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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. 43: Fort Morgan Mustangs

2018 Preseason Rank: 43
2017 Preseason Rank: N/A
2017 Record: 16-5
Conference: 4A/3A Colorado 7 League
CHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Josh Langford
2017 Playoff Run: Lost 16-5 to Evergreen in 4A Districts
2017 Final Rank: 55
Returning Offensive Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 1
Returning Innings on Mound: 53
Returning RBI's returning: 61

STAT RAT: 
Very well rounded team in 2017. The Mustangs hit. .345 overall with a team .917 OPS. They pitched well with a team overall ERA of 3.59. 

X-FACTORS: 
Finding a No. 2 pitcher. All 53 innings coming back are from one person in Tolson. They also need McBride and Linker to come close to repeating their solid 2017 seasons as juniors. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
The Mustangs dominated 3A competition in 2017, and had quality wins at the 3A level, then came within one win of reaching the 4A final 8, but lost to Evergreen 16-5 in the 4A Region 3 district championship game. They have the main pieces coming back with a strong offensive core in McBride, Linker, Garver, and Keller. They have a No. 1 starting pitcher in Tolson returing. What the Mustangs will need to advance further in 2018 is solidifying another starting pitcher, and a few of their 7 sophomores from 2017 to make an impact. 

Key Player Lost: 

TREVOR SHURTLEFF/ RHP / FORT MORGAN, CO / 2017 5-foot-8, 145 pounds. Bats and throws right. Shurtleff was the Mustangs No. 1 pitcher in 2017 going 9-1 on the year with a 2.44 ERA. In 63 innings pitched Shurtleff struck out 79 batters. Shurtleff also hit .350 driving in 17 runs.

 

Key Players Returning

 

TREY MCBRIDE/ FORT MORGAN, CO / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 85 / POS: 1 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. Bats and throws right. Big power hitter who led team with 8 homeruns in 2017 while also driving in 30. 3-sport athlete who also excels in basketball leading his team in scoring and rebounding. Duel threat in back field in football.

 

ISAAC LINKER OF / FORT MORGAN, CO / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 75 / POS: 15 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. Bats and throws right. Solid three-sport athlete for the Mustangs. Starting QB in the fall. Last spring hit .431 while driving in 14 and scoring 19 runs.

 

GRAYSON GARVER SS / FORT MORGAN, CO / 2018 6-foot, 170 pounds. Bats and throws right. Hit .386 in 2017 with 15 runs scored and 7 stolen bases. Three-sport athlete.

 

JAMES KELLER/ FORT MORGAN , CO / 2018 Hit .353 in 2017, and got on base at a .450 clip driving in 12 runs, and scoring 10 times. Also stole 6 bases.

 

BOBBY TOLSON2B / RHP / FORT MORGAN, CO / 2018 5-foot-10, 140 pounds. Bats and throws right. Tolson will be the No. 1 option on the mound for the Mustangs in 2018. Logging 52 innings in 2017, Tolson went 5 and 2 on the season while carrying a 3.59 ERA while striking out 52.