CLASS 3A BASEBALL STATE PREVIEW – TEAM CAPSULES by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 3A BASEBALL STATE PREVIEW – TEAM CAPSULES

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

With a 13-3 victory in last year’s Class 3A title game, Eaton claimed its state record 14^th baseball championship. It was the third in a row for the Fightin’ Reds, who are the top seed in the double elimination bracket. The state tournament begins on Friday in Greeley, with games being played at both Butch Butler Field and University High School. With University in the field, any game involving the Bulldogs will be played at Butch Butler Field, to ensure a neutral field.

Individual statistics quoted below are courtesy of MaxPreps. Teams are listed in bracket order.

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#1 EATON FIGHTIN’ REDS (24-0)

COACH: Todd Hernandez

STATE TITLES: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015, 2012, 2009, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1995, 1994

RUNNER-UP: 2017, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1996, 1993, 1983

REGIONALS: Beat Kent Denver (10-0), Timnath (17-1)

STREAK: Won 65 straight

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-0

Wins: Resurrection Christian, Berthoud, University

Losses: None

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .407; 43 doubles,18 triples, 9 home runs; Garrison 4 HR; 74 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .956, 21 errors, 8 double plays; Team ERA 0.65; 250 K, 53 BB, 7 HBP, 11 wild pitches; 13 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Gunnar Duncan	.529	29	36	36	5
Lucas Stone	.529	33	37	23	8
Joey Blaskowski	.469	31	30	22	14
Garrett Garrison	.429	25	24	27	3
Liam Whalen	.388	26	19	20	5
Mitch Haythorn	.379	20	25	34	1
Cooper Nider	.375	22	15	21	3
Cash Rinker	.341	16	14	18	0
Kade Gentry	.328	37	22	19	19

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Gunnar Garrison	0.00	20.2	35	4	0
Lucas Stone	0.36	39	88	17	1
Joey Blaskowski	0.68	10.1	17	1	0
Garrett Garrison	1.17	12	23	6	1
Mitch Haythorn	1.27	38.2	78	19	3

#8 FORGE CHRISTIAN FURY (20-5)

COACH: Jim Polson

STATE TITLES: 2016, 2011, 2007 (all as Faith Christian)

RUNNER-UP: None

REGIONALS: Beat Gunnison (10-0), Manitou Springs (9-1)

STREAK: Won 2 straight, 7 of last 9

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-3

Wins: Colorado Academy

Losses: Resurrection Christian, Colorado Academy, Berthoud

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .349; 37 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs; 3 players with 1 HR apiece; 94 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .934, 42 errors, 17 double plays; Team ERA 1.93; 182 K, 58 BB, 12 HBP, 18 wild pitches; 5 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Garren Gechter	.469	13	30	13	4
Burke Jasa	.395	23	30	23	4
Easton Wilde	.386	27	32	20	13
Sam Buerck	.371	20	13	6	5
Will Taylor	.368	17	21	15	3
Brock Wycoff	.342	16	25	13	13
Ben McLean	.341	23	28	17	13
Jeffrey McCord	.312	13	20	8	12
Sullivan Strange	.293	19	22	20	14

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Garren Gechter	0.70	50.1	64	7	3
Jeffrey McCord	1.41	49.2	55	9	2
Brock Wycoff	1.73	24.1	23	11	3
Jonathan Tipton	5.48	7.2	4	7	0
Caleb Bobb	7.56	8.2	14	8	3

#4 RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN COUGARS (21-4)

COACH: Mike Magaro

STATE TITLES: 2014, 2012

RUNNER-UP: 2019, 2015, 2010

REGIONALS: Beat North Fork (12-2), Lamar (12-0)

