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Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 50 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage. 

Like any preseason ranking for any sport, last year our list created a lot of fun conversations, debate, and opinions among players, coaches, and families. To see what we got right, and what we got wrong in 2017 Click Here

What makes our list unique is it combines all classifications (1A through 5A), and leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 50 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage.

Factors that are considered when creating the Top 50 List are the following:

- How many current players are returning that are in PBR Colorado rankings
- How many overall players committed or non-committed are returning
- How many starting pitchers are returning
- Success the previous season
- History of success in the program

* We expect the teams in the Top 50 Countdown will compete for at least a district playoff spot in 2018

 

Team No. 45: Pueblo East Cyclones

2018 Preseason Rank: 45
2017 Preseason Rank: N/A
2017 Record: 12-8
Conference: 4A South Central
CHSAA Class: 4A 
Head Coach: Nick Marfitano
2017 Playoff Run: Lost to Fort Morgan 9-4 in 4A District Playoffs
2017 Final Rank: 63
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 5
Returning Innings on Mound: 79
Returning RBI's returning: 60

STAT RAT: 
The Eagles were a well-rounded team in 2017. They had a .350 overall batting average, a 3.13 overall team ERA, played good defense with a .915 fielding percentage, and they also stole 30 bases as a team. They also had two 5 game-win streaks during the course of the year.

X-FACTORS: 
Eagles just need to finish the season better then how they started it. After starting the year 10 and 3 with a strong-hold over the league, they finished 3 and 4 to end the season. 

 BOTTOM LINE: 
The 4A South Central League always beats up on each other, and it was no different in 2017. The Eagles split home and away's with the two other top teams in the league Pueblo West, and Pueblo County, but it was the last league game of the year they lost that the Eagles couldn't get over. Leading 6-3 at Pueblo County in the bottom of the 6th inning, they would eventually lose in 7 with Pueblo County walking off. The difference could have been a 4A playoff district host site for the program. They have enough talent coming back in 2017 to be a factor again, but you get a little sense they felt they under achieved when at one point they were 10 and 3 on the season with quality wins over Canyon City, Pueblo West, and Pueblo South already on their belt. 

 

Key Player Lost

 

Josh Tellez 1B / RHP / Pueblo East, CO / 2017 6-foot, 220 pounds. Bats and throws right. Tellez hit .391 in 2017 driving in 17 runs to go along with 7 doubles and 2 triples. On the mound the Eagles lose 27 innings and a 4 and 2 record. Tellez carried a 3.07 ERA and struck out 25 batters.

 

Key Players Coming Back

 

Donavin Ada SS / RHP / Pueblo East, CO / 2018 6-foot, 195 pounds. Bats and throws right. Ada anchored the offense in 2017 leading the team in batting average (.455), runs scored (18), and stolen bases (8).

 

 

Efren Perez 3B / RHP / Pueblo East, CO / 2018 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. Bats and throws right. Perez has some power potential leading the team with 20 RBI's and 3 homeruns while hitting .375. Perez was also solid on the mound pitching 19 innings while carrying a 1.84 ERA striking out 20 batters.

 

 

Trevor Pacheco RHP / Pueblo East, CO / 2018 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. Bats and throws right. Pacheco was the No. 1 option on the mound logging 45 innings going 4 and 3 on the season striking out 45 batters. At the plate Pacheco hit .405 on the season

 

 

John Orona OF / Pueblo East, CO / 2018 6-foot, 185 pounds. Bats and throws right. Power potential on offense. In 42 at-bats Orona hit 6 doubles with a homerun while hitting .333 and carrying a .417 OBA. Good athlete who also plays football as a WR/TE

 

Players Who Could Make an Impact: 

 

Josh Velasco C / Pueblo East, CO / 2019 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Bats and throws right. Velasco got 48 at-bats in 2017 and had a .373 OBA while scoring 9 runs.