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: Rock Canyon
Preseason Rank: 10
2015 Record: 23-4
Conference: Continental
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Tyler Munro
Playoff Run: Won the 5A State Championship against Chatfield
2015 Final Rank: 2
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 1

TOP PLAYERS:
Daryl Myers, SS, No. 52 2016 (Benedictine College)
Coby Zimmerman, OF No. 86 2016
Trevor Howard, OF, No. 130 2016
Adam Schiller, OF, No 2016
Ben Sneider, 1B, 2016
Bobby Rexroat, RHP, 2016
Jake Clark, RHP, No. 144 2016
Matt Givin, 3B/RHP, No. 8 2017 (Xavier)
Logan O'Neil, C, No. 39 2017
Nick Merone, INF, No. 10 2018
Cayden Zimmerman, MIF, No. 15 2018

OTHER PLAYERS THAT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT
Jake Hammons, MIF, No. 17 2017

X-FACTOR: 
The current Jags players have some big shoes to fill. Not only will it be hard to replace D-1 players in Chris Givin and Josh White, but over 3 years pitcher Bryce Dietz went 16-1 with a 2.98 ERA over 122 innings pitched. 

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Chris Givin: Xavier
Josh White: Army
Bryce Dietz: Cal Lutheran

STAT RAT:
Last year the Jags played in 8 games decided by one run and went 6-2 in those games. 

BOTTOM LINE:  
2015 saw the Rock Canyon Jaguars start off hot and stay hot all year on their way to their first ever baseball state championship. Their program has developed into one of the deeper programs in the state seemingly churning out D-1 prospects every year now. Though they lost 3 important players last year, the Jags should not have any problem reloading in 2015 with the talent they have coming back. 2016 SS Daryl Myers  (Benedictine College) is coming off a very solid junior season in which he hit .409 and led the team with 9 doubles. The Jaguars return there entire outfied from 2016  in seniors Adam Schiller, Trevor Howard, and Coby Zimmerman who all had productive offensive seasons hitting .300 as juniors. 3B/RHP Matt Givin (Xavier) is one of the top 2017 prospects in the state. As a sophomore last year he hit .383 and drove in 21 runs. 2016 1B Ben Sneider also hit .300 last season. The Jaguars have some very good young talent who will fill in this year in 2018 Nick Merone, and 2018 MIF Cayden Zimmerman. The Jaguars will compete for the Continental League crown again in 2016. To get back to the 5A Final Four they will need to repeat the pitching production they have gotten in the past. 

RELATED MATERIAL

CO 12.01.15
Preseason Countdown: No. 50 Bear Creek
Bears fall just short of 2015 playoffs, look to regroup in 2016...>>

CO 12.03.15
Preseason Countdown: No.49 Arapahoe
Look for Warriors to rebound and secure a 2016 playoff spot...>>

CO 12.09.15
Preseason Countdown: No. 48 Broomfield
Look for Broomfield to rebound in 2016 after first year at 5A...>>

CO 12.10.15
Preseason Countdown: No. 47 Hotchkiss
Look for Hotchkiss to compete for 2A State Championship Title...>>

CO 12.17.15
Preseason Countdown: No.46 Resurrection Christian
Cougars look to rebound from heartbreaking loss in 2015 2A State Championship...>>

CO 1.05.16
Preseason Countdown: No.45 Smoky Hill
The Buffalos can't be overlooked in 2016. ...>>

CO 1.11.16
Preseason Countdown: No.44 University
The Bulldogs will be a favorite to return to the 3A Semifinals...>>

CO 1.14.16
Preseason Countdown No. 43 Horizon
Hawks look to build on the playoff run from last year...>>

CO 1.19.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 42 Grand Junction
Look for Tigers to continue winning ways, need offensive production to go far...>>

CO 1.20.16
Preseason Countdown: No.41 Bayfield
Bayfield will be a favorite to capture 3A Crown...>>

CO 1.26.16
Preseason Countdown: No 40 Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch has a young but talented team to compete in 2016...>>

CO 2.05.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 39 Grand Junction Central
The Warriors always have talent..but have to replace 7 starters from 2015...>>

CO 2.10.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 38 Valor Christian
After first losing season in program history, look for the Eagles to rebound...>>

CO 2.18.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 37 Pueblo East
Eagles have a lot of talent returning in 2016, could be year they break through...>>

CO 2.19.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 36 Dakota Ridge
After dissapointing 2015, don't sleep on the Eagles...>>

CO 2.22.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 35 Columbine
Rebels bring talent back from dissapointing 2015 season...>>

CO 2.23.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 34 Lamar
Lamar reloads with some young talent to improve on solid 2015 season...>>

CO 2.29.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 33 ThunderRidge
Grizzlies need to find way to take pressure off talented pitching staff...>>

CO 3.01.16
Preseason Countdown: No.32 Longmont
Longmont returns 7 starters with expectations to make deep playoff run...>>

CO 3.02.16
Preseason Countdown: No.31 Douglas County
The Huskies have enough talent coming back to have success...>>

CO 3.03.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 30 Ralston Valley
The Mustangs could be primed for a long 5A playoff run...>>

CO 3.04.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 29 Lakewood
The Tigers bring back just about everyone from 2015 success...>>

CO 3.04.16
Preseason Countdown: No.28 Mullen
Mustangs lose pitching, but still bring back quality talent in 2016...>>

CO 3.07.16
Preseason Countdown: No.27 Pueblo West
Cyclones have talent coming back for potential 4A Final 8 run...>>

CO 3.08.16
Preseason Countdown: No.26 Windsor
Wizards have two arms and enough returning talent to make a 4A run...>>

CO 3.10.16
Preseason Countdown: No.25 Pueblo South
Colts bring back pitching experience and a stud catcher for 4A a Playoff Run...>>

CO 3.10.16
Preseason Countdown: No.24 Heritage
Loaded with talent, expect the Eagles to get back in playoff action in 2016...>>

CO 3.16.16
Preseason Countdown: No.23 Erie
Tigers return 6 starters from 2015 4A Final 8 Team. ...>>

CO 3.17.16 
Preseason Countdown: No.22 Fairview
Knights graduated some big time players in 2015, depth of program will be tested...>>

CO 3.18.16
Preseason Countdown: No.21 Wheat Ridge
Farmers looking to reload after graduating some significant talent...>>

CO 3.21.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 20 Brighton
Bulldogs have the talent, just have to believe...>>

CO 3.22.16
Preseason Countdown: No.19 Lewis Palmer
Rangers will have to find a way to replace 7 graduated seniors...>>

CO 3.23.16
Preseason Countdown: No.18 Air Academy
Kadets have talent coming back for 4A playoff run

CO 3.25.16
Preseason Countdown: No.17 Mountain Vista
New faces will have to replace Division 1 pitching talent...>>

CO 3.26.16
Preseason Countdown: No. 16 Cherokee Trail
The Cougars are back on the 5A playoff map, return a ton of talent...>>