Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Preseason Countdown: No 16 Dakota Ridge

March 17, 2015

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: Dakota Ridge
Preseason Rank: 16
2014 Record: 10-10
Conference: Jeffco
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Jeff Legault
Playoff Run: Lost to Grand Junction in District Playoffs 15-0
2014 Final Rank: 53
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS:
Bailey Collins, OF/LHP, No. 15 2016
Doug Case, 3B/RHP, No. 45 2015
Thomas Sautel, SS, No. 72 2015 (Indiana Wesleyan University)
Ty Lightley, 2B/RHP, No. 43 2016
Ryan Faircloth, OF, No. 56 2016
Peyton Turner, RHP, 2016
Ryan Morris, OF, 2015
Austin Grimes, 1B, 2015
Thomas Nagel, RHP/3B, 2016
Kyle Derr, C, 2016
Tony Carrassco, C, 2016
Carter Akerfeldt, RHP, No 9 2017

X-FACTOR:
Junior Pitching: The Eagles have an abundance of arms in their 2016 class, and 52 innings of varsity baseball experience. It will be the key for them to advance in the 5A playoffs.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH:
Thomas Nagel: 6-foot-1, 175-pound with lanky, athletic, projectable frame. On the mound, utilizes long, loose, high ¾ arm slot. Easy effort, slow tempo, tall-and-fall type delivery produces 78-79 mph fastballs from the windup and stretch. Has 68-69 mph breaking ball with 12/6 shape that was also thrown for strikes.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Kaylor Greenstreet: Graduated/Dakota Ridge High School Coach

BOTTOM LINE:  
Head Coach Jeff Legault is the only head coach Dakota Ridge has had since the school opened in 1996, and he will be entering his 19th season with a team that will have expecations of a deep 5A playoff run. The Eagles can hit, and they return a lot of experience from 2014. Staring with 2016 OF Bailey Collins. Collins is one of the better outfielders in the state. In 2014 he hit .426, scored 29 runs drove in 25 RBI's and hit 6 HR for an impressive 1.476 OPS. He also will add some speed on the bases, and innings on the mound. 2015 Infielders Doug Case and Thomas Sautel are back. Case will play 3B and pitch and  a .425 BA from 2014 hitting 4 home runs and driving in 25 as well for a 1.236 OPS. Sautel hit .371 in 2014 with 19 RBI's and 3 HR. 2015 OF and leadoff hitter Ryan Morris stole 12 bases in 2014 scoring 21 runs. Last summer we had Morris under a 6.7 60 time. INF/P Ty Lightley will be called upon to pitch (mid 80's fb, and play 2B, and 2016 OF Ryan Faircloth will be the 2-hole hitter who has a mid 80's arm from the OF and covers good ground. 2015 1B Austin Grimes has power at 1B, and the Eagles have depth in catching with 2016's Kyle Derr and Tyler Carassco. Peyton Turner will be the anchor of the staff. In 2014 Turner was 3-1 in 31 IP. Recent transfer 2017 Carter Akerfeldt will be eligible to pitch in league and could add an extra arm for their 2nd half run. The Eagles compete and have depth. If their pitching holds up they have a great opportunity with their team to finish high in the Jeffco League and make a run in the 5A playoffs.

Related Material