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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. 

Like any preseason ranking for any sport, last year our list created a lot of fun conversations, debate, and opinions among players, coaches, and families. To see what we got right, and what we got wrong in 2017 Click Here

What makes our list unique is it combines all classifications (1A through 5A), and 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.

Factors that are considered when creating the Top 50 List are the following:

- How many current players are returning that are in PBR Colorado rankings
- How many overall players committed or non-committed are returning
- How many starting pitchers are returning
- Success the previous season
- History of success in the program

* We expect the teams in the Top 50 Countdown will compete for at least a district playoff spot in 2018

Team No. 31: University Bulldogs

2018 Preseason Rank: 31
2017 Preseason Rank: NA
2017 Record: 15-5
Conference: 3A Patriot
CHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Tim Galindo
2017 Playoff Run: Lost 3-2 to Faith Christian in 3A Region 7 District Championship Game.
2017 Final Rank: 25
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 6
Returning Innings on Mound: 63
Returning RBI's returning: 78

 

STAT RAT: The Bulldogs collected 150 hits last year as a team and 40 of the were extra base hits.  This is a team that had plenty to look forward to on the mound and if they put together another solid offensive season they will be around knocking on the tournament door once again.

X-FACTORS: Pitching enough said.  They have plenty of it coming back and will use that experience to once again try and tame the 3A Patriot League.  As a team they combined for a 1.99 ERA with 91 innings pitched.  This is a recipe to stay in a lot of ball games and rack up wins.

BOTTOM LINE: Coach Galindo has a program that is all about winning and being around in late May.  The Bulldogs of 2018 will fit the mold of teams in the past.  Pitching, defense and timely hitting is the formula to compete year after year.  They will have to replace 4 seniors including Noah Cordova and Beau Hawley, but with 12 players coming back with Varsity experience, this team seems poised for a late run in the spring.

 

Key Players Lost

Beau Hawley C / 2B / University, CO / 2017 Rankings  StateRank: 213 / POS: 26 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate has a tall, wide set up in stance. Uses a leg kick. Load is back, get separation, and swing is in and out of the zone. Had gap to gap power in live round with solid consistent contact. Produced a 82 mph exit velocity off the tee. Behind the dish had good fundamentals with receiving and blocking. On throw downs gains ground to 2B, has 3/4 arm slot. Pop-times were 2.03 to 2.10. Arm velocity was 72 mph. Ran a 4.28 home to first.

 

 

Noah Cordova SS / RHP / Centennial, CO / 2018 Was one of the top hitters for the Bulldogs last year with a .360 with 18 hits and 17 runs scored.

 

Players to Watch

Levi Dart 2B / C / University, CO / 2018 .533 avg. heading into the playoffs last year.  Second on the team with 22 RBI.

 

 

Kalob Padilla 3B / RHP / University, CO / 2019 .558 avg. last year including 24 hits, 16 runs and 7 doubles.  He added 5 stolen bases for a team that swiped 61 overall.

 

 

Cameron Multer 1B / RHP / University, CO / 2018 26 IP in 2017.  Good command of the zone only walking 3 hitters all season and collecting 18 strikeouts.  He will anchor a rotation that has several arms with varsity experience.