St. Vrain prep baseball previews

Longmont

Coach: Tom Fobes (11th year).
Last year: 12-9, lost in the second round of 4A district play.
Returning starters: Dillon Parker (Sr., C/3B), Kevin Shaffer (Sr., P/OF), Taylor Keller (Sr., P/1B), Tory Hargash (Jr., 3B/C), Joey Cinea (Jr., OF).
Others to watch: Hunter Pickett (Jr., OF/P); Ryan VanHooker (Sr., 2B/OF); Ryann Charles (Jr., P/OF); Griffin Phillips (Jr., 2B/P); Julian Moroyoqui (So., SS).
Outlook: The Trojans are light on seniors, but the ones they have — especially Parker, Shaffer and Keller — should provide a good core. The Northern League is loaded as usual, and the Trojans will once again be gunning to get into the playoffs and see what happens from there.

Lyons

Coach: Casey Sinicki (2nd year).
Last year: 8-11
Returning starters: Blaine Peterson (Sr., IF), Ryan Valadez (Sr., P), Taylor Keen (Jr., P), Haden Fesenmeyer (Jr., IF), Zach Brodie (Jr., C), Alex Scanlon (Jr., OF), Keith Albertson (Jr., IF), Kyle Dick (So., OF).
Others to watch: Jesse Fisher (Sr., P/OF), Steven Elsberry (Jr., U), Dugan Tomczak (Jr., OF), Roland Valadez (Jr., U), Grayson Gibson (So., U), Levi Campbell (So., U).
Outlook: The Lions missed a postseason berth by one game last season and finished just two wins short of the program’s best record ever. A strong returning core has the team ready to make a big jump this season despite playing in a tough Patriot League.

Niwot

Coach: Craig McBride
Last year: 14-6, lost in the first round of 4A district play.
Returning starters: Kelton Manzanares (Sr., 2B/OF/P), Verc Nichols (Sr., 1B), Brady Oleszczuk (Sr., P/C/2B), Matt Perry (Sr., P/C/3B), Ben Raynor (Sr., OF), Ryan Strufing (Sr., (P/OF), Connor Messinger (Jr., P/SS).
Others to watch: Dylan Kaczeus (Jr., P/IF), Andy Wegleitner (Jr., P/IF).
Outlook: McBride takes over as coach after several years as an assistant, and the Cougars’ expectations of playing deep into the postseason remain. Seven starters return, including ace on the mound Strufing and a host of other capable pitchers.

Silver Creek

Coach: Trevor Platt (9th year).
Last year: 18-7, 4A state semifinalist.
Returning starters: Scott Hoyt (Sr., P/OF), Mitch Dow (Sr., P/OF), Eric Van Dyke (Sr., P/SS), Ethan Pousen (Sr., P/3B), Zach Villani (Sr., OF), Teagan Kramer (Jr., OF).
Others to watch: Ben Walder (Sr., P/IF), Ryan Davis (Sr., C), Ryan Schram (Jr., P/1B), Marcus Steward (Jr., P/2B).
Outlook: Never mind the lefties. Hoyt was as good as anyone in the area on the mound last season. With him and loads of other talent like Van Dyke and Poulsen returning, the Raptors should once again be vying for league and state titles.

Skyline

Coach: Mike Hoog (5th year).
Last year: 13-8, lost in the second round of 4A district play.
Returning starters: Federico Castagnini (Sr., SS), Taylor Nehls (Sr., 2B), Ethan Jelinek (Sr., OF), David Boddiger (Sr., P), Colin York (Jr., 3B).
Others to watch: Nicolo Loardi (Sr., P/OF), Julien Ramirez (Jr., U).
Outlook: The post-Derrick Bleeker era begins, but the Falcons believe anyone who takes them lightly will be sorry. Loardi, who joins Castagnini as another Italian exchange student, is a left-hander who will help man the top of the pitching rotation along with Boddiger.