CHSAA 5A STATE: TEAM PREVIEWS

May 24th-25th will mark the beginning of this year's CHSAA state tournaments. Each bracket will consist of 8 final teams from the 5A, 4A, 3A, and 2A programs to compete in a double-elimination format. The final team remaining without 2 losses will be crowned this season's state champion. Check out the top 8 teams remaining for 5A's state tournament that begins tomorrow!

#16 GRANDVIEW:

The Wolves come rolling into state after some wild games during last week's regionals. In Grandview's first game, they went 14 innings against Ralston Valley when senior Collin May ripped a walk-off single to right-field for a Wolves' win. Uncommitted junior Jackson Pfister chucked 7.2 innings in relief with 9 Ks and 0 earned runs to keep the Wolves in that first game. Grandview followed up their 14 inning matchup with a 6-2 win over #32 Eaglecrest who took down #1 Fossil Ridge in their first game. Another uncommitted junior arm from Grandview threw a gem in game 2 thanks to Nick Martensen's complete game with 8 strikeouts against Eaglecrest. The Wolves have a solid pitching staff that should give them a chance in most games, while this offense has left much more to be desired at times. Grandview matches up with #8 Prairie View for their first game of the state tournament. 

Players to watch: RHP/1B Jackson Pfister (uncommitted '25), 3B/C AJ Maroni (uncommitted '26), INF Chase Chapman (uncommitted '25), OF/LHP Brock Johnston (uncommitted '24), RHP/1B Justin Dean (uncommitted '25), LHP Nick Martensen (uncommitted '25), RHP Ethan Wachsmann (uncommitted '26)

#8 PRAIRIE VIEW:

The Thunderhawks are headed to their program's first ever state tournament while also posting a school record 21-4 season. Prairie View is led by '25 uncommitted arms Fabian Gaeta and Jerry Stone who both threw complete games in the regionals to secure their bid to state. Gaeta and Stone also have the ability to carry this offense at times with each of their averages over .410 and a combined 23 extra-base hits. The Thunderhawks have a well-rounded '25 class altogether while seniors Javi Gaeta, Brock Lopez, Wyatt Waterhouse, and Tony DiRienzo have produced this spring as well. In a matchup with Grandview in the first round, we will see two of the younger teams in this state tournament duke it out. 

Players to watch: LHP/OF Fabian Gaeta (uncommitted '25), RHP/INF Jerry Stone (uncommitted '25), SS/RHP Romani Perez (uncommitted '25), OF Giovanni Tarin (uncommitted '25), OF Javi Gaeta (uncommitted '24), OF Brock Lopez ('24), INF Wyatt Waterhouse ('24)

#13 CHAPARRAL:

Chaparral had a strong season overall in 2024 but the sweetest victory for the Wolverines so far must have been settling up with the Fruita Monument Wildcats in regionals. The Wolverines had won 6 of their first 7 games to begin this spring before they made a trek out to Fruita, Colorado where they lost 6-3 to the Wildcats. Chaparral was then placed into Fruita's host regional last week where they beat Rocky Mountain, and then repayed Fruita Monument with a 9-8 win in a close game. We now get to watch Chaparral compete in this year's 5A state tournament in Denver where they will match up with the Cherry Creek Bruins in game 1. The offense for the Wolverines is led by senior Derek Ball who is hitting .443 with a 1.116 OPS and just 7 strikeouts in almost 80 plate appearances. United States Air Force commit Cole Jenkins is another very dangerous bat in this lineup. Steckel, Manuello, Munroe, and Berglund have all been serviceable arms in 2024 which could give them enough firepower to get through the gauntlet of state playoffs. 

