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Preseason Countdown: No. 34 Valor

February 20, 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: Valor
Preseason Rank: 25
2014 Record: 14-6
Conference: Independent
CHSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Keith Wahl
Playoff Run: Lost in 4A Final 8 to Longmont 9-8
2014 Final Rank: 26
Returning Starters: 1
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
Austin Surina, OF, 2015, (Mid America Nazarene)
Brady Opp, 1B/LHP, 2015
Luke McNary, RHP, 2016
Sean Rooney, SS, No. 30 2016 (Point Loma)
Levi Walters, OF/RHP, 2016
Joel Pierce, OF/1B/RHP, No.19 2017

X-FACTOR:
Luke McNary: Injury his sophomore season hurt the Eagles changes for a  4A crown in 2014. Has a mid 80's fastball and a wicked curve. A healthy McNary is key for another deep playoff run for the Eagles in 2015.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH:
No. 19 2017 Joel Pierce: The sophomore is a powerful hitter. Already 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Pierce is on pace to be one of the better players in the state by the time he's a senior.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
The Eagles lost three players to Division 1 Colleges that will be hard to replace:  Hayden Gerlach (Grand Canyon University), Marco Castilla (University of Northern Colorado), and Mathew Whalen to Wichita State.

STAT RAT:
Recently senior Brady Opp reached 102 MPH exit velocity from the left side at practice.

BOTTOM LINE:
Valor has been so close to getting that 4A state championship over the last 4 years. in 2014 they suffered two close losses in the final eight by a combine 3 runs. In 2013 the Eagles lost to eventual 4A State Champion Mountain View in the semifinals 8-5. The Valor Eagles under Ketih Wahl have developed a tradition of sticking together through tough times and have played their best baseball at the end of the year. Sticking together the Eagles are always a tough out and are difficult to play every day. This year it stars with Luke McNary, 6-foot-2, 155 pounds. Could be the Eagles best returning player. Solid right handed pitcher but was injured his sophomore year. When healthy he brings a mid 80's fastball and a sharp curve. No. 30 2016 Sean Rooney has been the starting ss since his freshman year. Levi Walters, 2016, OF/RHP,  6-2, 190 pounds is starting to receive solid Division 1 interest. Brady Opp, 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, will start at 1B and the big left handed first baseman will be a cog in the middle of the lineup. By the time No. 19 2017 Joel Pierce, 6-1, 190 pounds, OF/1B/RHP graduates he could be one of the best in the state. Austin Surina, OF, Class of 2015, 6' 0", 155, L/R - speedy outfielder who bunts and runs the bases well, can hit for surprising power also, signed with Mid-America Nazarene. There will be a lot of new faces on the squad this year, but based on their strong history expect the Eagles to move up in the rankings and expect the new faces in 2015 being ready to step on the diamond and compete.

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