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Preseason Countdown: 3A No 1. Eaton

March 31, 2015

By John Cackowski
State Director

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. The top 50 teams are picked from all classifications, and are not divided up by class level. To see the entire list click here

Team: Eaton
Preseason Rank: 3A No. 1
2014 Record: 23-2
Conference: Patriot League
CHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Jim Danley
Playoff Run: Lost to Holy Family in 3A State Championship Game
2014 Final Rank: 11
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 9

TOP PLAYERS:
Ryan Koehler, LHP/OF, No. 45 2015, New Mexico JC Commit
Ethan Kapperman, LHP, No. 67 2015, North Eastern JC commit
Brady Tedesco, LHP/OF, No. 79 2015 North Eastern JC Commit
Lane Greiman, RHP/SS, No. 91 2015, Otero JC Commit
Matt Burkart, RHP/C/3B, No. 7 2016
Dalton Lind, RHP/OF, No. 24 2016
Joe Mondragon, 1B, No. 47 2016
JT Mossberg, RHP/2B, 2016
Sean Carson, OF/3B, No. 38 2017
              
X-FACTOR:
The Reds have 3 LHP scholarship seniors, but their sole senior RHP, Lane Greiman, also advancing on
college scholarship, can be the difference in relief, always called upon to get Eaton out of any late-inning
jams, before turning the ball over to closer Matt Burkart.

NEW PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Junior INF/RHP JT Mossberg and sophomore OF Sean Carson, No. 30 ranked 2017, add on-base average
and slugging percentage, respectively, to a lineup that returns the heart of their lineup from the past
two years.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Jake Nelson: University of New Mexico

STAT RAT:
Matt Burkart, No. 7 ranked 2016, led the Reds with a .506 batting average, 45 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 19
extra base hits including 4 HR last season. The Reds also return 9 pitchers to 2015.

BOTTOM LINE:
Legendary Head Coach Jim Danley enters his 44th season and has a career record at press time of 785-162-2, and the Reds have won over 82% of their games since 1972 which has included 10 3A state championships. The 82% winning percentage is the highest in the country under 1 coach since 1972. The Reds are always in the mix as one of the top 4 3A teams in the state. This year you should expect them to be back in the 3A state championship game. Usually the Reds have a pitching staff that is deep, comes at you in different angles, and can even adjust their rotation by outside wind speed. This year is no different. The Reds pitching staff is all about matchups, and it will be lead by 2015 pitchers Ethan Kapperman (No. 67), Brady Tadesco (No. 79) and Lane Greinman (No. 91), all local Junior College commits (Northeastern and Otero). No. 47 2015 LHP/OF and New Mexico JC commit Ryan Koehler and No. 7 2016 RHP/SS Matt Burkart will do the bulk of the damage offensively bringing a lot of power to the middle of the lineup. No. 20 2016 RHP Dalton Lind should be the No. 2 pitcher for the Reds bringing a mid 80's fastball to the mix. No. 47 2016 1B Joe Mondragon, 2016 3B/RHP JT Mossberg, and No. 38 2017 OF/3B Sean Carson will provide OBA and depth the lineup. The Reds will be extremely tough to beat in 3A in 2015. They are the favorites to win Coach Danley's 11th state championship.

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