Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Countdown: No. 30 Ralston Valley




 

By John Cackowski
State Director

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: Ralston Valley
Preseason Rank: 30
2015 Record: 13-7
Conference: Jeffco
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Steve Falconi
Playoff Run:
Lost to Horizon 7-6 in 5A District Playoffs.
2015 Final Rank: 37
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 8


TOP PLAYERS:
Reed Hutchin,RHP/INF, No. 137 2016
Drake Davis, RHP, No. 43 2017
Tyler Phillips, RHP/INF, No. 76 2017
Levi Leisenring, RHP/3B, 2017
Peter Carlson, SS/RHP, 2016
Josh Robinson, MIF, 2016
Luke Leisenring, SS/RHP, 2018 (Arizona State)

OTHER PLAYERS THAT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT:
Jarrod Rivera, OF/RHP, 2016
Thomas Linton, OF, 2017
Jacob Tischler, LHP, 2017
Carson Hunt, RHP, 2016
Tanner Hauptman, 1B/C, 2016
 

 X-FACTOR: 
The Mustangs have a great 1-2 punch on the mound in Hutchin and Davis. Davis only pitched 4 innings as a sophomore, but he brings an upper 80's fastball that could reach 90 this spring. This combination can get through a District Bracket in May.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Don Sherman: Graduated
 

STAT RAT:
The Mustangs were sitting at 7-6 looking outside of the 5A playoff picture then ran off 6 wins in a row to end their season. That run included victories against playoff teams Chatfield, Columbine, and a sweep against Lakewood.

BOTTOM LINE: 
The Mustangs were meddling around .500 ball in 2015, then decided it was time. Winning their last 6 games against quality Jeffco opponents to end 2016, they came up just short in the District Playoffs and lost a heart-breaker to Horizon in extra innings 7-6. A lot of their top talent returns in 2016. 2016 Reed Hutchin will anchor the pitching staff again. Last year he was the horse going 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA in 44 innings pitched only giving up 35 hits and striking out 41. He was also a productive at-bat driving in 15 and hitting 2 homeruns. 2017 RHP Drake Davis will new to the scene in 2016 but potentially brings a 90 mph fastball to the mound.  The Leisenring brothers will be in the mix. 2017 3B/RHP Levi Leisenring hit .318 and a team leading 6 doubles in 2015, and younger brother 2018 SS Luke Leisenring recently committed to Arizona State. 2016 infielders Peter Carlson and Josh Robinson are returning starters and both hit over .300 last year. The Mustangs have options on the mound, and have depth in their lineup. 2017 RHP Tyler Phillips could be a third starter on the mound. They will be one of the favorites to win the Jeffco League and potentially make a Final 8 run.

 

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