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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. 4: Rocky Mountain Lobos

2018 Preseason Rank: 4
2017 Preseason Rank: 2
2017 Record: 20-6
Conference: Front Range
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Scott Bullock
2017 Playoff Run: Won the 5A State Championship beating Broomfield 9 to 5. 
2017 Final Rank: 1
Returning Offensive Starters: 1
Returning Pitchers: 5
Returning Innings on Mound: 60
RBI's returning: 30

STAT RAT: 
The Lobos won their 6th 5A State Championship since 2007

X-FACTORS: 
The Lobos only return one offensive starter from 2017. They have been in this position before though, and their players will be prepared to step up and produce. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
What now has become not just one of the most successful programs in Colorado, but the entire country, head coach Scott Bullock leads the Lobos again into another spring looking to repeat as 5A Champions. The Lobos will be younger then they have been recently. They do bring back pitching experience, and will have more team speed then usual. Look for the Lobos to be playing their best by playoff time and again be a team to beat once Districts role around. 

 

Key Player Lost

 

John Sorensen SS / 3B / Rocky Mountain, CO / 2017 Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 1 A 6-foot-0, 195-pound left hand hitting SS/3B. Stands open and balanced at the plate.  Uses a slight leg kick to come square, hits off a firm front side with strong weight transfer on the swing.  Swing path is slightly uphill and showed good bat control being able to hit to all fields. In the field he is active and covers a lot of ground.  Quick feet and soft hands keep him in good position on all balls. Had a very good day at the plate. In the first game Sorensen went 2-4 and he turned on a low inside 88 mph fastball for a home run to right center. In the 2nd game Sorensen hit 2 doubles and drove in 3 runs. Still is uncommitted and is one of Colorado's top 2017 players.

 

Key Players Returning

 

Hayden Heinze OF / OF / Rocky Mountain, CO / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 36 / POS: 6 5-10, 150 pounds. Bats and throws right. Cannot ignore the 6.6 60 time he ran off a coaches watch, the fastest at the event, and is the second time we have had him at 6.6 from previous events. He's short to the ball with his hands but gets good extension through the baseball. Sprays the ball around the field. Was 2 for 2 on the day in the game. Was not able to attend day 2 due to a a game conflict. Last event threw 83 mph from OF. In the outfield has a lot of range, and throws from a high 3/4 arm slot with accuracy. Committed to University of Northern Colorado right after the event.

 

 

Jett Hoggatt OF / RHP / Rocky Mountain , CO / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 19 / POS: 3 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. Bats and throws right. Physical specimen and athlete who really fills out uniform well. Looks and plays like a linebacker. Has some moving parts at the plate with both hands and lower half. Big crouch. Ball jumps off when he gets a hold of it. Bat looks like a toothpick in his hands. Smaller leg kick then last time we saw him.  Had impressive measurables at event. Exit velo was 88 mph off the tee. In the OF had good actions and threw from high 3/4 arm slot at 78 mph. On the mound comes right at you and attacks the strike zone. Good leg drive towards the plate. Fastball was consistently 79 mph but looks faster. Change sat 64-65 with fade, and curve was 62 mph with 11/5 shape. Also ran a 4.2 home to first time. Player to follow.

 

 

Tyler Mata Lloyd SS / 2B / Rocky Mountain, CO / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 79 / POS: 7 Committed to Eastern Arizona. 5-foot-7, 130 pounds. Bats and throws right. Opened stance, soft load back. Closes down with medium stride towards ball. Swing is slightly uphill, and generates good bat speed. Bottom hand dominant. Lower half works well. Has a tendency to want to lift the ball at times, but projects to be a prototypical leadoff hitter. Generated a 83 mph exit velocity off the tee. Good actions at shortstop, soft hands, fields out front. Throws from a quick 3/4 arm slot across diamond with accuracy at 76 mph. Ran a 7.19 60 time which he can get under 7 at some point as he gets stronger.

 

 

Cade Nelson SS / Rocky Mountain, CO / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 82 / POS: 11 Last year as a sophomore hit .264 and drove in 13 runs while hitting 2 homeruns. Look for Nelson to be an impact bat in the middle of the order in 2018.

 

 

Jake Campbell RHP / Rocky Mountain, CO / 2019 Last year as a sohpomore Campbell went 5-3 logging 38 innings which was second most on the team. Will be one of the main options on the mound for the Lobos in 2018.