of Roosevelt (behind seniors Jarron Cito and Kevin Geisenhoff), a perennial power at 3A.
“You know it’s going to be competitive,” Greeley West coach Brian Holmes said.
While the Spartans should be strong on the hill and at the plate, they’re searching for the right fit behind the plate. They also know they’ll have the services of standout Travis Belfiore, who tore his ACL but has elected to put off surgery until after the season.
Niwot should head up the greater Longmont area, which has become the hotbed of 4A baseball. Skyline (Derrick Bleeker) graduated a ton but has the talent to reload, Longmont has great players and great coaching and Silver Creek (Scott Hoyt) will be solid.
CLASS 4A TOP 10
1. Wheat Ridge
2. Niwot
3. Greeley West
4. Pueblo South
5. Mountain View
6. Cheyenne Mountain
7. Golden
8. Thomas Jefferson
9. Delta
10. Broomfield
CLASS 4A PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hans Ask, Pueblo West, Jr. SS; Derrick Bleeker, Skyline, Sr., P; Jarron Cito, Roosevelt, Sr., P-OF; Austin Darby, Cheyenne Mountain, So., OF; Robert Hawkins, Greeley West, 1B; David Henrie, Delta, Sr., OF; Cody Lahman, Niwot, Sr., P; Tyson Martinez, Longmont, Sr., OF; Breen McComb, Montezuma-Cortez, Jr., SS; Xander Morris, Golden, So., P; Derek Neeper, Mountain View, Jr., P; Jacob Nelson, Wheat Ridge, Sr., P; Alex Seier, Greeley West, Sr., P; Anthony Sylvester, D’Evelyn, Sr., C; Joe Wahl, Pueblo East, Sr., INF; Tim Zufall, Pueblo South, Sr., P.
