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Preseason Countdown: No 12 Columbine

March 19, 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: Columbine
Preseason Rank: 12
2014 Record: 19-2
Conference: Jeffco 
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Chuck Gillman
Playoff Run: Lost to Chaparral in District Championship Game 12-3
2014 Final Rank: 10
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS:
No. 47 2015 Michael Tait, INF
No. 9 2016 Tommy Gillman, SS
No. 20 2016 Taylor Dye, RHP
No 64 2016 Adrian Trujillo, C
2015 Cameron Ziegler, RHP

X-FACTOR:
Cameron Ziegler: Taylor Dye has enough experience and ability to be a solid No. 1 pitcher. The Rebels will need to find a capable No. 2. Cameron Ziegler has a shot to fill that roll.

NEW PLAYER TO WATCH: 
No. 67 2016 Mitchel Hulse: 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting 2B/MIF bats left from a athletic crouch setup with a no load or stride, creating a long swing with good extension producing gap to gap power.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Austin Anderson (UNLV) and Blake Weinman (Kansas)

STAT RAT:
The Rebels will have to replace a combined 13-1 record and 90 IP from graduated pitchers Blake Weinman (7-0, 45 IP, 60 K's) and Isaish Gonzalels-Montoya (6-1, 45.1 IP, 42 K's)

BOTTOM LINE:
The Rebels were primed to make a 5A Final 8 run in 2014. As the overall No. 3 seed, The Rebels beat Legacy 10-0 in the first District Game, then ran into Chaparral and lost 12-3 to get knocked out. The Rebels still have a lot of talent back, and will have a very strong offense again. Starting with No. 47 2015 Michael Tait. Tait can play any infield position. In 2014 Tait was a one man wrecking machine hitting .485, scoring 30 runs, hit 12 doubles, and led the team with 6 homeruns. No. 9 2016 Tommy Gillman moves from catcher to SS. The switch hitting Gillman hit .364 in 2014 with 4 homeruns. Gillman will also provide some extra speed on the bases. We have had Gillman at a 6.8 60 time at past PBR events. No. 20 2016 Taylor Dye will be the No. 1 pitcher for the Rebels. the 6-foot-5, 200 pound Dye was 5-0 with a 3.64 ERA in 2014 and brings a mid 80's fastball. No. 64 2016 Adrian Trujillo moves behind the plate to catch. Trujillo hit .382 in 2014. The Rebels will still score runs. It's just a matter of adding pitching depth and they could have the same Jeffco League results as they did in 2014.

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