Bears appear to be team to beat
Albuquerque Academy, Sandia Prep also look strong for 2015 season
Perhaps it’s all fun and games. Perhaps it’s rooted in truth.
Either way, it makes for a fun opening salvo.
“If they lose a game,” Valley High School baseball coach Chad Kuhn said, “it’s their own fault.”
It’s a variation on a theme that often rears its head at the beginning of March — a season that begins with the La Cueva Bears in everyone’s cross hairs.
“I don’t know that everyone else is as realistic,” La Cueva coach Gerard Pineda said with a laugh, and a nod to Kuhn’s forecasting model. “There are a lot of teams out there that have a shot. I always say that, but that is definitely true this year.”
In six of the last 10 seasons, the Class 5A state championship trophy found its way to La Cueva.
The Bears are certainly the early favorites in this maiden 6A campaign, which begins for a majority of the metroarea schools this week.
La Cueva has six returning starters. Three have signed with Division I programs — outfielder Austin Bell and catcher Andrew Pratt with New Mexico, and pitcher Caleb McAlister with Washington State.
Jacob Turcotte (NMMI) was La Cueva’s closer last year and might move into the starting rotation this year. Jesse Becton (N.M. Junior College) has speed and power.
“I like where we are,” said Pineda. “We’ll have a shot to be there in the end, for sure.”
Last May at Isotopes Park, the Bears edged Eldorado 5-4 in the state final. The Eagles are certainly poised to threaten La Cueva again.
“There are high expectations, and they’re just real excited about the season,” longtime Eldorado coach Jim Johns said.
The Eagles return both middle infielders with shortstop Tanner Roberts and second baseman Craig Buzzard, who also hit at the top of the Eldorado lineup. Junior Nathaniel Garley is one of the metro area’s top starting pitchers, and Eldorado has great help at other positions, especially in center field with Austin Treadwell and first base with Andrew Stubbs serving as a vacuum with the leather.
This lineup will be potent, Johns said.
“We’ve got enough threats in the middle that people may have a hard time pitching around a certain guy,” he said.
The rest of District 2-6A is less in focus. Highland is continuing to rebuild, Manzano has a new coach in former Lobo player and coach Matt Hibbitts, and Sandia is trying to get back to the playoffs after missing the postseason last spring.
The rest of the true 6A power is to the north and west, in District 1-6A, with Volcano Vista, Rio Rancho and Cleveland.
The Hawks might be the strongest team west of the river, with seven returning starters, including left-handed junior pitcher Tanner West, who is arguably the No. 1 arm in the state.
But he is surrounded everywhere with talent and experience, and Volcano Vista also has another potentially stifling southpaw in Anthony Inge.
“I would say that this could be the best team I’ve ever had,” Hawks coach Kevin Andersh said, and this is going out on a limb by his standards. “I usually downplay a lot of my teams, and maybe I’m jinxing myself, but I think we’re gonna be pretty good.”
Ditto for the Rams and Storm.
Cleveland returns half a dozen starters, and has a deep and talented pitching staff led by Brandon Larson and lefty Neil Evans.
“I like this group a lot,” Storm coach Shane Shallenberger said. “I think we’ll be in the mix.”
One of the key new additions is his son, Treston, the starting shortstop.
Rio Rancho coach Ron Murphy believes his team is one of the top five in 6A, although pitching depth is a potential issue. Still, the Rams have an outstanding ace in veteran senior right-hander Wyatt Kelley.
Like the Storm, the Rams have a change at short, with Eddy Vasquez moving over from second base.
“I don’t have any superstars,” Murphy said. “But I have a really good group of team guys, guys that all bring something different to the table. It’s a pretty good little team.”
Cibola and 1-6A newcomer Santa Fe both figure to have steep challenges reaching the playoffs out of that league.
In District 5-6A, Rio Grande and Valley have tended to reign supreme in this league, and that could be the case again.
Valley brings back almost its entire starting lineup, and has some savvy veterans in three-year seniors Eric Chavez at shortstop, Paul Tapia at second base and catcher C.J. Montoya. Montoya is one of the division’s most deceptive players; he swiped 23 bases last season.
But perhaps most key is staff ace Nick Barela, who’ll likely have the ball for many important starts.
“They understand their abilities and they are big fans of each other,” Kuhn said.
Rio Grande is a curious team, since the Ravens don’t have a single senior. Many of the members of this young lineup, however, already have varsity experience. Hopefully, coach Orlando Griego said, that will translate into winning some more close games, which hart the Ravens a year ago.
Lefty Martin Gallegos and Matthew Sanchez, both juniors, are the Ravens’ top two starting pitchers.
The rest of the district is a crapshoot. Albuquerque High had a strong second half last year but fell short of the playoffs. Atrisco Heritage is, like Rio Grande, fairly young, but more untested than the Ravens. West Mesa has a new coach in former Cibola skipper Robert Erp, who is building almost from scratch.
Class 5A
Albuquerque Academy looks to be the class of District 5-5A, led by senior right-handed pitcher Zeke Long, catcher Joe Sava — Chargers coach Andy Williams describes Sava as probably the top backstop in 5A — and junior third baseman Jake Wyly.
“We’re really deep in pitching,” Williams said, “which is something you don’t see at the 5A level.”
St. Pius coach Marc Hilton is in his 15th season with the Sartans. This, he said, is the youngest team he’s ever had. The only returning starters are senior pitcher/outfielder Mitch DiLorenzo, senior first baseman/outfielder Mason Martinez and junior utility player Miles Hilton. This starting lineup will be full of 10th- and 11th-graders.
Still, Hilton said, “I think we might surprise some people this year.”
Del Norte is trying for a rare playoff bid; hard-throwing righty Dom Levy could be vital to that effort.
Valencia from District 3-5A looks loaded, with seven returning starters and a handful of college signees. Belen and Los Lunas should be playoff contenders, as well.
Class 4A
Sandia Prep is the team to watch here, with eight starters back from a team that reached the 3A state final 10 months ago.
“They’re hungry to get back there and try to win,” said coach Paul Huitt.
The Sundevils have outstanding pitching depth and a terrific catcher in Mikey Gangwish, who also is a mainstay in the middle of the lineup.
“This,” Huitt said, “is probably one of the better teams that I’ve had.”
Another former Cibola coach, Glen Copeland, is the new head man at Hope Christian, which was decimated by graduation and transfers but does have an excellent No. 1 pitcher in left-hander Joe Standley.
East Mountain, the 2012 Class 2A state champion, is jumping up into 4A this season.