The Colorado high school baseball season kicks off on March 6th, opening day for regular season action under CHSAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2025 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Colorado Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Coaches Questionnaire Link: HERE

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today:

High School: Eaton
Head Coach: Todd Hernandez
Classification: 3A
League: Patriots League
2024 Record: 28-0 (3A State Champions)

Key Players Lost:
Mitch Haythorn (University of Oklahoma)
Lucas Stone (University of Northern Colorado)
Gunnar Duncan (Butler University)
Garrett Garrison (Northeastern JC)
Kade Gentry
Joey Blaskowski

Top Returners:
'25 Cooper Nider - Chandler-Gilbert CC

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 🌴

‘25 @PBR_Uncommitted OF Cooper Nider (Eaton)

Max EV: 102.3 mph 💥
60 yard dash: 6.7 🔥

Active strength with well rounded feel of the game. Twitchy/athletic. Prospect to keep a close watch on this weekend ✍️@cooper_nider |… pic.twitter.com/cpFS2hp3GW

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) October 5, 2024

'25 Cash Rinker
'26 Liam Whalen

𝓝𝓸𝓒𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓘𝓓

Uncommitted ‘26 SS/OF Liam Whalen (Eaton)

Max EV: 90.7 mph
Max Bat Speed: 72.6 mph
INF Velo: 76 mph
OF Velo: 82 mph

Flashed some feel defensively at multiple positions, quick bat.

@PBR_Uncommitted | @LiamWhalen10 pic.twitter.com/hndzgpno2i

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) February 6, 2024

'26 Gunnar Garrison - Brigham Young University

🌟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝑭𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑬 𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬𝑺 🌟

‘26 RHP Gunnar Garrison (Eaton)

FB: 87-88 T89 (2300+ rpms)
CB: 74-76 (2400+ rpms)
CH: 78 (1700 rpms)

6’5’’ right-hander with a strong a durable frame. Allowed 0 runs in his 3 innings of work against Team Utah today. Quality pitchability. pic.twitter.com/unF30TmKqJ

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) July 25, 2024

'26 Malaki Dalpra

𝓝𝓸𝓒𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓘𝓓

Uncommitted ‘26 1B/3B Malaki Dalpra (Eaton)

6-foot-4, 225-pounds

Max EV: 99.7 mph💥
Avg. EV: 90.7

One of the more consistent rounds of the event, with power. Strong player while actively developing.

@PBR_Uncommitted | @malaki_dalpra pic.twitter.com/PPh02dHtXY

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) February 5, 2024

'26 Vinnie Juarez

2025 SEASON OUTLOOK:

The Eaton Reds' 3A baseball program has now won 4 straight state titles and has reached a 69 game winning streak. According to MaxPreps, the longest recorded HS baseball winning streak was from 2008-2012 when the Portsmouth Clippers out of New Hampshire won 89 games in a row. The Reds are now 21 games from breaking that record this upcoming spring, and adding to their already illustrious history out of Colorado. Eaton has won 15 state titles over the years and seen the likes of Walker Martin, Mitch Haythorn, Ryan Ure, Shane Dyer, Bennett Pickar, Tyler Wallace, Chris Swain, and Mike Carrasco graduate from the Northern Colorado HS.

In 2025, the Reds will likely lean heavily on BYU pitching recruit and Future Games alumni Gunnar Garrison. The tall and strong right-hander comes with a fastball around 90 mph and pitched to a 1.08 ERA in spring 2024 across 32.1 innings with 50 strikeouts, just 7 walks, and 13 hits allowed. Dalpra, Nider, Rinker, and Whalen should all be tough outs this season, and each of them hit over .320 just last year with a combined 24 extra-base hits. Eaton certainly lost some pivotal pieces to their recent success, but if they can get production out of some newer faces on the mound there is a chance we see the historic program break an all-time record and eclipse a 5th straight state title. Some early games on Eaton's schedule to keep on the radar this spring are against 4A Golden and 3A Berthoud. 

Find more information on the 2025 Eaton program below:

+ Follow them on X: @eatonbbcoach

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Super 60 Pro Showcase	NATIONAL	02/02	The MAX - McCook, IL
Denver Preseason ID	CO	02/02	Prospects Park - Englewood, CO
Colorado Springs Preseason ID	CO	02/09	The Farm Sports - Colorado Springs, CO
Northern Colorado Preseason ID	CO	02/15	The Sports Stable - Superior, CO
Colorado Preseason All-State (Invite-Only)	CO	02/23	The Farm Sports - Colorado Springs, CO

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