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Preseason Countdown: No. 41 Fossil Ridge

February 3, 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:

Team: Fossil Ridge
Preseason Rank: 41
2014 Record: 11-8
Conference: Front Range
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Mark Findley
Playoff Run: N/A
2014 Final Rank: 38
Returning Starters: 9
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS:

Codi Heuer, RHP, 2015: 6-foot-4, 185 pounds (Committed to Wichita State)
Jake Orphan, CF, 2015: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
Mitch Simmons, OF, 2015: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
Evan Dummer, OF/C, 2015: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds
Keegan Lecher, SS/RHP 2015: 5-foot-8, 155 pounds
Tristan Faust, RHP/OF, 2016: 6-foot-4, 160 pounds
Nick Girardi, RHP/INF, 2016: 6-foot-3, 175 pounds
Jadon Uhrich, C, 2017:  5-foot-9, 165 pounds

X-FACTOR: 
The Sabercats need to prove they can compete with the top teams in their league. Last year against Rocky Mountain, Fairview, Legacy, Mountain Range the Sabercats went 0-4 losing by a combined total of 43 to 11. One win against those teams in 2014 would have got them in the playoffs.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH:
Jadon Uhrich, C, 2017: 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, excellent athlete with a solid Arm. Uhrich as a sophomore on the varsity has a chance to start in 2015. Last summer he hit in the 3-hole for the Fossil Ridge Legion Team.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
Payton Tapia: Graduated

STAT RAT: 
The Sabercats return 456 (87%) of their at bats from 2014, and 122 (100%)of their innings pitched.

BOTTOM LINE:
There is no doubt the Sabercats are experienced and talented. Led by a ton of senior experience the Sabercats should be in the mix in 2014. No. 1 pitcher Codi Heuer returns in 2015. In 2014 Heuer went 5-2 with 51 K's in 43 IP. He recently signed to pitch at Wichita State. 2nd team all-conference outfielders Jake Orphan and Mitch Simmons return. Orphan hit .426 in 2014 as the 4-hole hitter, and Simmons hit .412 in the 2-hole spot. Both are uncommitted going into their senior year. Evan Drummer also returns in the outfield. Drummer was Honorable Mention and hit .360 in 2014. Honorable Mention All-League SS Keegan Lecher returns to his leadoff position in 2014. Two juniors, RHP/OF Tristan Faust, and RHP/INF Nick Girardi (nephew of Joe Girardi) will add pitching depth.

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