On opening day, Class 5A’s most compelling stories feature Rocky Mountain going for a third straight pennant and Cherry Creek heading what should be a regular-season chase to watch into late April.
And, of course, keep an eye on the notoriously fickle spring weather that can last into May’s playoffs.
The two-time champion Lobos begin with an accomplished core, headed by four Division I recruits: seniors and all-around front-liners Bryan Peters (signed with Nebraska) and Jacob Stewart (Stanford); and juniors Marco Gonzales and Pierce Trumper, already pledged to Gonzaga and Arkansas, respectively. The Lobos probably opened some 5A eyes two years ago, then repelled all would-be challengers in 2008.
So what’s this year’s approach?
“To be honest, I feel pretty good about it,” Lobos coach Scott Bullock said. “I think we have a team that can be competitive every day and that’s all you can ask.”
The class is peppered with an assortment of clubs paced by solid No. 1 starters, as well as others that rely on the Bash Brothers approach. It also features an unusually high 18 D-I signees. Cherry Creek has five, including pitcher Alex Blackford (Arizona State). The Bruins’ lineup should ping balls most places, be slick in the field and head the Centennial League with Arapahoe and Grandview in hot pursuit.
Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson called 5A “a good field,” and he should know — he’s eight victories from 600 in a stellar career.
Rocky Mountain will have to deal with the likes of Fairview, Fort Collins and Monarch in the Front Range League. The Colorado Springs Metro (Rampart); Continental (Chaparral, Heritage, Mountain Vista); Denver Prep (East); Jefferson County (Chatfield, Dakota Ridge, Green Mountain); Skyline (Brighton); and Southwestern (Grand Junction) are ready to rock toward the popular double-elimination rounds that determine Colorado’s 60th champion.
And count two former 4A powers into the mix — Cherokee Trail (now in the Centennial) and Jeffco’s Ralston Valley.
TOP 10
1. Rocky Mountain
2. Cherry Creek
3. Chatfield
4. Arapahoe
5. Grandview
6. Fort Collins
7. Chaparral
8. Heritage
9. Dakota Ridge
10. Mountain Vista
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Adam Anderson, Fairview, Sr., SS;
Eric Anderson, Mountain Vista, Sr., P:
Alex Allbritton, Grandview, Sr., SS;
Geoff Baldwin, Grand Junction, Sr., 1B;
Ryan Beck, Fort Collins, Sr., P
Alex Blackford, Cherry Creek, Sr., P;
Max Bridge, East, Sr., 3B;
Luke Bublitz, Legacy, Sr., P-3B;
Ben Burmeister, Fairview, Sr., 1B;
Justin Byrd, Arapahoe, Sr., C;
Connor Eppard, Lakewood, Sr., SS;
Rex Clemons, Fruita Monument, Sr., P;-1B;
Marco Gonzales, Rocky Mountain, Jr., P-INF;
Micah Green, Cherokee Trail, Sr., OF;
Brian Guymon, Arapahoe, Jr., OF;
Pat Hirschberg, Chaparral, Sr., OF;
Chris Howard, Fountain-Fort Carson, Sr., P-OF;
Matt Jones, Ralston Valley, Jr., P-SS;
Shay Maltese, Monarch Sr., SS;
Conor McCabe, Cherry Creek, Sr., OF;
Andrew Melton, Dakota Ridge, Sr., SS-P;
Alec Mielnicki, Cherry Creek, Sr., 1B;
Chris O’Dowd, Regis Sr., C;
Shane Opitz, Heritage, Jr., SS;
Bryan Peters, Rocky Mountain, Sr., P-3B
Steven Poe, Green Mountain, Sr., OF;
Taylor Rogers, Chatfield, Sr., P;
Mark Shannon, Chatfield, Sr., OF-P;
Duncan Satherlie, Cherry Creek, Sr., 3B;
T.J. Shantz, Cherry Creek, Sr., SS;
Paul Singh, Fairview, Sr., OF;
Jake Stewart, Rocky Mountain, Sr., OF-P;
Pierce Trumper, Rocky Mountain, Jr., SS-P
