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: Grand Junction
Preseason Rank: 29
2014 Record: 14-7
Conference: Southwestern
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach:
Playoff Run: Lost to Mountain Vista in District Championship game 5-0
2014 Final Rank: 17
Returning Starters: 3
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS:
Tyson Zanski, No. 17 2016 C, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
Max Fransen, 2015, 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, INF/RHP
Tyler Mantlo, 2016, 6-foot, 165 pounds, INF/RHP
Caleb Coleman, 2016, 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, RHP

X-FACTOR:
Caleb Coleman and Tyler Mantlo: Coleman and Mantlo are the only two pitchers returning with varsity experience.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Kaleb Johnson and Neil Ryan: Graduated

STAT RAT:
2017 catcher Tyson Zanski led the Tigers in just about every offensive category in 2014 including B.A. (.444), Hits (28) Doubles (4) HR (2), OBA (.486) Slug (.603) and OPS (1.089)

BOTTOM LINE:
The Tigers graduated 9 seniors in 2014. They will be retooling a little in 2015, but when talking about their roster it starts with No. 17 2016 Tyson Zanski. The 6-1,190 lb switch hitting junior catcher has a strong athletic frame with good quick feet and strong arm. In the fall we had him at consistent pop times of 1.90, 1.92, 195. This gives him great presence behind the plate. In 2014 Zanski hit for a .444 average and collected 16 RBI for the Tigers last season. Also returning are RHP pitchers Tyler Mantlo (2016) and Caleb Coleman(2015). Coleman was able to rack up a record of 3 and 0 in just 9 innings of work. Mantlo got 5 innings of work and a win in 2014. Combined they return the only 14 innings on the mound from the team from 2014. 2015 INF Max Fransen brings back 70 abs of varsity experience from 2014. The Tigers will be the 5A team in 2015 that not many teams know about but they are always in the mix to make a deep 5A playoff run.

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