Preseason Preview: Horizon High School
February 17, 2022
Opening Day is around the corner, try outs have been held, and rosters are soon to be set. The Arizona Interscholastic Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Wednesday, February 23rd. The PBR Arizona staff begins its 2022 season coverage starting with our preseason team previews, where we will take notes from coaches, and highlight returning players, newcomers, and some sleepers. Over the next couple weeks and leading up to opening day, we will be highlighting some of the top programs in state in our team previews. PBR will also be publishing its state Power 25 rankings that will be updated every Monday once the season begins. Throughout the season, PBR will be pumping out coverage, highlighting individual players, games, rankings, scouting reports and nominating a player of the week. PBR looks forward to getting out there this spring to see some great baseball.
Today, we look into:
Team: Horizon High School (5A, Northeast)
2021 Record: 17-6
Head Coach: Beau Polvorosa
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 5
OUTLOOK
As we gather info from coaching staffs, and come to a conclusion with our Preseason Power 25 Rankings, we expect Coach Beau Polvorosa and the Huskies to be one of the team atop the 5A standings. This team is very well put together, with experience and talent at each of the 9 positions. This group has been playing together for quite some time now, and they've really grown as a team. Coming off a 17 win season in 2021, the expectations are set even higher for 2022. The Huskies have leadership coming from many different sources, senior catcher Derek Smith (Oklahoma State) is a big piece to this team. Smith will be getting innings behind the plate and on the left side of the infield this season. His presence in the middle of the order is key to their run production. However; outside of Smith, there are plenty of difference makers in this lineup: 2022 Dominic Chacon (Yavapai), 2022 Kade Huff (Arizona), 2022 Jontae Hennesy (Pima CC), 2022 Kyle Justice, and 2023 Collin Senior make this lineup very complete, with mature hitters that will drive in runs and turn in a high rate of quality at bats. On the mound, the Husky pitching staff is led by 2022 LHP Grant Richardson (Grand Canyon). Richardson will have the ball in Horizon's big games this year, and if he can limit opposing offenses production, this lineup will definitely be able to provide enough run support for Richardson to be in the W column more often than not. After Richardson, this staff has some serviceable arms that we think could be enough to make this a championship caliber team. We're very excited to follow this teams success through the year, as this senior loaded team makes their final run at a title.
KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Name | State | School | Class | Position | Commitment |
Austin Corbett | AZ | Horizon | 2021 | OF | Paradise Valley CC |
Reed Interdonato | AZ | Horizon | 2021 | RHP | Monmouth |
Sam Lachit | AZ | Horizon | 2021 | RHP | Paradise Valley CC |
Dayton Francis | AZ | Horizon | 2021 | 1B | - |
Tyler Krater | AZ | Horizon | 2021 | 3B | - |
TOP RETURNERS:
Name | State | School | Class | Position | Commitment |
Derek Smith | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | C/3B | Oklahoma State |
Dominic Chacon | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | OF | Yavapai CC |
Kade Huff | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | C/1B | Arizona |
Jontae Hennesy | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | OF/RHP | Pima CC |
Grant Richardson | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | LHP | Grand Canyon |
Kyle Justice | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | 3B/RHP | - |
Jace Behnke | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | INF | - |
Collin Senior | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | SS/3B | - |
PRESEASON MVP:
Name | State | School | Class | Position | Commitment |
Derek Smith | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | C/3B | Oklahoma State |
TOP NEWCOMERS:
Name | State | School | Class | Position | Commitment |
Jacob Anderson | AZ | Horizon | 2022 | RHP | - |
Austin Mittelstedt | AZ | Horizon | 2023 | RHP/3B | - |
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Upcoming Events
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Phoenix Rising Stars ID | AZ | 02/21 | Desert Ridge High School - Phoenix, AZ |