CLASS 3A BASEBALL STATE FINAL FOUR REVIEW – TEAM CAPSULES
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With a 13-3 victory in last year’s Class 3A title game, Eaton claimed its state record 14th baseball championship. It was the third in a row for the Fightin’ Reds, who are the top seed in the double elimination bracket and sit undefeated and waiting in the State Championship. The remaining four teams will sort things out this weekend and we will crown a state champion on Saturday.
Individual statistics quoted below are courtesy of MaxPreps. Teams are listed in seeding order.
#1 EATON FIGHTIN’ REDS (27-0)
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)
STATE: Beat Forge Christian (6-5), Coal Ridge (14-4), University (2-0)
STREAK: Won 68 straight
TEAM NOTES: Team BA .404; 49 doubles,20 triples, 9 home runs; Garrison 4 HR; 81 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .955, 25 errors, 8 double plays; Team ERA 0.85; 284 K, 61 BB, 9 HBP, 15 wild pitches.
| NAME | AVG | RUNS | HITS | RBI | STEALS |
| Gunnar Duncan | .532 | 32 | 41 | 41 | 5 |
| Lucas Stone | .506 | 38 | 39 | 23 | 10 |
| Garrett Garrison | .439 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 3 |
| Joey Blaskowski | .417 | 32 | 30 | 23 | 15 |
| Mitch Haythorn | .400 | 20 | 30 | 35 | 1 |
| Liam Whalen | .375 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 5 |
| Kade Gentry | .364 | 44 | 28 | 19 | 21 |
| Cash Rinker | .327 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 0 |
| Cooper Nider | .320 | 23 | 16 | 21 | 4 |
| NAME | ERA | INNINGS | STRIKEOUTS | WALKS | HBP |
| Lucas Stone | 0.30 | 46.0 | 98 | 18 | 1 |
| Joey Blaskowski | 0.68 | 10.1 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Garrett Garrison | 1.05 | 13.1 | 26 | 6 | 1 |
| Gunnar Garrison | 1.28 | 27.1 | 48 | 5 | 1 |
| Mitch Haythorn | 1.28 | 43.2 | 86 | 25 | 4 |
#3 UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (23-5)
COACH: Casey Miller
STATE TITLES: 2019, 2018, 1997, 1992, 1982
RUNNER-UP: 2023, 2022
REGIONALS: Beat Bennett (13-0), Peak to Peak (10-0)
STATE: Beat Colorado Academy (5-2), Beat Berthoud (6-4), Lost to Eaton (2-0)
STREAK: Won 7 of their last 10 games
TEAM NOTES: Team BA .380; 59 doubles, 14 triples, 12 home runs; 3 players with 2 HR apiece; 51 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .957, 28 errors, 8 double plays; Team ERA 1.55; 193 K, 74 BB, 18 HBP, 17 wild pitches
| NAME | AVG | RUNS | HITS | RBI | STEALS |
| Isaac Dellinger | .667 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Dalton Yaste | .495 | 7 | 49 | 39 | 3 |
| Kaleb Tejada | .455 | 23 | 40 | 37 | 3 |
| Jacob Cruz | .431 | 31 | 28 | 21 | 7 |
| Coel Croissant | .391 | 35 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| Will Korby | .372 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 3 |
| Preston Natividad | .356 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 0 |
| Connor Weber | .352 | 22 | 31 | 26 | 4 |
| Jake Onderlinde | .333 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 0 |
| NAME | ERA | INNINGS | STRIKEOUTS | WALKS | HBP |
| Connor Weber | 0.80 | 44 | 59 | 22 | 5 |
| Gage Viken | 1.43 | 14.2 | 20 | 6 | 3 |
| Scott Thompson | 1.91 | 29.1 | 39 | 17 | 4 |
| Kaleb Tejada | 2.17 | 29 | 31 | 10 | 3 |
| Preston Natividad | 2.37 | 20.2 | 20 | 8 | 2 |
#4 RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN COUGARS (23-5)
COACH: Mike Magaro
STATE TITLES: 2014, 2012
RUNNER-UP: 2019, 2015, 2010
REGIONALS: Beat North Fork (12-2), Lamar (12-0)
STATE: Lost to Coal Ridge (11-0), Beat Forge Christian (7-6), Beat Berthoud (12-7)
STREAK: Won 9 of their last 12 games
TEAM NOTES: Team BA .368; 41 doubles, 14 triples, 2 home runs; 88 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .928, 51 errors, 7 double plays; Team ERA 2.80; 207 K, 128 BB, 16 HBP, 28 wild pitches.
| NAME | AVG | RUNS | HITS | RBI | STEALS |
| Vaughn Green | .551 | 18 | 43 | 38 | 4 |
| Caden Bailey | .409 | 18 | 43 | 38 | 23 |
| Brayden MacAlmon | .379 | 35 | 25 | 11 | 13 |
| Bennett Ruby | .368 | 6 | 32 | 23 | 1 |
| Christian Siemer | .351 | 25 | 26 | 17 | 6 |
| Colton Barber | .347 | 23 | 17 | 9 | 6 |
| Vincent Fuller | .345 | 30 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Charley Wilson | .337 | 24 | 32 | 21 | 14 |
| Deegan Corrigan | .329 | 22 | 28 | 29 | 3 |
| NAME | ERA | INNINGS | STRIKEOUTS | WALKS | HBP |
| Graham Riggs | 1.15 | 24.1 | 29 | 16 | 2 |
| Braedyn Budd | 2.17 | 38.2 | 25 | 21 | 4 |
| Christian Siemer | 2.28 | 15.1 | 19 | 19 | 2 |
| Vaughn Green | 3.11 | 45 | 68 | 20 | 5 |
| Deegan Corrigan | 4.20 | 16.2 | 29 | 18 | 0 |
#5 COAL RIDGE TITANS (25-3)
COACH: Dan Larsen
STATE TITLES: None
RUNNER-UP: None
REGIONALS: Beat Pagosa Springs (13-3), Montezuma-Cortez (13-3)
STATE: Beat Resurrection Christian (11-0), Lost to Eaton (14-4), Beat Classical Academy (7-6)
STREAK: Won 11 of their last 13 games
TEAM NOTES: Team BA .428; 72 doubles, 27 triples, 10 home runs; Olivas 4 HR; 85 total stolen bases; fielding percentage .947, 33 errors, 4 double plays; Team ERA 2.32; 226 K, 65 BB, 11 HBP, 18 wild pitches.
| NAME | AVG | RUNS | HITS | RBI | STEALS |
| Ben Simons | .557 | 50 | 44 | 46 | 12 |
| Alexis Serna | .556 | 52 | 50 | 32 | 17 |
| Logan Harlow | .427 | 42 | 32 | 34 | 4 |
| Jakson Slade | .425 | 37 | 34 | 37 | 11 |
| John Houston | .41 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 6 |
| Maddox Olivas | .400 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 7 |
| George Roberts | .372 | 49 | 29 | 30 | 11 |
| Dylan Miller | .369 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 6 |
| Logan Simpson | .347 | 12 | 25 | 18 | 2 |
| NAME | ERA | INNINGS | STRIKEOUTS | WALKS | HBP |
| Ben Simons | .60 | 58.1 | 107 | 12 | 2 |
| Logan Harlow | 2.56 | 13.2 | 20 | 7 | 2 |
| Alexis Serna | 3.29 | 27.2 | 37 | 21 | 2 |
| John Luke Houston | 3.57 | 17.2 | 21 | 9 | 3 |
| George Roberts | 4.02 | 15.2 | 21 | 8 | 1 |
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