On Thursday, March 7th the Colorado spring season began play for all 5A-1A baseball programs. We continue our CHSAA Power 25 rankings with a look at how the teams have produced through the first nine weeks. The Prep Baseball Colorado staff has diligently scouted players and teams throughout this spring, and will continue to work hard to bring the state top notch coverage on the baseball diamond. Colorado is flourishing with high-end baseball talent at the moment and is starting to gather more and more national recognition as well. We hope to continue all momentum in the state while making an impact on the players and teams within. 

#11 FRUITA MONUMENT

The Fruita Monument Wildcats have now won 14 games in a row and should be locked in as a host site for the opening round of playoffs. Fruita is led on the mound by senior Lucas Weaver who is coming off of a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts against Grand Junction HS. This lineup is also pretty deep at the moment with bats like Parker Noah, Josh Weaver, Kolton Hicks, Keenan Oxford, Gavin Cardoza, and Hunter Smolinski all surging at the moment. With Weaver on the mound, this is one of the tougher teams to knock off in 5A. 

#12 WINDSOR

Windsor is your top team in 4A at the moment and this squad comes with an absolute carrier in Ethan Fillinger. The uncommitted junior is hitting .411 with 7 home runs, 7 doubles, a triple, 6 stolen bases, and a 1.306 OPS across 91 plate appearances. We can also tell you that Fillinger is an impact arm on the mound thanks to 30.2 innings with 47 Ks, 10 walks, and a 0.68 ERA. Windsor has been able to piggy back Grant Kerber with Fillinger for a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation. Kerber currently sits at 40.1 IP, 50 Ks, 12 walks, and a 2.43 ERA this spring. 

#20 PUEBLO COUNTY

The Hornets have won 13 of their last 14 matchups and just might be the top team from Pueblo this spring. This squad should have a solid seed for 4A postseason play and they do have a chance to make some real noise. This lineup has four everyday hitters with over a .380 average at the moment while Johnathan Gonzales and Roy Higinbotham have taken things over on the mound for County. Higinbotham is a Garden City CC commit who can matchup well with about any team thanks to a fastball in the mid to upper 80s and pitchability with the full asrsenal. Gonzales has led Pueblo County in innings this season with 42.2 to go with his 43 Ks, 18 walks, and a 2.30 ERA. 

#22 ARVADA WEST

Arvada West makes their way into the last round-up of the rankings before playoffs as they've finished up the regular season 16-7 in the 5A Jeffco league. This is a scrappy team that is led by top uncommitted junior Tate Deal on the offensive end and freshman Cooper Vais on the mound. Deal is a Future Games' alumni who is hitting .423 with 4 homers, 7 doubles, a triple, 4 stolen bases, and a 1.192 OPS across 92 plate appearances this spring. Cooper Vais is an exceptional young prospect with a fastball already into the mid 80s with spin and a deceptive off-speed. Vais has shown off strong pitchability as a freshman with his 42.2 innings, 56 Ks, 12 walks, and just a 2.13 ERA. 

#25 RALSTON VALLEY

Another team that sneaks into the rankings just before playoffs is the Ralston Valley Mustangs. Overall this is a pretty young group, but they do have some intriguing pieces that are beginning to click. The Mustangs have now won 7 of their last 8 games and have some quality momentum heading into postseason. The trio of Grant Belcher, Kenji Bray, and Wyatt Morwood on the mound could provide enough depth for this team to rattle off consecutive wins in the postseason. 

TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES: Limon, University, Falcon, Green Mountain, Rampart, Grandview, Rocky Mountain

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Regis HS Scout Day	CO	06/20	Regis High School
Denver Rising Stars ID	CO	04/22	Marucci Clubhouse - Castle Rock, CO
Denver Summer ID	CO	06/04	Metro State University - Denver, CO
Pueblo Summer ID	CO	06/11	Colorado State University Pueblo - Pueblo, CO
Colorado Springs Summer ID	CO	06/18	Univ. of Colorado Colorado Springs - Colorado Springs, CO
Northern Colorado Summer ID	CO	07/09	Univ. of Northern Colorado - Greeley, CO
Western Slope Summer ID	CO	07/16	Colorado Mesa University - Grand Junction, CO
Colorado State Games (Invite-Only)	CO	08/06	Metro State University - Denver, CO

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