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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. 44: Arapahoe Warriors

2018 Preseason Rank: 44
2017 Preseason Rank: N/A
2017 Record: 11-9
Conference: 5A Centennial
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: James Dollaghan
2017 Playoff Run: Lost to Broomfield 6-2 in 5A Districts
2017 Final Rank: 40
Returning Offensive Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 4
Returning Innings on Mound: 70
Returning RBI's returning: 39

STAT RAT: 
The Warriors were in games in 2017 because of a strong pitching staff that carried a 3.38 overall ERA. However as a team they did not hit for much power, and carried a .757 overall OPS. Warriors team leader in RBI's in 2017 was 10..tied by three other players. 

X-FACTORS: 
The Warriors will depend on the 70 innings returning on the mound from 2017 as the strength of their team in 2018, led by Oklahoma commit 2018 RHP Drew Hayes, and 2018 LHP Garrett DeClure, both combined for over 50 innings pitched in 2017. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
The Warriors, playing in the always tough 5A Centennial League, bring some good pieces back in 2018. The will have to find a way to generate more offense. 9 times in 2017 the Warriors scored 4 runs or less. If they can, their pitching is good enough to help improve on a a 2017 season which was their first winning season since 2014. 

 

Key Player Lost

 

Justin Kuhl C / 1B / Arapahoe, CO / 2017 6-foot, 185 pounds. Bats and throws right. Kuhl was the Warriors main offensive weapon in 2017. Kuhl hit .391 and had a .462 OBA while driving in 10 runs.

 

Key Players Coming Back

Drew Hayes RHP / 2B / Arapahoe High School, CO / 2018 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. Bats and throws right. Recently committed to Oklahoma. Throws from high 3/4 arm slot with good extension to the plate. Game we watched this fall in Slammers Labor Day tournament, pitching for Colorado Rockies Select team, Hayes lived 83-84 with fastball touching 86 once. Strike thrower with good 3-pitch. Curve lived 69-70 mph with 11/5 shape. Change was 75-76 mph with some fade. Competes on the mound. Will be one of the anchors of the Arapahoe pitching staff in 2018.

 

 

Brandon Dryer OF / Arapahoe, CO / 2018 5-foot-7, 150 pounds. Bats left and throws right. Dryer hit .312 in 2017, and will be a potential table setter for the Warriors in 2018. OBA was .443 while scoring 8 runs and driving in 10.

 

 

Zach Goodman C / 1B / Arapahoe, CO / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 124 / POS: 22 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. Bats left throws right. Stands with a wide base at plate and short stride. Utilizes a unique load that wraps down back first then is on time to hit. Swing is level through zone with good extension. Lower half works well and is balanced. Line drive hitter to both fields and produced solid contact in live round. Produced 79 mph exit velocity. Behind the dish flashed good receiving and blocking skills. Liked his quick glove to hand transfer on throw downs to 2B. 2.06 to 2.12 were pop times of a coach. 68 mph arm velocity. Ran a 4.44 home to first.  Hit .296 in 2017.

 

 

 

Garrett DeClue LHP / OF / Arapahoe, CO / 2018 5-foot-8, 145 pounds. Bats right and throws left. DeClue is your classic LHP who keeps batters off balance with a 3-pitch mix. In 2017, DeClue pitched 27 innings winning 4-games, which included an impressive complete game 6-2 win over a tough Eaglecrest team who won 15 games.

 

Jake Groth OF / 1B / Centennial, CO / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 57 / POS: 10 6-foot-4, 190-pound right hand hitting OF who ran a 4.15 home to first.  At the plate he is slightly open and balanced.  Uses a small stride to come square and hands load quickly on the pitch.  He showed good leg drive on the swing and finished on a strong front side.  Swing path is level through the zone and during the live round did a nice job of living in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity was 87 MPH.  In the field he moves well to the ball.  He showed smooth fielding actions and quick hands on the transfer.  He delivers from a high ¾ arm slot and showed good accuracy to the bag.  Arm velocity was 78 MPH for this event.