Follow @pbr_co on Twitter, and pbrcolorado on Instagram

Interested in attending a PBR Colorado event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

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. 37: Cheyenne Mountain Indians

2018 Preseason Rank: 37
2017 Preseason Rank: NA
2017 Record: 15-6
Conference: 4A/5A Pikes Peak
CHSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Mark Swope
2017 Playoff Run: Lost in 4A District 4 Championship 7-2 to Air Academy
2017 Final Rank: 44
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 2
Returning Innings on Mound: 55
Returning RBI's returning: 67

STAT RAT: 
The Indians started the year 14-1 in 2017 outscoring their opponents 164 to 65. But to finish the year the Indians lost 5 of their last 6 games being outscored 33 to 45. 

X-FACTORS: 
The Indians had 66 innings thrown by seniors in 2017, but they also had 54 innings thrown by two freshman. The experience will be good going forward in 2018. 

BOTTOM LINE: 
Coach Swope has had a lot of success at Cheyenne Mountain, and has built a program that has one of the nicest, if not the nicest facility in the state. Slightly down over the last few years after a 2011 4A State Championship, and 2012 4A Final Four appearance, the Indians started 2017 with an an impressive 14-1 record, but hit a snag with 4 losses in a row to rival schools Air Academy and Palmer Ridge knocking them out of a host site for districts eventually to lose again to Air Academy for the 3rd time in the 4A District 4 Championship 7-2. A younger team in 2017, expect the Indians to get that host site in 2018 and have a chance to move on to the 4A Final 8.  

 

Key Player Lost

 

RYAN SCHNEIDEROF / 2B / CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, CO / 2017 Outfielder who it .436 in 2017 with leading the team with 28 RBI's. Also had some pop in bat with 7 doubles and a homerun. Indians will need to plug that hole in the lineup.

 

Key Players Returning

 

AARON BERKHOFFSS / OF / CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, CO / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 49 / POS: 8 5-foot-10, 150 pounds. Bats and throws right. Good athlete who also plays football. Was main offensive force for Indians in 2017. Hit .523 with a .612 OBA. Berkoff drove in 20 RBI"s, while leading the team in doubles (8) and homeruns (3)

 

 

ATTICUS CARPENTEROF / CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, CO / 2018 Bats and throws left. Hit .303 last year with a .434 OBA. Also scored 13 runs while stealing 5 bases.

 

 

 

 

 

JACK DENKER1B / CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, CO / 2018 Bats right and throws right. Hit .283 in 2018 driving in 15 RBI's scoring 14 runs.

 

 

MICHAEL ELLISRHP / CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, CO / 2020 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Bats and throws right. Last year as a freshman logged 20 innings on the mound winning 2 games and carried a 3.50 ERA. At the plate hit .300 in 30 AB's with one homerun.

 

 

CAMERON BUCKLERRHP / 3B / CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN, CO / 2020 Right-handed pitcher who logged 34 innings as a freshman in 2017 and carried a 3-1 record. Looks to be a starter again in 2018.