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: Lewis Palmer
Preseason Rank: 45
2016 Record: 15-6
Conference: 4A Pikes Peak
CHSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Tom McCabe
Playoff Run: Lost to Longmont 4-3 in the 4A District 6 Championship
2016 Final Rank: 61
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS:
Billy Cook, OF, No. 49 2017
Kevin Tims, MIF, 2017
Iain Fraser, RHP, 2017
Colton Stegman, C, No. 33 2019

X-FACTOR:
The Rangers will need to reload their pitching staff after losing Paul Tillotson

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Paul Tillotson: Nebraska

STAT RAT:
No one in the state was as important to their team's success as Paul Tilloston. Tillotson accounted for 25% of runs batted in, 54% of the pitching staff's strikeouts, and 41% of total innings pitched last spring.

BOTTOM LINE:
Two years ago the Rangers made the 4A state championship game but ran into a tough Green Mountain team looking to repeat, and last year the Rangers were a 4A favorite to make it back but ran into a good Longmont team losing in the 4A District  6 Championship game to advance to the final 8. The Rangers do have some offense coming back. Senior Billy Cook has been one of the best hitters at the 4A level over the last couple of years. Last year Cook led 4A with a .603 batting average and 41 hits. Sophomore Colton Stegman is one of the better catchers in his age group in the state. Last year as a freshman he hit .375 and was able to handle the 90 plus fastballs from Tilloston with ease. Senior Kevin Tims is the table setter. Last year Sims stole 12 bases, hit .318 and scored 32 runs. Senior Iain Fraser has a shot to claim the No. 1 pitching spot. Fraser went 2-2 in 2016 on the mound, and also hit .318. The players that are returning have seasoned playoff experience. Expect the Rangers to find answers to  their pitching and be a factor in 4A again.