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Preseason Countdown: No 31 Brighton

February 26, 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: Brighton
Preseason Rank: 31
2014 Record: 14-6
Conference: Eastern Metro
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Ray Garza
Playoff Run: Lost to Grandview 2-1 in first District Game
2014 Final Rank: 33
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
Connor Reynolds, SS, No. 31 2015 (UNC Commit)
Brandon Pettinger, OF, 2015
Seth Armentrout, MIF, 2015
Morgon Beauman, RHP, 2015
Liam Eddy, RHP, No. 30 2017

X-FACTOR:
Morgon Beauman: The 6-foot-8, 220 pound pitcher was 2nd Team All-Conference in 2014. Beauman will be asked to be a main anchor on a staff in 2015 that graduated 5 pitchers in 2014. Only 19 innings out of the 123 total team innings pitched in 2014 return, and they were all Beauman's.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH:
Liam Eddy: 6-foot-3, 175 pound right handed pitcher threw from a high 3/4 arm slot against PBR Colorado Fall Elite Team. Did not give up a hit in two innings of work. Fastball came in at 82-84 mph with high being 85. Thew a curve/slurve that came in at 70-72 mph. Ball jumps out of hand. Square to the plate and gets good extention on pitches. Player to follow with already good mid-80's velocity. Showed a very quick move to first base picking off one player.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
James Smith: Graduated

STAT RAT:
Flying a little under the radar, the Bulldogs have a 72 and 27(72% Winning Percentage) record over the last 4 years. A record any program can be proud of.

BOTTOM LINE:
Brighton is starting to become a program that has to be reckoned with in Colorado. Last year Brighton was holding a 1-0 lead through 5 innings in game one of the District Playoffs against perennial Centennial League powerhouse Grandview, only to give up 2 runs in the top of the 6th to lose 2-1. Coached by passionate head coach Ray Garza (Under Garza's leadership the little known facility has become one of the top places to play high school baseball in our state), Brighton has won over 60% of their games in 2011. No 31 2015 SS, and University of Northern Colorado Commit Connor Reynolds returns this spring. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds,  Reynolds is a big athletic presence at the plate and in the field. Ranges well for size at SS. Has gap to gap power showing good bat speed at the plate with power potential. In 2014 Reynolds led the team in homeruns (4) RBI's (28), Doubles (7), and Triples (2). Reynolds is only the second player out of the Brighton Baseball program to make it to the Division 1 level. 2015 OF Brandon Pettinger hit .412 with 7 stolen bases in 2014, and 2015 MIF Seth Armentrout hit .347 with 10 stolen bases. Both seniors scored 18 runs, so their is speed on the bases returning. The Bulldogs have some young pitching coming up in Eddy, and with the talent returng expect the Bulldogs to be the favorite to win their league again and if they learn how to get over the hump potentially make their first 5A Final 8 appearance.

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