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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. 

Like any preseason ranking for any sport, last year our list created a lot of fun conversations, debate, and opinions among players, coaches, and families. To see what we got right, and what we got wrong in 2017 Click Here

What makes our list unique is it combines all classifications (1A through 5A), and 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.

Factors that are considered when creating the Top 50 List are the following:

- How many current players are returning that are in PBR Colorado rankings
- How many overall players committed or non-committed are returning
- How many starting pitchers are returning
- Success the previous season
- History of success in the program

* We expect the teams in the Top 50 Countdown will compete for at least a district playoff spot in 2018

 

Team No. 46: Golden Demons

2018 Preseason Rank: 46
2017 Preseason Rank: N/A
2017 Record: 12-11
Conference: 4A Jeffco
CHSAA Class: 4A 
Head Coach: Jackie McBroom
2017 Playoff Run: Lost to Air Academy in 4A Final Four
2017 Final Rank: 74
Returning Offensive Starters: 
Returning Pitchers: 
Returning Innings on Mound: 151
Returning RBI's returning: 

STAT RAT: 
They Demons bring back 151 innings of experience from 2017, however they had an overall ERA of 4.84 giving up 226 hits in those innings only striking out 91 batters. 

X-FACTORS: 
The Golden Demons do one thing very well. They get on base and run on you. In 2017 they had had a .405 OBA. Then when they get on base they will run and put pressure on you. Back that by a strong defense that has a staff that pitches to contact and that is a proven formula to win. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
For a team that their entire team back in 2017 after making the 4A Final 8, you would ask why are they coming in at 46? That is because they have been an up and down program over the last four years. Since 2015 they have a combined 42 and 38 record, going 12-11 last year which followed 3 consecutive years going 10 and 9, and when they reached the 4A district playoffs, they were 10 and 9 again. The Demons play quality baseball and teach their players to find a way to make the plays they are suppose to make on defense, and find a way to get on base on offense. When they put everything together they are very dangerous, and that showed at the end of the year with upsets over Canyon City (Winning 10-3), and Longmont (Winning 11-9) to make the 4A Final 8. 

Key Players Lost

Matt Kneeskern 1B / Golden, CO / 2017 6-foot-4, 195 pounds. Bats and throws right. Solid player in middle of Demons lineup that drove in 14 runs and hit 7 doubles on the season. Also walked 14 times on the season carrying a .385 OBA

 

Key Players Coming Back

 

Ethan Whitson C / Golden, CO / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 108 / POS: 19 5-foot-10, 150 pounds. Bats and throws right. Whitson anchored the offense last year leading the team with a .402 batting average and 12 doubles, while driving in 18 RBI's. Will be 3 or 4-hole hitter in 2018.

 

Pablo Simon 2B / SS / Golden, CO / 2018 6-foot, 165 pounds. Middle infielder who shows some pop at times. Simon hit .375 in 2017 while leading the team with 23 RBI's and 5 stolen bases. Simon also led the Demons in innings pitched with 53 innings going 3 and 3 on the year striking out 36. Carried an ERA of 4.06.

 

Ben McLaughlin 3B / RHP / Golden, CO / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 42 / POS: 6 5-foot-10, 145 pounds. Bats and throws right. Has a solid freshman campaign hitting .346 while driving in 14 runs and scoring 21. Also added 30 innings on the mound going 2 and 2 on the year carrying a 4.24 ERA

 

Other Players That Can Make an Impact

      

James Douthit C / 2B / Golden , CO / 2018 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Bats and throws right. Douthit hit .283 in 107 while contributing 12 RBI's. Can also fill in on the mound.

 

Noah Mitchell 3B / 1B / Golden, CO / 2018 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. Bats and throws right. Mitchell led the team with 2 home runs driving in 12 while hitting .267.