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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

As we enter February, the high school season is quickly approaching. As the month progresses and February turns into March, we will take a look at high school programs throughout our coverage area as they prepare for the 2016 season.
 

Team: Kettle Run
Nickname: Cougars
Class: 4A West
Conference: 22
Coach: Ty Thorpe
Twitter: @kettlerunsports
2015 Record: 19-3
2015 Post Season: Conference and District Champions, Regional Semifinals
Returning Starters/Position: 8
Returning Pitchers: 7

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tyler Bianco (OF, 2017)
Brenton Doyle (OF, 2016, VMI) Doyle is the 33^rd ranked player in the Class of 2016 Rankings. Doyle has a big arm in the outfield and a good bat with power and the potential for more.
Sam Ewald (1B/RHP, 2017)
Noah Goins (CIF/RHP, 2017)
Hayden Lilek (SS/RHP, 2016)
Max Lilek (IF/RHP, 2017)
Will Merriken (1B/LHP, 2017)

SEASON OUTLOOK
Kettle Run is coming off of an outstanding 2015 season that saw them capture the Conference 27 and Evergreen District Championships, going 15-0 combined against those opponents. The Cougars reached the Regional Semifinals before being eliminated by eventual 3A State Champions Lafayette. After another round of realignment, Kettle Run has moved up to the 4A East in 2016. The Cougars return pretty much their entire lineup from last year’s team and should be very good offensively one through nine with Doyle as the centerpiece to the batting order. The defense should also be very good as it essentially plays together for a second year in a row. On the mound, the Cougars have a lot of depth but do not have the prototypical ace that anchors most high school pitching staffs. The Cougars will be one of the better teams in very deep 4A West this spring. If one or two of their arms can emerge as dominant pitchers to go with a good defense and very good offense, then Kettle Run will be one of the favorites to contend for the 4A State Championship.