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Preseason Countdown: No. 4 Regis Jesuit

March 30, 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: Regis Jesuit
Preseason Rank: 4
2014 Record: 21-5
Conference: Continental
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Matt Darr
Playoff Run: Lost to Rocky Mountain in the 5A State Championship Game
2014 Final Rank: 2
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
No. 4 2015 RHP Brent Schwarz (Rice Commit)
No. 24 2015 3B Matt Schmidt (Texas Commit)
No. 27 2015 SS Aidan Cameron
No. 4 2016 RHP Bo Weiss (North Carolina Commit)
No. 11 2016 RHP/1B Travis Marr
No. 12 2016 CF Quin Cotton
No. 27 2016 OF Ryan Vottiero
No. 35 2016 RHP Nick Spiliotis
2015 C Trevor Doerr
2015 2B/C Geoff Kice
No. 3 2017 INF Austin Chouinard

X-FACTOR:
Talented but not much experience. The Raiders will have a lot of new faces in 2015 that will get their chance after senior dominated team in 2014 graduated.

NEW PLAYERS TO WATCH:
No. 4 2016 RHP and North Carolina Commit Bo Weiss, No 1. RHP Caleb Sloan, and No. 3 2017 INF Austin Chouinard. Weiss and Chouinard get their chance to show off their talents from a Raiders team that graduated 8 starting seniors. The 6-foot-3, 180 pound Weiss will close things out for the Raiders. Weiss was also selected to the USA 17u National Team Development Program. Weiss will bring his low 90's fastball to the late innings. Chouinard will have a chance to make an impact as a sophomore in the lineup. Also look for No. 1 2017 RHP Caleb Sloan to spell a few innings. Sloan brings an 89 mph fastball to the mound.
 
KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Max George (Drafted by Rockies), David Peterson (Oregon), Justin Thaxton (Pacific) Reagan Todd (A.S.U.), Zach Heath (University of Northern CO)

STAT RAT:
The Raiders lose 20 of the 25 homeruns, and 139 of 184 RBI's hit in 2014 to graduated seniors.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Raiders were loaded in 2014 with D-1 talent. Getting chance to compete in USA Baseball's NHSI which recognizes premier programs in the country, the Raiders went 2 and 2 making the semi-finals of the highly competitive tournament. When they got back to Colorado they made it all the way to the 5A State Championship game only to lose 6-5 to Rocky Mountain. It was their second one-run loss to the Lobos in the 5A state championship playoffs losing 2-1 in the first game of the Final 8. The Raiders however still return a plethora of talent to make another run in 2015. The Raiders return their No. 1 pitcher from 2014 No. 4 2015 and Rice commit Brent Schwarz. Schwarz was 7-2 in 2014 with a 2.52 E.R.A. in 49.2 IP. Schwarz will be counted on heavily to shoulder the load in 2014 on the mound. No. 4 2016 RHP Bo Weiss, No. 11 2016 RHP/1B Travis Marr, and No. 35 RHP Nick Spilotis will be asked to step in for the first time this spring. All three have lively arms. No. 24 2015 and Texas Commit, and No. 27 Aiden Cameron return as starters to the offense in the infield. Schmidt hit .389 in 2014 with 17 RBI's and 2 HR. In 31 AB's Cameron hit .290. No. 12 2016 Quin Cotton moves from the leadoff spot and RF in 2014 to the 3rd hole. When you watch Cotton you ask what he can't do. A plus runner (Sub 7.00 60 time), plus arm (Mid 80's from outfield), and explosive bat speed that produces underrated power. In 2014 Cotton hit .318 in in a team leading 88 AB's. 2015 C Trevor Doerr will provide leadership behind the plate, and 2015 2B Geoff Kice is a solid defensive 2B and could be the new leadoff hitter for 2015. Look for newcomer No. 3 Austin Chouinard to make an impact somewhere in the line up as well. If the Raiders develop the same chemistry they had in 2014 they should be in the mix for another 5A state championship.

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