Quin Cotton, Regis Jesuit
Photo by Ray Chen
2016 Colorado Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Regis Jesuit (Aurora)Head coach: Matt Darr
2015 record: 12-13
The Raiders had a losing record last season, but still managed to reach the second round of the 5A playoffs. Regis Jesuit returns five starters from that team, including all-state outfielder
Quin Cotton and potential MLB Draft pick
Travis Marr. The team's top pitcher,
Bo Weiss, also ranks as the state's top player by Perfect Game.
See last season's Colorado baseball computer rankings
2. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village)
Head coach: Marc Johnson
2015 record: 20-4
Cherry Creek advanced to the second round of the postseason and was eliminated by eventual champion Rock Canyon. The Bruins have averaged over 20 wins a season for the past eight seasons, last winning a state title in 2012. Cherry Creek returns four starters, including one of the state's top sophomores in outfielder
Tanner O'Tremba. The Bruins figure to have a strong pitching staff led by
Nate Sweeney and
Carter Van Gytenbeek.
See Colorado baseball pro photo galleries
3. Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch)
Head coach: Tyler Munro
2015 record: 23-4
The Jaguars fought through the loser's bracket last year to win the Class 5A state championship. Rock Canyon returns seven players in the field, but they will need to replace their top three pitchers from last year. Top returning players include shortstop
Daryl Myers (.408), outfielder
Coby Zimmerman (.394) and junior infielder
Matt Givin (.383).
See last season's Colorado baseball playoff brackets
4. Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins)
Head coach: Scott Bullock
2015 record: 14-6
The Lobos did not play in the Class 5A state playoffs last year, but they are just two years removed from winning a state championship and they've won four since 2008. Rocky Mountain is deep in pitching with all 14 wins returning.
Austin Alarid went 5-0 last year to lead the pitching. Junior infielder
John Sorensen (.417) is the top returning hitter.
See last season's Colorado baseball stat leaders
5. Eaton
Head coach: Bob Ervin
2015 record: 26-1
After 45 years as head coach of one of the most successful baseball programs in high school history, Jim Danley was let go as the head coach at Eaton. The dismissal occurred less than six months after Eaton had won a state championship and had been named the top small schools team in the country by MaxPreps. Longtime assistant Bob Ervin replaces Danley as coach. Eaton returns
Matt Burkart, who batted .464 as the team's shortstop.
