State’s top prep talent stocking area club teams
With the high school baseball season completed, Colorado’s top prep talent moves on to playing for area club teams. Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman breaks down five teams to watch as the summer season heats up:
Slammers Martin 17-U: Perhaps the most stacked club team in the state, Slammers Martin is loaded in every phase. The team has aces such as Valor Christian’s Luke Ziegler, Legend’s Jack Baird and Brody Mccord and Broomfield’s Ben Peterson. The team has athletic outfield talent in Denver North’s Harris Williams and Pine Creek’s Jay Onken. And the team has valid power with Valor Christian catcher Noah Kuzma, Pine Creek first baseman Justin Olson and more.
Lightning Gold 18-U: Coach Dave Tucker’s flagship team has many pieces back from last summer and figures to challenge in every tournament it enters. On the mound, Chaparral’s Zach Berg and Highlands Ranch’s Josh Thompson will figure prominently, as will a trio of Falcons in the lineup: catcher Brett Newman, third baseman Zac Dammel and shortstop Morgan Mcintosh. Regis Jesuit first baseman Michael Baer, Rock Canyon shortstop Jake Hammons, Thunderridge outfielder Jason Hall and Lakewood shortstop Simon Baumgardt give the lineup depth.
Cherry Creek 18s: The Bruins-heavy roster is sprinkled with a bunch of other big-time players from the south metro area. Infielders Zach Paschke and Cole Blatchford and pitchers Jalen Saiz and Jack Liffrig represent Mountain Vista, while Heritage ace Riley Egloff complements Cherry Creek stars in outfielder Tanner O’tremba, infielder Cody Schultz, catcher Andrew Chavez and pitcher Quentin Parr.
Slammers Bauer 18-U: Slammers Bauer boasts elite talent picked from several top Class 5A leagues in the state, as highlighted by Continental League standouts in Regis Jesuit ace Caleb Sloan and Legend homer-hitting infielder Jordan Stubbings. Jeffco League gems in Chatfield shortstop Jack Winkler, Bear Creek infielder Jack Radford and Dakota Ridge ace Carter Akerfelds complement other key guys such as Pine Creek outfielder Toby Scoles and Grandview catcher Tyson Hays.
Trombly Baseball Quintana 18-U: A combined club effort by the Mountain Vista, Rock Canyon and Highlands Ranch baseball programs led to the formation of Trombly Baseball Colorado. Mountain Vista coach Ron Quintana guides the 18-U team, while Rock Canyon coach Tyler Munro and Highlands Ranch coach Joe Gleason guide the lower levels. Much of those programs’ talent is featured on the 18-U roster, including Rock Canyon catcher Logan O’neill, Mountain Vista infielder Drew Stahl, Highlands Ranch catcher Jordan Medina and Highlands Ranch infielder Zach Medina.