Players to watch: INF/RHP Derek Ball ('24), SS Cole Jenkins ('24), OF Josh McWilliams (uncommitted '25), RHP Logan Steckel ('24), RHP Carson Munroe (uncommitted '26), RHP/INF Logan Manuello (uncommitted '25), LHP Jason Berglund ('24)

#5 CHERRY CREEK:

In Marc Johnson's final coaching season the Bruins have a very deep squad that is poised for a state tournament run. Cherry Creek hosted their regional and went through Far Northeast and Mountain Vista to punch their ticket to state. This lineup is led by senior Mason Scott, junior Connor Larkin, and senior Brayden Yasuzawa who are all committed to Division I baseball programs. Cherry Creek also has no shortage of impact arms thanks to Rudden, Falke, Weston, Larson, Hughes, Taylor, and Clancy who are all headed to play college baseball after their senior seasons, and have thrown quality innings this spring. The Bruins are certainly looking like one of the favorites heading into the first weekend of state this year. 

Players to watch: INF Mason Scott ('24), INF/OF Connor Larkin ('25), 2B/C Brayden Yasuzawa ('24), RHP Wyatt Rudden ('25), RHP Ryan Falke ('24), RHP Tyler Weston ('24), RHP Cameron Larson ('24), LHP/1B Will Taylor ('24), RHP Cael Clancy ('24), OF Eddison Esquivel ('24), SS Sean Goldy ('25)

#2 REGIS JESUIT:

Another team that has the firepower to make plenty of noise in state this year is the Regis Jesuit Raiders. We have seen the Raiders be carried by a trio of quality arms in uncommitted sophomore Hudson Alpert, uncommitted junior Luke Reasbeck, and senior Liam Mosley. All three of these arms have shown strong pitchability as well as being able to pitch deep into ball games. Regis Jesuit got to host their regional last week where they took care of Loveland 6-3 and then Ponderosa 12-6. Liam Mosley tossed a complete game with zero walks in game 1 while Hudson Alpert and Luke Reasbeck were locked and loaded for game 2's win. The first two hitters in this lineup in uncommitted junior Christian Lopez and senior Andrew Bell could potentiall be the best 1-2 punch at the top of an order in Colorado. Both Lopez and Bell have exceptional speed with twitchy pop to make them easy spark plugs for the Raiders. 

Players to watch: OF Christian Lopez (uncommitted '25), SS Andrew Bell ('24), RHP/INF Hudson Alpert (uncommitted '26), RHP/3B Luke Reasbeck (uncommitted '25), RHP Liam Mosley ('24), C/3B Trevor Nordstrom ('24), OF Colin Dwyer (uncommitted '24), OF Brody Chyr ('24), INF Chase Massey (uncommitted '26)

#7 FORT COLLINS:

The Lambkins have quietly been one of the top teams in Colorado and they are now headed to this year's state tournament. Fort Collins is 21-4 on the season and have won 12 of their last 13 games heading into the tournament (only loss was 1-0 to Prairie View). In their host region, the Lambkins took care of Arapahoe and Legend all while scoring 32 runs in the process. This squad is led by senior Sean Togher who can carry the offense and the pitching staff. Togher is hitting .516 with 4 homers, and a 1.531 OPS while he has chucked 52.1 innings with 68 Ks, 16 walks, and a 2.14 ERA. 

Players to watch: UTIL/RHP Sean Togher ('24), LHP/OF Jude Miller ('24), UTIL/RHP Dylan Rubenstein (uncommitted '26)

#19 HORIZON:

One of the biggest surprises to land in this year's state tournament is the Horizon Hawks. After host seed #3 Castle View was upset by #30 Monarch in Horizon's region, things became pretty wide open for the teams left. Horizon took down Arvada West in game 1 by a score of 9-2 and then beat Monarch 4-2 to win the region. Horizon's top arm this spring (and one of their best bats) has been senior Robert Whitaker who has struckout 71 batters in 51.2 innings with a 1.90 ERA. Uncommitted junior Parker Aaron (switch-hitter) leads this team with 4 homeruns and is a dangerous slugger in the Hawks' lineup while being a standout backstop behind the plate. 

