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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. 

Like any preseason ranking for any sport, last year our list created a lot of fun conversations, debate, and opinions among players, coaches, and families. To see what we got right, and what we got wrong in 2017 Click Here

What makes our list unique is it combines all classifications (1A through 5A), and 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.

Factors that are considered when creating the Top 50 List are the following:

- How many current players are returning that are in PBR Colorado rankings
- How many overall players committed or non-committed are returning
- How many starting pitchers are returning
- Success the previous season
- History of success in the program

* We expect the teams in the Top 50 Countdown will compete for at least a district playoff spot in 2018

Team No. 42: Lewis Palmer Bears

2018 Preseason Rank: 42
2017 Preseason Rank: 28
2017 Record: 13-7
Conference: 4A/5A Pikes Peak
CHSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Gregory Moviel
2017 Playoff Run: Lost 9-2 to Ponderosa in 4A Region 7 Districts
2017 Final Rank: 52
Returning Offensive Starters: 
Returning Pitchers: 2
Returning Innings on Mound: 72
Returning RBI's returning: 65

STAT RAT: 
The Bears were a well rounded team in 2017. They hit .341 overall with a .425 OBA. They stole 29 bases. They had a .924 fielding percentage, and they had a team era of 4.24. 

X-FACTORS: 
The Bears have 72 innings of mound experience coming back, but 50 from Charlie Deeds. If the Bears shore up other starting options they can be a dangerous team in 2018. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
The Bears had some high expectations going into 2017, and we had them ranked preseason No. 28. During the year they had quality wins against Pueblo West, Canyon City, Air Academy, Lewis Palmer, and back to back wins against Cheyenne Mountain. What that got them was a tough draw in districts against a good Ponderosa team who plays in the 5A Continental League all year but drops down to 4A for playoffs. The Bears have good pieces coming back. You can expect them to compete for a spot in the 4A Final 8 in 2018. 

 

Key Player Lost 

 

Key Players Returning

 

 

 

Charlie Deeds 2B / Pine Creek, CO / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 75 / POS: 7 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. Bats and throws right. Deeds is coming off a solid sophomore campaign in which he logged 50 inning on the mound, going 4-2 with a 2.50 ERA. Deeds also hit .391 with a .480 OBA while driving in 15 RBI's and scoring 16 runs.

 

 

 

Bridger Havens 3B / SS / Palmer Ridge , CO / 2019 5-foot-10, 152 pounds. Bats and throws right. Havens hit .383 in his sophomore campaign driving in 10 runs. Got on base at a .500 clip, scoring 12 runs.

 

Players That Could Help

 

Gabe Halaby SS / 2B / Lewis-Palmer, CO / 2018 In 39 at bats in 2017, Halaby hit .359 driving in 8 runs. Look for Halaby to get more at bats in 2018.

 

 

Jake Wade LHP / OF / Palmer Ridge, CO / 2017 Look for Wade to potentially take over a starting position on the mound in 2017. Wade also hit .385 in 39 at bats in 2017.