Preseason Countdown: No. 5 Cherry Creek

April 4, 2016

By John Cackowski
State Director

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. The Top 50 teams are picked from all classifications, and are not divided up by class level. To see the entire list click here

Team: Cherry Creek
Preseason Rank: 5
2015 Record: 20-4
Conference: Centennial
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Marc Johnson
Playoff Run: Lost to Rock Canyon in the 5A semi-finals.
2015 Final Rank: 3
Returning Starters: 3
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS:
Nate Sweeney, RHP/SS, No. 9 2016 (Arizona)
Carter Van Gyntenbeek, RHP, No. 74 2016 (Army Commit)
Cody Schultz, INF/RHP, 2016
Alex Zhang, 1B, 2016
Andrew Chavez, INF, No. 23 2017
Tanner O'Tremba 3B/RHP, No. 1 2018

OTHER PLAYERS WHO COULD MAKE AN IMPACT:
Clayton Gill, 3B, 2016
Sam Colehower, RHP, 2017
Jimmy Guckenberger, OF, No. 101 2017

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Blake Goldsberry: Kansas
Aeneas Roberson: Garden City CC
Nick Ulmer: Garden City
Cody Wood: (New Mexico)

X-FACTOR:
It looks like 2016 RHP Nate Sweeney has developed control of his 90 mph plus fastball. That's a scary though for the Centennial League. The potential draft pick can dominate if he throws strikes.

STAT RAT:
The Bruins graduated 102 innings pitched from 2015 which combined for a sub 2.00 ERA.

BOTTOM LINE:
If there is any program in the state to can graduate 17 seniors and not blink an eye it's Cherry Creek. No one has as deep of a talent pool as the Bruins do. People every year wait for Cherry Creek to "be down" but they are a machine of success. They graduated two division one pitchers from 2015, but they return two Division 1 pitchers who had to wait their turn as juniors last year. 2016 Nate Sweeney (Arizona) will be the No. 1 option for the Bruins. Last year he did not pitch much, but he hit .339 as a back up shortstop. Sweeney is armed with a fastball that can touch the low 90's, and now he has fastball command. 2016 Carter Van Gytenbeek (Army) pitched 21 innings last year and went 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA striking out 23 batters. He will be one of the new starting options for the Bruins in 2016. Also returning is 2018 OF/RHP Tanner O'Tremba. On the mound O'Tremba is also armed with an upper 80's fastball and was 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA as a freshman striking out 25 batters in 24 innings. O'Tremba also hit .406 and led the Bruins with 5 homeruns. 2017 C Andrew Chavez come back off a solid sophomore campaign in which he hit .317 in 73 at bats. Look for seniors Clayton Gill, Alex Zhang, and Sam Coleheader to get their chance to contribute in 2016 after waiting their turn in the deep Cherry Creek program. Legendary Head Coach Marc Johnson comes back for his 44th year bringing over 700 career wins of experience to the baseball field. Expect Coach Johnson to lead the Bruins again to the 5A State playoffs.

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