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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

As we enter March, the high school season is quickly approaching. As we approach opening day, we will continue our look at high school programs throughout our coverage area as they prepare for the 2016 season.
 

 

Team: Mountain View
Nickname: Wildcats
Class: 5A North
Conference: 15
Coach: Craig Lopez
Twitter: @MtViewBaseball
2015 Record: 16-8
2015 Post Season: Conference 15 Champions, Regional Semifinals
Returning Starters/Position: 7
Returning Pitchers: 5

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Harry D'Antuono (OF, 2016)
Dylan Hall (RHP/1B, 2016, Virginia Tech) Hall is an athletic pitcher who works in the mid-80s with a sweeping slider and a running change-up. He is currently ranked 98^th in the Class of 2016 Rankings.
Jacob Menders (RHP/MIF, 2016, Shippensburg)
Nathan Neff (MIF, 2016) Neff has soft hands and quick, clean exchanges in the field. He is a line drive hitter that uses the entire field well.
Jacob Pollock (SS/RHP, 2016, Shippensburg) Pollock is an athletic infielder with decent speed and soft hands. He is a line drive hitter that uses the entire field well. Pollock is currently ranked 122^nd in the Class of 2016 Rankings.
Alex Smith (C, 2016, Naval Academy) Smith is an elite defender behind the plate with a strong arm and consistent sub-2.0 times to second. He is a good blocker and quiet receiver as well. Smith is currently ranked 89 in the Class of 2016 Rankings.


SEASON OUTLOOK
Mountain View had a historic 2015 season, capturing the program’s first ever Conference Championship and winning a Regional game for the first time. The 2016 Wildcats will look to build on that success and go even farther this spring. Mountain View returns all but two starters from last year’s lineup as well as ace Dylan Hall and Menders. The defense will be very strong up middle with Smith behind the plate, Pollock, Menders, and Neff anchoring the middle infield, and D'Antuono in the outfield for what is traditionally a very fundamentally sound team. The lineup had a lot of chemistry and brings most of its pieces back this spring. Mountain View has the pieces in place to defend its Conference 15 Championship and to challenge for a trip to the 5A State Tournament this spring.