Presenting the 2017 All-Colorado baseball team, as selected by The Denver Post staff:
2017 All-Colorado Baseball team
OF Toby Scoles, Sr., Pine Creek
(.541/24 RBI/8 2B) The Colorado School of Mines commit was a jack-of-all-trades for an Eagles team laden with college talent, as Scoles’ outfield range and pitching arm (6-1 with a 1.02 ERA) made him a dynamic force.
OF Tanner O’Tremba, Jr., Cherry Creek
(.515/31 RBI/10 HR) The man-child provided the pop in the heart of the Cherry Creek lineup as the Bruins finished third at the state tournament and O’Tremba continues to grow into the star fans have been hyping him to be since his freshman year.
OF JD Wadleigh, Jr., Green Mountain
(.508/24 RBI/6 HR) As one of the central cogs in the Rams’ lineup, Wadleigh did more than hit, stealing nine bases and providing a steady presence in center field as the Rams turned in a 15-4 campaign and battled through the competitive 4A Jeffco League.
INF Liam Eddy, Sr., Brighton
(.657/43 RBI/11 HR) The Wichita State pledge’s bat and arm helped the Bulldogs to one of the best seasons in recent memory. Eddy led Colorado in homers and was 6-1 with a 2.54 ERA on the mound to pace Brighton into the district championship game.
INF John Sorensen, Sr., Rocky Mountain
(.458/38 RBI/6 HR) Sorensen threw a complete game to earn the win in the Class 5A state championship, and the Kansas State commit made a habit of flashing leather in the infield, too, in leading the Lobos back to the top.
INF Judah Wilbur, Sr., Denver North
(.533/31 RBI/6 HR) In addition to being the central offensive force in North’s first undefeated season in school history, the South Mountain Community College (Ariz.) commit also led with his glove and his work ethic as the Vikings continued to assert themselves as Class 4A contenders.
INF Jordan Stubbings, Sr., Legend
(.526/39 RBI/10 HR) Legend coach Scott Fellers has called Stubbings, one of the best power hitters in the state this year, “easily the best hitter in school history.” The Colorado Mesa commit led the Titans to the Continental League title and 5A state tournament.
C Casey Opitz, Sr., Heritage
(.410/17 RBI) The University of Arkansas pledge threw out 85 percent of runners who dared to steal on him this year as he turned in another solid offensive campaign while leading the Eagles to the district championship game.
U Kayden Seriani, Jr., Paonia
(.553/40 RBI/9 HR/10-0, 0.75 ERA) There’s nothing Seriani can’t do, as the Grand Canyon University commit hit for average and power in addition to putting up video-game numbers on the mound while leading the Eagles to an undefeated season and the 2A state championship.
U Matt Givin, Sr., Rock Canyon
(.532/25 RBI/4 HR/5-1, 1.48 ERA) As the Jaguars’ consistent-hitting shortstop and shutdown ace, the Xavier University commit showed why he has been considered one of the best players in the state over the past two years as he led Rock Canyon back to the 5A state tournament.
U Jadon Uhrich, Sr., Rocky Mountain
(.467/15 RBI/12 2B) The Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College commit provided leadership from behind the dish and also paced the Lobos in batting average. He helped Rocky Mountain cement its dynasty with a sixth title in 11 years.
P Cole Winn, Jr., Silver Creek
(9-0, 0.73 ERA, 95 K) The Mississippi State University pledge established himself as one of the state’s best arms as the right-hander dominated the competitive Northern League with both power and command, leading the Raptors back to the 4A state tournament.
P James Notary, Sr., Broomfield
(7-0, 1.33 ERA, 107 K) Perhaps no pitcher was as crucial to their team’s postseason success as Notary. The Texas Christian University commit dominated throughout the postseason and threw a seven-inning gem against Rocky Mountain on the final weekend of the state tournament to put the Eagles in position to make the title game.
P Caleb Sloan, Sr., Regis Jesuit
(8-2, 3.71 ERA, 57 K) The hands-down best pitching prospect in the Class of 2017, Texas Christian University-bound Sloan could dominate any opponent with his best stuff — and he constantly had an array of scouts sitting behind home plate, their interest peaking when the gun kept lighting up at 95.
P Luke Ziegler, Jr., Valor Christian
(6-1, 1.76 ERA, 76 K) The Pepperdine commit once again dazzled as Valor Christian won its second straight 4A championship, and Ziegler’s three-hit, six-inning performance against Air Academy in the Final Four proved the Eagles have the inside track to the title again next year, too.
Coach of Year: Graham Baughn, Thomas Jefferson
Baughn took over as the Spartans’ head coach a month before the start of the season, stepping into a volatile situation that had led to the departure of the previous head coach. But Baughn got his players to buy in and tune out all the drama outside the diamond, as the Spartans (18-6) upset Windsor in the district championship to make the state tournament and book the program’s best season in a decade.
Honorable Mention
OF John Krysa, Sr., Mountain Vista
OF Narcisco Quezada, Sr., Adams City
OF Tayler Aguilar, Soph., Northridge
INF Jonathan Boulaphinh, Sr., Valor Christian
INF Cody Schultz, Sr., Cherry Creek
INF Jack Winkler, Sr., Chatfield
1B Michael Baer, Sr., Regis Jesuit
C Tyson Hays, Sr., Grandview
C Noah Kuzma, Jr., Valor Christian
U Jacob Arellano, Sr., Mountain Range
U Sam Ireland, Soph., Mountain Vista
P RJ Dabovich, Sr., Pueblo West
P Jose Robles, Sr., Denver North
P Riley Egloff, Jr., Heritage
P Jack Baird, Jr., Legend