Players to watch: C/RHP Parker Aaron (uncommitted '25), RHP/INF Robert Whitaker ('24), INF/LHP Marek Stone ('24), OF Austen Ernberger ('24), INF/OF Isaac Gomez ('24), UTIL Cooper Brennan (uncommitted '26)

#11 CHEROKEE TRAIL:

Cherokee Trail made it all the way to last year's state championship game and are looking to seal the deal in 2024. The Cougars return most of their roster from 2023, and have had a fine season at 18-7 in the Centennial league. Cherokee Trail had to come through Rock Canyon's host region where they beat Rampart 8-2 and Brighton 2-1. We will see the Cougars match up with #19 Horizon in their first game and the Hawks should have some quality arms waiting for them. Reid, Eberly, Wilcox, and Woltz each have the ability to stifle offenses with quality arsenals. Lefties Reid and Wilcox have been especially tough on teams over the last year and were a major part in the run for the Cougars in 2023. Seniors Akoi Burton, Braedan Reichert have done most of the heavy lifting for the offense this year while uncommitted junior Landon Olds has chipped in with his 2 home runs and a .373 average this spring. 

Players to watch: LHP Logan Reid ('24), RHP Keegan Eberly ('24), LHP Carter Wilcox ('25), RHP Ethin Woltz (uncommitted '25), INF Akoi Burton ('24), INF Braedan Reichert ('24), UTIL Landon Olds (uncommitted '25)

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Friday's 5A-2A Schedule:

5A 5/24:
#16 GRANDVIEW vs #8 PRAIRIE VIEW (12pm @ All Star Park)
#13 CHAPARRAL vs #5 CHERRY CREEK (9:30am @ All Star Park)
#2 REGIS JESUIT vs #7 FORT COLLINS (12pm @ All City Stadium)
#19 HORIZON vs #11 CHEROKEE TRAIL (9:30am @ All City Stadium)

4A 5/24:
#1 WINDSOR vs #8 THOMPSON VALLEY (12pm @ Air Force Academy)
#4 PALISADE vs #5 HOLY FAMILY (9:30am @ Air Force Academy)
#3 PUEBLO COUNTY vs #6 FALCON (9:30am @ UCCS Colorado Springs)
#2 GOLDEN vs #7 LEWIS-PALMER (12pm @ UCCS Colorado Springs)

3A 5/24:
#1 EATON vs #8 FORGE CHRISTIAN (11:30am @ University HS)
#4 RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN vs #5 COAL RIDGE (9am @ University HS)
#3 UNIVERSITY vs #6 COLORADO ACADEMY (9am @ Butch Butler)
#2 BERTHOUD vs #10 THE CLASSICAL ACADEMY (11:30am Butch Butler)

2A 5/24:
#1 LIMON vs #8 BUENA VISTA (12pm @ Hobbs, Runyon Complex Pueblo)
#13 SWINK vs #12 LYONS (9:30 @ Andenucio, Runyon Complex Pueblo)
#3 LAS ANIMAS vs #11 DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN (12pm @ Andenucio, Runyon Complex Pueblo)
#2 DENVER CHRISTIAN vs #7 MONTE VISTA (9:30am @ Hobbs, Runyon Complex Pueblo)

*Winners of their first games will play eachother at 2:30 pm on 5/24 at their respective sites, followed by games on 5/25*

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Colorado Springs Rising Stars ID	CO	05/06	The Farm Sports - Colorado Springs, CO
Northern Colorado Rising Stars ID	CO	05/20	Fossil Ridge High School - Fort Collins, CO
Colorado Summer Kickoff	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
Future Games (Class of 2026/27)	NATIONAL	07/24	LakePoint Sports
Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29)	NATIONAL	07/24	LakePoint Sports
Senior Future Games (Class of 2025)	NATIONAL	07/24	LakePoint Sports
Colorado State Games (Invite-Only)	CO	08/06	Metro State University - Denver, CO

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