By PBR Staff

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: Pine Creek 
Preseason Rank: 3
2016 Record: 18-3
Conference: Colorado Springs Metro
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Glen Millhauser
Playoff Run: Lost to Rocky Mountain 9-7 in 5A District 1 Championship game
2016 Final Rank: 3
Returning Starters: 4 
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS:
Riley Cornelio, No. 19 overall and No. 1 CO 2019 (Texas Christian)
Jeremy Onken, No. 6 2018 (Utah)
Justin Olson, No. 165 overall and No. 3 CO 2018 (Kentucky)
Toby Scoles, No. 33 2017 (Air Force)

OTHER PLAYERS WHO MIGHT MAKE AN IMPACT:
Parker Gregory, No. 92 overall and No. 3 CO 2019 
Denver Matlock, No. 109 2018
Grant Wilkinson, No. 16 2019

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Wade Council
Brice Johnson
Rhett Baldry

Stat Rat:  This team was well balanced in 2016, 21 homeruns to go along with a 2.48 team ERA.  Much of this talent that put up these numbers coming back for the 2017 season.

Bottom Line:  Pine Creek always seems to be in the mix when talking about the top teams in the state at the end of the regular season.  Their post season resume is up and down with a Final 8 appearance in 2014 sandwiched between to District appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2016.  The Eagles who lost last year to Rocky Mountain 9-7 in the District 1 championship game were poised for a deeper run, but fell a bit short.  The 2017 team will use this as motivation and will be led at the plate by, Riley Cornelio, 15 hits and 13 RBI, Utah commit Jeremy Onken, .538 with 35 hits, 36 RBI and 8 homeruns, Kentucky commit Justin Olson, .409 with 27 hits, 27 RBI and 9 homeruns and Air Force commit, Toby Scoles, .449 with 35 hits and 20 RBI.  On the mound Pine Creek will need to replace Council and Johnson, but a good starting point is Jeremy Onken who went 5-0 last season with 45 K’s.  Complimenting Onken will be No. 19 overall 2019 and Texas Christian commit Riley Cornelio, add Justin Olson, 3-0 in 2016 and No. 92 overall 2019 Parker Gregory to the rotation and this staff has the arms to stack up against anyone in the state.  The Final 8 is all about arms, if Pine Creek can land one of these spots, with the fire power they can put on the mound, this can be a dangerous team in late May and should expect to compete for the 5A title.