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4A Final Four Preview

May 26, 2015

By John Cackowski
Director of Scouting

The Class AA Final Four will be played at All-City Stadium Tuesday and Wednesday.  Green Mountain enters the weekend with an automatic bid in the 4A state championship game, and will have to be beaten twice.

Here's a capsuled look at each team:

Green Mountain vs (18-6) vs. D'Evelyn (22-2)

About the Green Mountain Rams:
Green Mountain is looking to repeat at 4A State Champions, and they were PBR Colorado's Preseason choice to win it again in 2015. With a target on their back all year, once reaching the playoffs they have proven the 4A title still runs through them going 5-0 in the playoffs to have an automatic bid to the 4A state championship game. They will have to be beaten twice. Seniors Josh Ramirez, Trace Mullberry, and Talon Schaller have had stellar seasons on the mound. Ramirez is 7-1 in 62 innings pitched with 68 strikeouts while posting a 2.48 E.R.A. Mullbery has spelled 45 innings on the mound going 4-2 with a 2.30 E.R.A. with 50 strikeouts, and Schaller has gone 3-2 with a 2.62 E.R.A. in 24 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts. Between the three they have proven they have the most pitching depth left in the tournament. Schaller is also hitting .398 while leading the team in homeruns (5) doubles, (11) and RBI's (28). Junior Wyatt Featherston has gotten hot at the right time of year. A PBR All-Colorado player in 2014 as a sophomore, Featherston is hitting .365 with 18 RBI's and also sharing the team lead in homeruns with 5. Cole Shetterly provides more stability and depth to the offense with a .389 batting average combined with 9 doubles, and 3 homeruns. The Rams have a lot of depth, and will be tough to unseat as defending 4A State Champions.

About the D'Evelyn Jaguars:
D'Evelyn has had a dominating season, and if it wasn't for a one-run, 9 inning loss to Ponderosa last week they could be in the drivers seat for the 4A State Championship. The Jaguars only gave up 54 runs in 24 games this year while scoring 235. The pitching staff was lead by Junior Cameron Brown, who has had a dominating year on the mound going 6-0 so far in 41 innings pitched striking out 75 while posting a 0.51 E.R.A. One game was a 3-hit, 14 strikeout complete game performance against Green Mountain.  Senior Grant Witherspoon has thrown 41 innings going 7-0 with a 1.20 E.R.A. Witherspoon also hit .376 with 23 RBI's and 3 homeruns. Junior Dylan Nelson is leading the team with 6 homeruns, hitting .431 and also had 23 RBI's. Senior Matt Helmreich is hitting .403 with 7 doubles, 4 homeruns, and is leading the team with 24 RBI's. The Jaguars are deep enough, and have enough pitching depth to win have a chance to win out this week for the 4A state championship.

Lewis Palmer (21-3) vs. Ponderosa (15-9)

About the Lewis Palmer Rangers:
The Rangers could have the best one-two punch on the mound left in the 4A Final Four. Junior Paul Tillotson could be the top RHP in the state. With a 90 mph fastball and nasty 3-pitch mix, Tillotson is 5-1 on the season in 51 IP striking out a dominating 97 players on the season while posting a 2.03 E.R.A. Tillotson also is hitting .403, while leading the team with 5 homeruns, and 25 RBI's. Tillotosn has been pitched around all season as is evident with his 20 walks on the season. Senior Colin Cicere has been as equally impressive on the mound with a 7-0 record while posting a 0.74 E.R.A. in 37 innings pitched. Also contributing on offense has been senior Brian Tims hitting .410 with 18 RBI's, and sophomore Billy Cook who lead the team with a .455 B.A. and 10 doubles.

About the Ponderosa Mustangs:
First year head baseball coach Bob Maloney has done a great job getting the Mustangs to the 4A Final Four. Playing in the tough 5A Continental League during the season has given the Mustangs some tough competition to help prepare them for the 4A Playoff run. The Mustangs are lead by senior LHP Bryan King on the mound, and when he pitches they always have a chance to win. Going 6-3 onso far on the year and throwing 71 innings this year, King has only given up 48 hits and has posted a miniscule 1.48 E.R.A. Alan Jeanjaquet has spelled King as a solid number 2 option going 7-1 with a 1.56 E.R.A. in 40 innings pitched. Jeanjaquet also paces the offense leading the team with a .446 batting average and 19 RBI's. Juniors Thomas Green, Mitch Halloran and Ryder Ghidotti are all hovering around .360 batting average for the season. The Mustangs are scrappy, and find ways to win. Because of their tough 5A league schedule, you cannot count them out to win out.

 

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