By John Cackowski
State Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the top 50 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage. The top 50 teams are picked from all classifications, and are not divided up by class level. To see the entire list click here

Team: Wheat Ridge
Preseason Rank: 11
2014 Record: 19-5
Conference: Jeffco 
CHSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Adam Miller
Playoff Run: Lost to Green Mountain 5-3 in 4A Final 8
2014 Final Rank: 15
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS:
Willie Harris, OF, No. 13 2015, Abilene Christian Commit
Dante DeCarlo, C, No. 88 2015
Nate Sanchez, OF, No. 91 2015
Garrett O'Keefe, 2B, 2015
Diego Garcia, 3B, 2015
Damian Padilla, INF 2016

X-FACTOR:
Damian Padilla and Diego Garcia: Both will have to have to step up and give quality innings for the Farmers in 2015. The Farmers lost 96 innings to graduation and a transfer from 2014.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH:
Abe Apodaca, C, 2018: 5-foot-8, 145-pound left handed hitting catcher. At Underclass Invitational showed good pop for a freshman with a 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Behind the plate, Apodaca showed good hands and feet and had a pop time of 2.11.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Nick Ricigliano: Graduated

STAT RAT:
The Farmers stole 41 Bases in 2014, Including 31 by Harris, Sanchez, and O'Keefe.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Farmers were close to a 4A Final 4 appearance in 2014 losing two close games in the Final 8 to Durango and Green Mountain. The Farmers return a lot of experience in 2015 and should have a potent offense. Led by No. 13 OF Willie Harris who is committed to Abilene Christian, Harris is one of the fastest players in the state. Harris hit .373 in 2014 scoring 32 runs and had  4 triples and 14 SB. No. 88 2015 Dante DeCarlo is a presence behind the plate, and also add some pop from his bat hitting .439 with 18 RBI's, 8 Doubles and 3 Triples. No. 91 2015 Nate Sanchez is another speedy outfielder hitting .365 in 2014 with 10 stolen bases. 2015 2B Garret O'Keefe hit .429 in 2014 with 7 stolen bases. If the Farmers get solid pitching from Padilla and Garcia, the can make a deep playoff run in 2014.

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