By PBR Staff

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: Dakota Ridge
Preseason Rank: 33
2016 Record: 15-8
Conference: Jeffco
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Jeff Legault
Playoff Run: Lost to Mullen 11-6 in the Final 8 round.
2016 Final Rank: 21
Returning Starters: 3
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
Carter Akerfeldt, RHP, No 11 2017
Jake Starkey, INF, No. 63 2017
Jake Collins, C/INF, 2018 
Cooper Legault, OF/RHP 2018

OTHER PLAYERS WHO MIGHT MAKE AN IMPACT
Elliot Pigati, LPH, 2019


KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Bailey Collins
Ty Lightley
Ryan Faircloth
Kyle Derr

Stat Rat: 8-0 was Dakota's home record last year.  A good place to play with a young 2017 team.

BOTTOM LINE:   The Eagles made a deep run last year eventually losing to Mullen in the Final 8 round of the 2016 State Playoffs.  The 2016 team was senior heavy and made the most of their opportunity.  In 2017, Dakota will rely on Carter Akerfelds, .364 with 22 RBI and Jake Starkey who had 13 hits last year to lead their offense.  Look for Cooper Legault and Jake Collins who both saw playing time last year to be thrown into the mix as full time starters.  Akerfelds who went 6-2 last year will be the ace of the pitching staff and look for Elliot Pigati to eat up innings in  the rotation.  Dakota Ridge always puts a fundamentally sound product on the field and competes in every game, look for the 2017 version to follow suit.