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WEST VALLEY PREPS

West Valley Preps' 2020 baseball preview

Posted 3/1/20

Last week marked the beginning of the high school baseball regular season. West Valley Preps asked Northwest Valley coaches to take a look at their teams:

Centennial Coyotes

5A Northwest …

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WEST VALLEY PREPS

West Valley Preps' 2020 baseball preview

Posted

Last week marked the beginning of the high school baseball regular season. West Valley Preps asked Northwest Valley coaches to take a look at their teams:

Centennial Coyotes

5A Northwest Region

Coach: Jon Williams (first year as head coach).

2019 Record: 6-19 (Did not reach playoffs)

Top Returnees: Rudy Nolasco, Sr., IF/P (.366, 15 RBI, 6.30 ERA) Michael Keevins, Sr., P/OF (1-3 2.57 ERA, 21 K in 15.3 IP)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Team camraderie — It is hard to find a team that supports each other as much as this team has done this fall.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We need to be more efficient on offense. We are not a team that will score 7, 8 or 9 runs a game so we need to capitalize on our opportunities and make our own breaks.

Who are your team leaders? Our senior group of eight has been our leaders and inspiration so far this year.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Ryan Mixey (Junior), Charlie Kimball (Sophomore), and Cristian Mogen (Freshman)

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season? We will need to learn how to stay grounded when we have success and stay positive when we have some bad games. Our key to our success is knowing who we are and how to make the bigeest impact to our team in all situations.

Deer Valley Skyhawks

4A West Valley Region

Coach: Greg Rice (fifth year as head coach).

2019 Record: 9-14 (Did not reach playoffs)

Top Returnees: Chris Peck, Sr., 3B (.302, 12 RBI); Ashton Reagan, Sr., OF/P (.228, 8 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our strength is we are deep at pitching.  We are looking for a few young players to step up and contribute this year on the mound. Junior Aaron Nuanez Soph. Austin Vest and Soph Collin Cartee  and Junior Jack Wyant are key pitchers for us.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We will need to make sure that we stay away for the defensive mistakes to be successful.  We lost 11 seniors and there are several sophomores that will start for us this season.

Who are your team leaders? Our team leaders are Ashton Reagan, Chris Peck and Gio Dempsey.  They are all seniors.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact?Some of the new key contributors are  Soph. Collin Cartee at SS and P.  Jr. Jack Wyant will start at catcher and Soph. Austin Vest will play 1B and P.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set?For us to make the playoff we will to play team baseball.  The team chemistry has been outstanding. We must continue to grow and develop on defense for us to be successful.  We have to make the routine plays and be consistent.

Dysart Demons

4A Black Canyon Region

2019 Record: 4-15 (did not reach playoffs)

Coach: Nicholas Rizzi (sixth year)

Top Returnees: INF Matthew Barajas, soph. (.444, 11 RBI); INF/P Kyle Fairchild, sr. (.407, 11 RBI, 2-0)

What is your team’s best attribute? The strength of the team should be defense. I am particularly content with the team’s defenders playing in the middle of the diamond.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? The lineup must smartly execute an offensive game plan. With a couple exceptions, the team lacks power at the plate. As a result, the lineup must maximize its run-scoring opportunities and effectively play small ball. Bunting, hits-and-runs, and shrewd choices on the base paths should improve the team’s offensive productivity.

Who are your team leaders? Ruben Mejias (Sr.) and Jeramy Giacoletti-Moody (Jr.)

Newcomers to the varsity squad? Although each played varsity as freshmen and are not newcomers, the team needs growing contributions from sophomores Matthew Barajas, Alan Hermosillo and Colin Reagan.

What needs to happen for the team to make the state tournament? Our team goal is competing for, and winning, the region. I am very comfortable with a couple of the team’s pitchers and its center-of-the-diamond defense. As is typical in baseball, effective pitching and defense gives any team a chance to compete.

Estrella Foothills Wolves

4A Southwest Region

2019 Record: 25-7 region (tied for 5th place in 4A)

Coach: Patrick McCubbins (13th year)

Top Returnees: IF/P Seth Sweet-Chick, Sr. (.386, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 17 SB, 5-1, 2.05 ERA, 46 K in 41 IP); OF/P Ashton Perez, Sr. (.315, 12 RBI, 2-0)

What is your team’s best attribute? The overall sense of newness that comes with a lot of players getting the opportunity to play on varsity for the first time in high school. I believe this will create a constant excitement and attention level throughout the season.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success?Offensive execution as a whole. Learning how to understand their role in each plate appearance and comprehending that its beyond just trying to put a bat a ball anymore. They have to be dialed in and focused in order to change their approach and maximize opportunities to score.

