Preseason Top 50 Countdown: No. 3 Chatfield

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: Chatfield
Preseason Rank: 3
2015 Record: 14-12
Conference: Jeffco
CHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Matt Johnson
Playoff Run: Lost to Rock Canyon in 5A State Championship
2015 Final Rank: 28
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS:
Tanner Johnson, OF/P, No. 18 2016 (Garden City CC)
Mike Lucero, RHP/MIF, No. 54 2016 (Sussex County CC)
Tyler Goff, C, No. 85 2016
Brycen Lynn, MIF/OF, 2016
Jake Knoll, RHP/OF, 2016
Chad Schultz, 1B, 2016
Jack Winkler, SS, No. 6 2017

OTHER PLAYERS THAT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT
Nate Semmler, MIF, No. 116 2017
Brayden Petroshus 1B/3B, No. 77 2016

X-FACTOR:
The Chargers confidence in themselves is their strength. They believe they can beat anyone they step on the field with.

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Kyle Winkler: Miami University of Ohio

STAT RAT:
The Chargers lost their 9 of their first 11 games, then made a miraculous turn around winning 12 of their next 13 games to make the 5A State Championship.

BOTTOM LINE:
So which team was the real Charger team in 2015? The one that started 2 and 9 on the season, or the won who made an improbable run to the 5A State Championship Game? We believe it's the latter. The Chargers play with a ton of confidence, and they have 7 starters back from 2015. 2016 right handed pitchers Tanner Johnson (Garden City CC) and Mike Lucero (Sussex County CC) return. Both will not wow you with a blazing fastball, but they compete with a ton of moxie. Last year combined they were 4-1 in 30 innings with a combined 1.40 ERA. They get on the mound and dare you to beat them. 2016 C Tyler Goff will return as the starting catcher and will provide pop in the lineup. 2017 SS Jack Winkler is one of the top juniors in the state and will build off starting all of last year as a sophomore. Seniors Brycen Lynn, Chad Schultz, and Jake Knoll all got experience starting last year and will be a big part of their lineup in 2016. We feel the Chargers are as good of a bet as any to win the 5A State Championship.

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