The Colorado high school baseball season kicks off on March 5th, opening day for regular season action under CHSAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Colorado Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

POWER 25 RANKINGS

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today:

High School: Arvada West
Head Coach: Danny Vais
Classification: 5A
League: Jeffco
2025 Record: 23-4-1 (5A State Elite 8)

Key Players Lost:

Tate Deal (Evansville)

Top Players:

'27 RHP/SS COOPER VAIS

𝑭𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑬 𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬𝑺

‘27 RHP/OF Cooper Vais (Arvada West)

6-foot / 190 Ibs

FB: 89-90 T91 🔥(~2600)
SL: 80-81 (2800+)
CB: 75-76 (~2600)

Advanced feel for spin with plenty of athleticism

54.1IP, 93Ks, 30H, 18BB, 1.29 ERA this spring at the 5A level in CO#PBFG25🇺🇸 |… pic.twitter.com/2Rv823OAvw

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) July 25, 2025

'26 C/RHP BRAYDEN REINER

‘26 @PB_Uncommitted RHP/C Brayden Reiner (Arvada West)

FB: 84-86
CB: 76-78

Really settled in here after 2 hits in the first, just one hit and zero runs the rest of the way. Plenty of pitchability with induced soft contact.

Final line: 5IP, 5Ks, 0BB, 3H, ER, W@Braydenr_26… pic.twitter.com/rZy8G04w3M

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) May 9, 2025

'26 SS/INF KEEGAN MILLIKAN

𝑼𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 🔦

‘26 SS Keegan Millikan (Arvada West)

6’1” / 175 Ibs

Switch-hitting infielder, .400 BA with 11 XBHs this spring at the 5A level in CO (83 PAs)

•6.81 runner
•95+ mph max EV LH/RH
•82 INF velo

Profile 👤 : https://t.co/qr3NWwpv4g… pic.twitter.com/AxkUyogF6x

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) September 3, 2025

'26 1B LEVI LUECK

‘26 @PB_Uncommitted 1B Levi Lueck (Arvada West) stays through this pitch the opposite way for a double

Free swinger who has flashed some pop this year with 2 HRs and a .373 avg. (58 PAs, 5A)

6-foot, 198 Ibs@AWCatsbaseball @coeliteathletic pic.twitter.com/udqi8lFx2X

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) April 24, 2025

'26 INF CAM THORNTON

'28 OF/C HOLDEN GOODRICH

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔

‘28 C Holden Goodrich (Arvada West) got things going for Team Colorado early in this one with a double to RF

2K approach here with some easy pop. Provides a strong barrel through the zone. 101.6 mph top BP EV#CentralSSG🇺🇸 |… pic.twitter.com/VOR27Rew5m

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) August 3, 2025

'26 OF/RHP LUKE ALONSO

'26 OF/RHP BEAU FRIESEN

‘26 @PB_Uncommitted OF Beau Friesen (Arvada West)

Has taken some impressive ABs this spring. Twitchy strength with a projectable frame. LHH worth a follow ✍️@BeauFriesen_12 @AWCatsbaseball @coeliteathletic pic.twitter.com/xzQ97Pm9ut

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) May 9, 2025

'29 RHP/INF JAKE RICHARDS

𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓻 𝓕𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

‘29 RHP/INF Jake Richards (Arvada West) was sensational in Team Colorado’s shutout win against Team Southeast 🔥 4IP, 8Ks, 0ER

FB: 82-83 (~2400)
CB: 72-76 (T2900 🚨)

Highly competitive athlete with advanced feel for spin. Played with a high… pic.twitter.com/2QDZZSMnzf

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) July 28, 2025

'29 RHP/SS BRECKEN REED

'26 LHP/OF COLE EISENREICH

2026 SEASON OUTLOOK:

Arvada West enters the season as a young but battle-tested group that has already proven it can compete deep into May. Headlined by Colorado’s top-ranked 2027 prospect, Cooper Vais (Texas commit), the Wildcats return a dynamic two-way presence who helped power last year’s run to the 5A Elite Eight. Vais sets the tone with his competitiveness and versatility, but he’s far from alone, this roster features a wave of high-upside returners and high-ranked names primed for breakout seasons. After finishing 23-4-1 a year ago and graduating only their starting shortstop, continuity is firmly on their side. The experience gained from last spring’s postseason push, paired with a hungry core that’s still ascending, makes this a program built to build on its momentum and reassert itself as a serious 5A contender.

Find more information on the 2026 Arvada West program below:

+ Follow them on X: @AWCatsbaseball
or Instagram: @arvadawestbsb

Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
Northern Colorado Rising Stars ID	CO	04/27	Fossil Ridge HS - Fort Collins, CO
Denver Rising Stars ID	CO	05/11	Fossil Ridge HS - Fort Collins, CO
2026 Four Corners ProCase (Invite-Only)	CO	06/02	Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ
Colorado Rising Stars Games (Invite-Only)	CO	06/10	Regis Jesuit HS - Aurora, CO
Junior Future Games (Class of 2030/31)	NATIONAL	07/23	LakePoint Sports

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