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:

Team: Hotchkiss
Preseason Rank: 47
2015 Record: 21-3
Conference: District 2
CHSAA Class: 2A
Head Coach: Blake Carlquist 
Playoff Run:  Lost 9-8 to Rye in 2015 2A Semi-Finals
2014 Final Rank: 40
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS:
Cesar Gonzalez, RHP/SS, 2016
Cole Carvill, OF/C, 2016
Alex Aguillera, 3B/1B, 2016
Dominic Beck, 3B/1B, 2016
Kale Litzelman, OF/RHP, 2017
Chase Hiatt, C, 2018
Eli Kirk, RHP, 2018
Johnathan Gonzalez, Util, 2018
 
OTHER PLAYERS WHO CAN MAKE AN IMPACT

Colton Deluzio, Util, 2017
Parker Katzdorn, Util, 2017
Raul Mendoza, Util, 2017

X-FACTOR: 
Not having a letdown losing tough 9-8 game to Rye in 2015 2A State Semifinals

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Devan Rupe: Graduated

STAT RAT:  The Bulldogs bring back 75 innings pitched on the mound from 2015 that only gave up 45 hits while striking out 123 batters. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
Hotchkiss had a great run in 2015 only to lose a heartbreaker to Rye 9-8 in the 2A semi-finals. The Bulldogs bring back a very solid core to 2016. 2016 RHP/SS Cesar Gonzalez returns, and should be the No. 1 option on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2016. Gonzalez went 5-0 with a 0.66 E.R.A. last spring striking out 48 batters in 31 innings. Gonzalez also lead the Bulldogs in hitting batting .500 for the season in 84 AB's. 2016 OF/C Cole Carvill brings back his power to the lineup. Carvill lead the team with 38 RBI's and 12 doubles. 2016 3B/1B Dominic Beck hit .368 with 15 RBI's in 2015, and 2016 3B/1B Alex Aguillera brings back a .429 average in 21 AB's. 2017 OF/RHP Kale Litzelman returns a .390 B.A. from 2015, and showed some pop with 8 doubles and 25 RBI's. Litzelman could also spell some innings on the mound. 2018 Chase Hiatt had a strong freshman year hitting .478 and could should see the bulk of the innings behind the dish, and 2018 Util Johnathan Gonzalez brings flexibility to the defense and also some offense hitting .388 in 2015. Look for Gonzalez to step in and be the No. 2 option on the mound as he went 4-1 in 2015 in 24 innings with a 1.70 E.R.A. with 39 K's. 2018 RHP Eli Kirk could be the third starter. In 2015 Kirk was 3-0 in 15 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts, and only gave up 5 hits. The Bulldogs bring back a lot of experience and should be in the mix again for the 2A State Championship