Prep Baseball Report

Utah HS Team Preview: Maple Mountain HS


Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

Utah HS Team Preview: Maple Mountain HS

Opening Day is around the corner, try outs have been scheduled starting Feb 27th, and rosters are soon to be set. The Utah High School Activities Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Monday March 6th. Jeff Scholzen (Utah Scouting Director) begins the 2023 season coverage with our annual preseason team previews, where we will take notes from coaches, and highlight returning players, newcomers, and some sleepers. Over the next couple weeks and leading up to opening day, we will be highlighting some of the top programs in the state in our team previews. 

PBR Utah will also be publishing its state “Power 25” rankings that will be updated every Monday once the season begins. Throughout the season, PBR Utah will be pumping out coverage, highlighting individual players, games, rankings, scouting reports and naming players/pitchers of the week, every Tuesday as well. PBR Utah looks forward to getting out there this spring to see some great baseball. 

Timpanogos by the numbers

Head Coach: Jeremy Thomas (2nd Year) 

Classification: 5A

Region: 9

2022 Win-Loss: 16-18

State Playoff appearances in last 10 years: 8

State Championship appearances last 10 years: 3

State Championships last 10 years: 0

Key Returners with Class/Position

Chase Johnston LHP / Maple Mountain , UT / 2025

 

10/30/22

2022 PBR Future Games

Johnston came to the Summer ID in July of 2021 and was in the low to mid 70’s with his FB, but you could tell the arm action and delivery to throw harder, but feeling was it was much further down the road, a credit to Chase, as he came into the 2022 HS season, as a starter in the rotation as a freshman, while being tutored by his new head coach, Jeremy Thomas, who I signed to his professional contract back in the day. Thomas was the pitching coach for over a decade at Dixie State and BYU, so Johnston was learning from a high level instructor. Johnston dominated the competition at the 5A level for Maple Mountain, as he became the ace of the staff, and finished the season with a 7-3 record, 3.31 ERA with 61.1 IP, 55 H, 22 BB and 84 KO’s. The state that stuck out for me was he only allowed 4 unearned runs all spring. That means he has swing and miss stuff and can leave runners stranded and bail out his defense when errors are committed. That’s the competitor stat that I use to see if a pitcher can compete, as well as pitch, with swing and miss stuff. Johnston’s FB was 81-85 at the Future Games and this past weekend was 83-85 with a spin rate of 2,374 which is MLB avg and is why his velocity plays up and misses bats. The CB has downward tilt at 68-71 and the CH 77 has kill spin at a spin of 1,666 to complete a 3 pitch mix. With 3 years of HS, it wouldn’t surprise me if a classification MVP contender is in his future as well as reaching the low 90’s and becoming a serious D1 prospect from the left side of the rubber. 


8/07/22

The #1 pitcher in the 2025 class, showed why at the Future Games, as he threw outstanding in his 2 innings of work. Showing a tall flexible high kick to his delivery, while landing sound out front with a loose, fluid HTQ arm slot. The delivery has the features at clean up over the next 3 years to turn into a D1 prospect. The FB 80-84 has the makings with his loose arm to turn into a 90 mph arm in due time. The CB has OH to TQ shape with depth/bottom. The CH fades with turnover sink and feel. Chase put up a monster year as a freshman ace on the varsity, as he punched out 84 batters in 62 IP with only 22 BB. Winning 7 games as well, Chase didn’t look dazed by the competition at the Future Games and if he stays uncommitted, he will once again be headed to LakePoint in 2023!

  

 

2022 Utah All-State Games


2022 PBR Future Games

 

Blake Carter RHP / Maple Mountain, UT / 2024

 

2022 Utah All-State Games

 

 

 

AJ Thomas SS / C / Maple Mountain , UT / 2025

 

2023 Preseason ID

 

 

 

Sawyer Leifson 3B / OF / Maple Mountain , UT / 2025

 

2022 Top Prospect Games 

 

 

 

 

Bennett Averett (2024, CF, RHP)

Corbin Bailey (2023/INF)

Cooper Rollins (2023/RHP)

Colby Warren (2024,UTIL)

Key players lost to graduation 

Jackson Hollingshaus, 3B (Brigham Young U)

Dax Dewitt 

Mike Bennett

Who is your X Factor to your success

2025 Chase Johnston, LHP (2022 PBR Future Games alum - Will return in 2023 as well)

Blake Carter

2025 AJ Thomas, C/SS

Returning players All-Region / All-State Players 

2023 Chase Johnston, LHP (HM All-Region 9)

Player lost to graduation and College Baseball

  • Jackson Hollingshaus, 3B (Brigham Young U)

Coaches Summary and Outlook

We expect to have a strong season in 2023. The team has 8 returning starters, including standout players on the pitching mound and throughout the field. 

The coaching staff is confident in their lineup and the team's overall depth has increased significantly in 2023. Expectations are high for the team after beating out #1 ranked Spanish Fork in the 2022 Super Regionals to make it to the 5A Elite 8.  Maple Mountain should compete for a region title in 2023, but will have an uphill battle with the traditional Region 9 powerhouses. 

Keep an eye out for Maple Mountain this season as they aim for a deep playoff run.

Jeremy Thomas (Head Coach)

RELATED NEWS

 

JEFF SCHOLZEN (BIO)

Scholzen was brought on as the Utah Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Report after serving 9 years as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in a similar capacity as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor. In all, Scholzen served as a full-time scout for 20 years. Scholzen also received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout. 

With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the likes of current and former major league players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole and Paul Sewald to name a few. During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate with the Pioneer League Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles.

Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship. 

A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization from 1991-1992.