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: Bear Creek
Preseason 2015 Rank: 46
2014 Record: 9-10
Conference: Jeffco
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Sean Hoorelbeke
Playoff Run: N/A
2014 Final Rank: 50

Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
Christian Hiep, OF/MIF, 2016
Thomas Martinez, 1B/RHP, 2016
Walker Rumsey, OF,RHP, No. 13 2017
Jacob Pigati, OF, 2017
Christian Stone, SS, No. 123 2016
Jack Radford, RHP/1B, 2017
Slade Marceau, C, 2017

OTHER PLAYERS WHO COULD MAKE AN IMPACT:
Jared Campbell, SS/3B, No. 107 2017
Cole Carey, RHP, 2017
Brandon Schoengarth, INF, 2017
Bryce Younie, RHP, 2017
Tanis Craiglow, OF, 2018

X-FACTOR:
Thomas Martinez: Martinez returns the only experience to the mound from last year's spring squad. The senior will have to be the anchor of an inexperienced staff. The Bears also have a lot of juniors who could surprise in 2016.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
Kolby Bonato: Graduated

STAT RAT:
The Bears lost 5 games by a total of 7 runs in 2015 (3 by 1 run, and 2 by 2 runs) In a short 19 game season, if even 1 of those 5 losses turned into a win it would have probably meant a 5A district playoff appearance.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Bears were in position to get a potentially nice seed in the 2015 playoffs sitting at 9 and 7 but lost 3 of their last 4 games (Twice to an upstart Lakewood team, and eventual 5A State Champion runner-up Chatfield) and finished just outside of the Top 32 Teams who made the 5A District Playoffs. 2016 INF Christian Hiep returns  to the top of the line up coming off a solid 2015 spring. Hiep hit .392 last spring with a .544 OBA, and lead the Bears with 18 runs scored. 2016 1B/RHP Thomas Martinez will bring some much needed pop and experience back to the lineup. Martinez hit .364 in 2015, and lead the Bears with 13 RBI's. 2017 OF Walker Rumsey will patrol the outfield. In 2015 Rumsey hit .294 in 47 AB's, but we expect for Rumsey to make a bigger contribution in 2016. We came away impressed with Rumsey's skills at the Top Prospect Games last August as he ran a 6.89 60 and showcases a strong mid-80's arm in the outfield. Rumsey should be a factor on the bases this spring. In limited time last spring 2017 OF Jack Pigati hit .320. 2017 C, Slade Marceau is a big presence behind the plate standing 6-2, 170 pounds.  2016 Christian Stone could make an impact. At the Unsigned Senior Games last August 2016 SS Christian Stone showed some good bat speed with an 85 MPH Exit Velo, and also ran a 7.2 60 time. In the deep 5A Jeffco League,  the Bears have a chance to be the 2015 version of Chatfield if everything falls in place.