STREAK: Won 2 straight, 6 of last 7

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 2-2

Wins: Forge Christian, University

Losses: Eaton, Berthoud

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .371; 36 doubles, 14 triples, 2 home runs; 79 total stolen bases; fielding 2.41percentage .930, 43 errors, 5 double plays; Team ERA 2.41; 192 K, 113 BB, 15 HBP, 20 wild pitches; 6 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Vaughn Green	.565	17	39	32	4
Caden Bailey	.414	27	24	20	19
Bennett Ruby	.392	5	31	22	1
Vincent Fuller	.385	30	10	7	4
Brayden MacAlmon	.377	33	23	10	12
Charley Wilson	.365	23	31	21	14
Colton Barber	.347	23	17	9	6
Christian Siemer	.344	21	22	16	4
Deegan Corrigan	.307	19	23	25	3

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Graham Riggs	0.74	19	23	10	2
Braedyn Budd	1.31	32	24	19	4
Vaughn Green	2.00	42	62	16	4
Deegan Corrigan	4.20	28.2	29	18	0
Merick Fisbeck	4.42	16.2	11	12	3

#5 COAL RIDGE TITANS (23-2)

COACH: Dan Larsen

STATE TITLES: None

RUNNER-UP: None

REGIONALS: Beat Pagosa Springs (13-3), Montezuma-Cortez (13-3)

STREAK: Won 9 straight

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-1

Wins: None

Losses: Palisade (4A)

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .440; 69 doubles, 25 triples, 8 home runs; Olivas 4 HR; 81 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .952, 26 errors, 2 double plays; Team ERA 1.93; 216 K, 51 BB, 10 HBP, 14 wild pitches; 5 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Ben Simons	.569	48	41	44	12
Alexis Serna	.537	49	44	25	15
John Luke Houston	.457	31	32	27	6
Jakson Slade	.432	32	32	36	9
Maddox Olivas	.422	28	27	31	7
George Roberts	.418	47	28	28	11
Logan Harlow	.403	41	24	31	4
Dylan Miller	.400	24	24	28	6
Logan Simpson	.333	11	22	17	2

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Ben Simons	0.55	51.1	100	10	1
Alexis Serna	1.88	26	37	17	2
George Roberts	2.33	15	21	6	1
Logan Harlow	2.56	13.2	20	7	2
John Luke Houston	3.29	17	21	7	3

#3 UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (21-4)

COACH: Casey Miller

STATE TITLES: 2019, 2018, 1997, 1992, 1982

RUNNER-UP: 2023, 2022

REGIONALS: Beat Bennett (13-0), Peak to Peak (10-0)

STREAK: Won 3 straight, 14 of last 16

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-3

Wins: None

Losses: Resurrection Christian, Eaton, Berthoud

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .393; 58 doubles, 13 triples, 12 home runs; 3 players with 2 HR apiece; 47 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .954, 26 errors, 7 double plays; Team ERA 1.37; 175 K, 67 BB, 18 HBP, 15 wild pitches; 10 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Dalton Yaste	.511	7	46	37	3
Jacob Cruz	.500	31	28	20	6
Kaleb Tejada	.443	22	35	34	1
Preston Natividad	.381	16	16	18	0
Connor Weber	.380	22	30	26	4
Coel Croissant	.375	33	21	14	10
Jake Onderlinde	.347	20	17	16	0
Scott Thompson	.263	18	10	9	4
Joel Ramirez	.244	11	10	12	2

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Connor Weber	0.57	37	52	20	5
Kaleb Tejada	1.28	27.1	31	10	3
Scott Thompson	1.80	23.1	32	14	4
Connor Danhoff	1.80	11.2	11	4	1
Preston Natividad	2.37	20.2	20	8	2

#6 COLORADO ACADEMY MUSTANGS (18-4)

COACH: John (JT) Putt

STATE TITLES: None

RUNNER-UP: None

REGIONALS: Beat Roaring Fork (9-5), La Junta (11-0)

