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: Resurrection Christian
Preseason Rank: 46
2015 Record: 18-5
Conference: Mile High
CHSAA Class: 2A
Head Coach: Grant MacAlmon
Playoff Run: Lost to Rye 12-10 in 2A State Championship
2014 Final Rank: 34
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS:
Nathan Wiggins, OF/RHP, No. 97 2016
Jake Tomcheck, RHP, No. 108 2016
Luke Fick, C/3B/RHP, No. 133 2016
Luke Cross, 3B/C, 2016
Anthony Mascio, INF/OF/RHP, 2016
Brendan Herrfeldt, RHP/INF, 2016

OTHER PLAYERS THAT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT:
Jesse Cross, INF, 2017
Connor Stahlia, OF, 2017

X-FACTOR:
Someone will have to step up and replace Luke Mondt's 57 RBI's that he drove in last year. Mondt drove in 25% of all the runs for the Cougars in 2015.

KEY PLAYER LOST:
Luke Mondt: Graduated

STAT RAT: 
65 innings pitched worth of experience returns in 2016 that went a combined 9 and 2 in 2015.

BOTTOM LINE:
In 2015 the Cougars were everyone's favorite to repeat as 2A Champions only to lose a heartbreaker to RYE 12-10 after having a late inning 9-4 lead against the Thunderbolts. The Cougars will have a lot of their team back however in 2015 for another 2A playoff run. No. 97 2016 OF/RHP Nathan Wiggins returns. Wiggins is an athletic outfielder. At the Junior Sunbelt Tryouts Wiggins flashed an 84 mph exit velocity. Wiggins moves well in the outfield with smooth actions. Has long and loose arm from high 3/4 arm slot, throwing 78 mph. Ran a 7.13 60 time. In 2015 Wiggins hit .339 with 20 RBI's. On the mound look for 2016 LHP Jake Tomcheck to be the No. 1 option. In 2015 Tomcheck went 5-1 with a 1.14 ERA striking out 46 batters in 30 innings pitched while only giving up 12 hits. Look for No. 133 2016 RHP/C Luke Fick to be the No. 2 option on the mound for the Cougars in 2016. Fick hit .378 in 2015 with 21 RBI's. Fick also stole 10 bases. Fick was 4-1 on the mound in 24 IP with a 3.14 ERA. 2016 C/3B Luke Cross returns a .374 BA in 40 AB's from 2015. 2016 INF/RHP Brendan Herrfeldt has speed on the bases stealing 13 bags in 2015. 2016 OF Anthony Mascio hit .355 in 2015. The Cougars have enough depth and pitching coming back from 2015 to make another 2A Finals appearance in 2016 which would be their 3rd straight appearance in the 2A State Championship Game.