Colorado Top 50 Countdown: No. 3 Cherry Creek Bruins
March 13, 2018
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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. 3: Cherry Creek Bruins
2018 Preseason Rank: 3
2017 Preseason Rank: 9
2017 Record: 19-7
Conference: Centennial
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Marc Johnson
2017 Playoff Run: Lost to Broomfield 2-1 in 5A Final 4
2017 Final Rank: 3
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 6
Returning Innings on Mound: 102
RBI's returning: 81
STAT RAT:
The Bruins hit 20 homeruns as a team in 2017, Tanner O'Tremba hit 10 of them. The last four games the Bruins had in 2017 in the 5A Final Four all came down to one run.
X-FACTORS:
The Bruins are as complete as a team at the 5A level. They will play one of the toughest schedules in the state, they have experience, and they have one of the best pitching staffs in the state. They need to make sure they don't get complacent during the year.
Bottom Line:
Head coach Marc Johnson returns for his 46th year at the helm, the longest tenured coach in the country. The team is talented, and has a good balance of senior leadership mixed with underclassman. Expect the Bruins to be playing on the last weekend of the season fighting for a 5A State championship which would be their first since 2012.
Key Player Lost
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Cody Schultz 1B / RHP / Cherry Creek, CO / 2017Rankings StateRank: 28 / POS: 2
5-fo0t-10, 160 pounds. Bats and throws right. Schultz came up with more big hits in the state in pressure situations for his team as anyone in 2017. The Dixie State commit hit .473 for the Bruins and led his team with 43 runs, 10 doubles, 6 triples, and 12 stolen bases while also contributing 4 homeruns. Also has very impressive skills at shortstop.
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Key Players Returning
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Tanner O'Tremba OF / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018The No. 1 overall 2018 O'Tremba has taken Cherry Creek and put them on his shoulders has been a one man wrecking crew at the plate for 4 years. Going into his senior year, not many players in state history have accomplished what the Texas Tech commit has since he started as a freshman. In his career O'Tremba has hit 21 homeruns, and driven in 86 RBI's. When this season is done, O'Tremba will most likely be in play as being No. 1 in Cherry Creek history in both of those categories.
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Quentin Parr LHP / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 2
6-foot-3, 185 pounds. Big left hander on the mound. Starts in a crouched base then comes from an uphill angle over the top at the batters. Inline then falls off to 3rd. Fastball was consistently 80-81 mph with a 69-70 curve with 12/6 shape. Pitches to both sides of the plate with good down angle in the zone. Last year the Northern Colorado commit went 7-0 with a 2.29 ERA. In 49 innings Parr struck out 42.
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Tyler Schultz OF / RHP / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 3
Shultz stands at 6 feet, 165 pounds and is currently uncommitted. Since late in the spring, he has always come up big in games. He has gap-to-gap power at the plate and a live arm on the mound. He delivers from a high-3/4 slot and reaches 87 with his fastball, showing command of the inner half. The Metropolitan State commit hit .346 in 2017 with 8 doubles driving in 14.
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Brice Martinez 3B / 2B / Cherry Creek, CO / 2019Rankings StateRank: 18 / POS: 2
5-foot-11, 150-pound right hand hitting 3B/MIF who ran a 6.70 60. At the plate he stands slightly open and wide. He uses a high leg kick and slow load on the pitch to get to his launch position. Swing path is slightly up hill with a strong weight transfer on the swing. He had several hard hit balls on the weekend and showcased very well as a complete player. Exit Velocity was 91 MPH. In the field he has quick reactions and anticipation at 3rd base. He moves well left and right and has a strong accurate arm. Arm velocity was 78 MPH. Last year Martinez hit .299 with 11 RBI's.
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Brennen Dorighi C / OF / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018Rankings StateRank: 25 / POS: 4
6-foot-2, 200 pounds. Bats left throws right. Shows some big time power as a left handed hitting catcher. Ball exploded off bat in live round. Tall narrow stance, down and up load. Uses leg kick for timing, uphill swing, very good extension through the baseball. Strong and athletic looking. 98 mph exit velo off the tee. Behind the dish frames and blocks well. Comes from over the top arm slot on throw downs and has slight tilt to get arm through. Pop time was 2.0-2.05 but could be quicker if he didn't tilt. Arm velocity was 74 mph. Ran a 4.28 home to first. Hit 323 with 16 RBI's in 2017
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Isaac Kron OF / LHP / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018Rankings StateRank: 80 / POS: 14
5-foot-10, 160-pound left handed hitter. At the plate he hits from a wide balanced stance He transfers his weight through the zone at contact and hits off his front foot. Hit the ball hard 3 times off 88 mph fastballs producing 2 hits and 3 RBI's. On his out it was a line drive off the pitchers foot that ricocheted to the SS. Has a very solid day at the plate and looks like he can handle the bat real well. Was not overmatched with upper 80's pitching. Recently committed to Sierra College
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Jake Lawrence 2B / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018Rankings StateRank: 74 / POS: 5
Lawrence was a weapon for the Bruins out of the pen in 2017. One of the few high school pitchers in Colorado that was a relief specialist, the 5-foot-7 Lawrence brings a fastball that can touch 86 mph, and a nasty slider that sits upper 70's. Last year Lawrence in relief threw 32 innings in 13 appearances giving up 27 hits while striking out 37 batters.
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Gabe Austin RHP / Cherry Creek, CO / 2018Rankings StateRank: 35 / POS: 14
Another Metropolitan State commit on the Cherry Creek staff, Austin stands 6-foot-3, weighing 185 pounds. Austin logged 13 innings in 2017 and looks to compete for one of the 3 starting spots Cherry Creek prefers to have in the spring season. Fastball sits 81-82 mph touching 84.
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Nathan Mitchell RHP / 1B / Cherry Creek, CO / 2019Rankings StateRank: 20 / POS: 7
6-foot-4, 170 pounds. Bats and throws right. Open stance, closes down. Everything quiet and smooth. Uses leverage well to generate power. Swings long and thru and finishes high. Very solid round of hitting with consistent gap to gap power. Highest exit velo on day at 95 mph. Ran a 7.0 flat 60. Threw 81 mph from 1B. On the mound pitches at 81-82. His delivery is athletic with good extension and he pounds the strike zone. His curveball has 11/5 shape at 68-70.
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