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Preseason Countdown: No. 32 Arapahoe

February 25, 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: Arapahoe
Preseason Rank: 32
2014 Record: 15-6
Conference: Centennial
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Luke Muller
Playoff Run: Lost to Fairview 13-1 in District Championship Game.
2014 Final Rank: 19
Returning Starters: 0
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
No. 34 2016 Desmond Pineda,RHP
Trevor Johnson, P, 2015
Max Whitehead, OF, 2015
Jack Berning, 1B/OF, 2015
Clay Hansen, OF, 2016
No. 7 2017 Jacob Hilton, SS/P

X-FACTOR:
Tanner Johnson: Johnson is going to need to provide senior leadership and quality innings on the mound to get through the touch Centennial League.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH:
Jacob Hilton: 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who is pitching in the low 80's. Has a good feel for two other pitches. As a hitter Hilton has gap to gap power backed up with an 83 mph exit velo off the tee.Hilton is very projectable at both postions.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
Ted Ramirez: Garden City CC

STAT RAT:
The Arapahoe Warriors Graduated a whopping 19 seniors from 2014.

BOTTOM LINE:
With so many seniors graduating, it is hard to know what to expect from the Warriors in 2014, but with the lower level success they had in 2014, the Warriors look primed to turn over a roster that graduated 19 seniors in 2014. Not many coaches can compete with the off season program Head Coach Luke Muller has to prepare his players physically. Arapahoe always has a lineup that is ahead of the curve in regards to physicality. In 2015 they return No. 34 2016 pitcher Desmond Pineda to the mound. Pineda is a 5-foot-9, 170 pound RHP with a bull-dog attitude on mound and carries himself with confidence and swagger. Does a good job holding runners on. Fastball is consistently 82-83 but touches 85. Has a nasty change-up coming in at 73 with sink. 2015 Max Whitehead returns to the lineup as well. In 26 AB's in 2014, Whitehead hit .346  scoring 13 runs. Arapahoe always has depth in their program. They will have to overcome gaining experience, but you can expect the Warriors will have a solid group of players at all positions like they normally do.

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