Preseason Preview #4 Ranked: Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions

The 2023 High School season is approaching and it's that time of year to bring out our preseason previews. Coaches and players have been working non stop since the conclusion of the 2022 season in preparation for a highly talked about 2023 spring. Through preseason previews we look to give you an inside scoop on some of the most highly talked about teams going into the spring season. We will take you right up to the first pitch of this season with these team previews and we'll continue providing coverage throughout the Spring. 

Continue to check back throughout the season and stay tuned into our social media channels, as we strive to be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball in Arizona.  Each week following opening day we will release the PBR Arizona Top 10 Team Rankings with the initial preseason rankings set to drop in February!

High School: Mountain Ridge 

Classification: Desert Valley 6A

Head Coach: Eddie Bonine 

2022 Season Record: 20-8

TOP Returning Players:

Cooper Neville (GCU)

Jackson Forbes (Arizona)

Joseph Forbes (Arizona)

Carson McEntire (Oregon State)

Smith Bailey (Arizona)

Cannon Peery 

Names To Know: 

Cooper Holtorf (Paradise Valley)

Tyke Daniels 

Nathan Coutts

Coming in at the #4 spot in the PBR Arizona Preseason High School Rankings is the Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions. While the Lions are coming off a tough loss in the 2nd round of the 2022 season to Sandra Day O’Connor by a score of 3-2. The Lions have the firepower to make a statement in the 2023 season. Leading the charge is senior shortstop Cooper Neville, senior outfielder Carson McEntire and senior first baseman Cannon Peery. Between the 3, the Lions look to have one of the most powerful top of the lineups in the state. Neville who is the #14 ranked prospect in the 2023 class made a big impression at the 2021 Future Games, where he showed high level athleticism defensively and a clean violent swing from the left side. Oregon State Commit and #5 ranked prospect Carson McEntire, is everything you want in an outfielder, he’s a 6.4 runner with a strong and accurate arm, quality barrel control at the plate and has the ability to lose a baseball every time he steps in the box. McEntire was a standout this past fall where he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks scout team. Senior first baseman Cannon Peery was a participant at this past summer’s West Coast Games at UNLV where he hit a home run over the left field wall. The premier arm for the Lions will likely be Junior Arizona Commit Smith Bailey. Bailey was a stand out at last year's Future Games with a FB touching 88 mph. We look forward to following Mountain Ridge this season as they are heavy contenders for the state title.