Who are your team leaders? Seth Sweet-Chick, Ashton Perez and Cameron Waterfield. The three guys returning that were everyday guys last year.

Newcomers to the varsity squad? Jacob Hitchcock is a junior that we will be looking to have a huge role in our pitching staff. Looking for big things from seniors Roman Snyder, Trevor Jensen, Noah Hendricks, Austin Wright, Austin Hinzmann and Jack Palmer as they figure out their role on the varsity team. 

What needs to happen for the team to make the state tournament? Our team goal is competing for, and winning, the region. I am very comfortable with a couple of the team’s pitchers and its center-of-the-diamond defense. As is typical in baseball, effective pitching and defense gives any team a chance to compete.

Glendale Prep Griffins

2A Central Region

Coach: Rafael Sanchez (second year as head coach)

2019 Record: 3-14 (Did not reach playoffs)

Top Returnees: Kyle McBee Sr. Pitcher

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best attribute entering this season is the bond these young men have formed in the short time we have been together. We weren’t able to have an offseason program this season, but in the short time we have had together the guys have grown close to each other, and those with experience always step in and help out those guys that are still in the learning the game process.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We have a team of players who are just starting their journey in baseball. Stepping out of their comfort zone and giving the game a shot. So we will use this season to fine tune their abilities.

Who are your team leaders? We have a group of kids who have come together over a short time and have all turned into leaders in their own right, But I would say the two biggest players to step up are Jonah Burks and Kyle McBee

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Most of our players are new to our program, so this one can be answered many different ways. Jonah Burks brings an aggressive approach to the plate and has stellar defensive tendencies. Joseph Randall will bring a pitching element that the school hasn’t had in years. JR Valenzuela while new to the game of baseball, brings a speed element to the game that will turn a few heads this season. And Joseph Bell will bring set a defensive standard for the program for years to come.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set?  Right now the state tournament is probably not in the cards, but we always set the bar high. If we work hard, and continue to trust in our brothers we will definitely have a better outcome than the program had last season.

Kellis Cougars

5A Northwest Region

Coach: Dante Beltramo (2nd year as head coach).

2019 Record: 12-13 (5A state play-in)

Top Returnees: David Rodriguez, Sr., 3B (.392, 13 runs, 13 RBI); Emiliano Garcia, Sr., OF/P (.311, 20 runs, 10 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Offense. We have a lot more pop throughout our lineup as compared to last year.  We have also put an emphasis on baserunning this year and the players have responded to it in a big way.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? itching. Our guys need to learn to work ahead in the count and to challenge hitters.

Who are your team leaders? Marcos Guerrero, consistently brings an attention to detail in everything he does.  Josh Acosta and David Rodriguez, are the two guys the team looks to bail us out of tough situations.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Joseph Samora will be starting at SS this year after getting a little time last year.  Angel Bonilla will find a role somewhere on the field.  Only time will tell whether that is in the outfield, catching, or pitching.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? Team needs to stick together and bring an energy to every outing.  If we can improve our pitching staff throughout the year there is no reason we shouldn’t end up in the state tournament.

Liberty Lions

6A Desert Valley Region

Coach: Chris Raymond (fourth year at Liberty).

2019 Record: 19-11 (Final six in 6A)

Top Returnees: Kyle Lewis C, Sr. (.365, 20 RBI); Trevor Toland P, Jr. (3-1, 4.16 ERA, 34 K in 33 2/3 IP)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best attribute is our competitive nature and our ability to play all phases of the game.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We will need to improve on situational hitting.

Who are your team leaders? Kyle Lewis, Jace DeRosier, Tyler McCaughey, Zack Howard, and an awesome senior class.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Kolby Felix.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We need to be ourselves and we feel good about our ability to compete in this game.

Millennium Tigers

5A Desert West Region

Coach: Matt Royal (first year at Millennium)

2019 Record: 23-7 (Final six in 6A)

Top Returnees: Trevor Baugh IF/P, Sr. (.444, 20 RBI, 26 RBI); Kaleb Duncan OF, Soph. (.345, 17 runs, 10 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? 21 on the roster, deep in every area. We can play a bunch of different styles of baseballrsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.