STREAK: Won 6 straight, 17 of last 19

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 2-2

Wins: Lyons (2A), Forge Christian

Losses: Forge Christian, Denver Christian

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .369; 42 doubles, 13 triples, 6 home runs; Delaney 4 HR; 60 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .915, 48 errors, 11 double plays; Team ERA 2.78; 188 K, 75 BB, 23 HBP, 19 wild pitches; 7 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Jordan Reiter	.476	32	30	20	13
Fraser Smith	.467	17	21	19	5
Owen McCandless	.425	9	17	13	2
Riley Summers	.407	20	22	15	5
Kieran Delaney	.369	31	24	29	7
Miles Evans	.352	18	19	22	5
Charlie Rakowski	.338	15	22	20	2
David Varholak	.318	6	14	7	1
Colin Love	.310	30	18	10	10

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Jordan Reiter	0.50	14	20	1	4
Owen McCandless	0.92	38	47	12
Charlie Rakowski	2.10	36.2	53	20	2
Fraser Smith	4.28	18	25	6	1
Kieran Delaney	8.08	8.2	15	18	2

#2 BERTHOUD SPARTANS (24-1)

COACH: Buddy Kouns

STATE TITLES: None

RUNNER-UP: None

REGIONALS: Beat Basalt (6-0), Prospect Ridge Academy (2-1)

STREAK: Won 10 straight

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-1

Wins: Resurrection Christian, University, Forge Christian

Losses: Eaton

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .338; 45 doubles, 14 triples, 10 home runs; McCrea 5 HR, Hayes 4 HR; 77 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .949, 33 errors, 24 double plays; Team ERA 1.08; 222 K, 72 BB, 14 HBP, 21 wild pitches; 10 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
Jack McCrea	.471	33	33	39	21
Adam Hayes	.447	37	34	26	6
Kaeden Kettle	.393	6	24	26	4
Connor Jorissen	.380	35	30	18	7
Wyatt Barmes	.366	37	30	9	18
Elisha Mosher	.290	15	20	15	6
Gage Slaby	.250	6	9	4	2
Caleb Letieri	.217	8	13	18	4
Trent Jacobs	.209	9	14	12	4

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Connor Jorissen	0.57	49	73	18	6
Adam Hayes	0.90	69.2	100	29	4
Wyatt Barmes	1.29	16.1	18	5	2
Trent Jacobs	2.52	8.1	12	10	0
Kaeden Kettle	4.57	7.2	6	9	1

#7 THE CLASSICAL ACADEMY TITANS (18-4)

COACH: Bart Jennings

STATE TITLES: None

RUNNER-UP: 2021

REGIONALS: Beat Brush (4-1), Delta (8-7)

STREAK: Won 2 straight, 9 of last 10

RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 2-2

Wins: Falcon (4A), Lewis-Palmer (4A)

Losses: Falcon (4A), Pueblo County (4A)

TEAM NOTES: Team BA .351; 38 doubles, 13 triples, 6 home runs; Hale 3 HR; 67 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .931, 40 errors, 15 double plays; Team ERA 2.96; 110 K, 66 BB, 21 HBP, 18 wild pitches; 3 shutouts.

NAME	AVG	RUNS	HITS	RBI	STEALS
David St. Marie	.494	32	39	27	5
Zack Hale	.469	15	30	29	3
Sam DeCoste	.356	23	21	13	7
Maddox Awtry	.351	14	13	6	2
Ezekiel Kimmig	.339	16	20	12	3
CJ Mullen	.333	25	22	25	5
Ben Dunn	.296	15	16	14	0
Zach Mediavilla	.288	27	19	12	18
Daniel Strevett	.286	21	12	13	7

NAME	ERA	INNINGS	STRIKEOUTS	WALKS	HBP
Hayden Kenney	1.62	4.1	6	2	1
Ben Dunn	2.19	16	17	7	2
Zach Mediavilla	2.53	27.2	14	18	1
Ezekiel Kimmig	2.72	38.2	40	8	5
David St. Marie	3.97	37	28	24	7