Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Countdown: No.44 University



By John Cackowski
State Director

After taking a break from the Preseason Countdown during the holidays we continue with our list with University who we have coming in at 44. 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: University
Preseason Rank: 44
2015 Record: 11-10
Conference: Patriot League
CHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Tim Galindo
Playoff Run: Lost to Brush 6-4 in 3A Semifinals
2014 Final Rank: 10
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS:
Jake Spence, LHP, 2016
Spencer Wilcox, RHP, 2016
Deandres Jordan, OF, 2017
Beau Hawley, C, 2017
Paul Medina, SS, 2017

OTHER PLAYERS THAT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT:
Noah Trujillo, 3B, 2017
Donovan Alonzo, P/OF, 2018

X-FACTOR:
The Bulldogs will not be intimidated. Last year they won 4 games by 1 run against some of the best teams at the 3A level, and were one of the few 3A teams that proved they could compete with eventual 3A State Champion Eaton taking them to the limit twice losing once in extra innings 5-4, and losing in the 3A State Championship game 3-1.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
Brevin Baessler and Braydon Peif: Graduated

STAT RAT:
The Bulldogs have over 70 innings of experience coming back for the 2016 season.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Bulldogs had a great 3A playoff run in 2015. After coming in 3rd place in the 3A Patriot League, the Bulldogs would beat a good Kent Denver team in the 3A District 8 championship game, then won a 10 inning marathon against Bayfield 5-4 in the first game of the Final 8 round of the 3A playoffs. In the 3A championship play-in game the Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker 3-1 to eventual 3A state champion Eaton, then were eliminated when they lost another close game to Brush 6-4 in the semi-finals. The Bulldogs bring all of their top pitching back for 2016. 2016 RHP/OF Spencer Wilcox returns and will be their No. 1 pitcher. Last year Wilcox went 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA. He also hit .416 with 4 homeruns and 26 RBI's. 2016 Jake Spence hit .378 with 26 RBI's and hit 2 homeruns. Spence also threw 31 innings striking out 33 batters. The Bulldogs have three juniors returning who all hit over .300 last year. 2017 OF Deandres Jordan hit .340 in 2016. 2017 C Beau Hawley returns to start at catcher hitting .300 in 2015. 2017 SS Paul Medina also returns to shortstop and also hit .300 in 2015. If University can win the close games like they did in 2015 look for them to make another long run in the 3A playoffs.