Longs Peak consists of 10 high schools with 9 competing at the 4A level and 1 classified as 3A. The schools are located in the Northern and Eastern part of Colorado along the foothills and eastern plains.
Fort Morgan HS
Mustangs (908)
Coach: Josh Langford - 15th season
Returning starters: 5
2021 Record: 9-7
2021 Srs playing at the next level: Jackson Langford - Northeastern Colorado JC, Nick Beltran - Colorado Northwestern JC
Players to watch: None committed - Brayden Fajardo (SR) IF, Briggs Wheatley (SR) OF/P, Frank Ortega (SR) IF/P, Jessie Campa (SR) IF/P
2022 Outlook: The Mustangs can't wait for the 2022 season to arrive so they can focus on beginning a new streak of playoff appearances after missing out for the 1st time since 2009. 5 starters will be back led by Briggs Wheatley (SR), Jessie Campa (SR) and Frank Ortega (SR) who return as the Mustangs big 3 arms. Coach Langford is counting on the pitching staff to be the teams strength and carry them through the season. B. Wheatley, J. Camps and F. Ortega logged 81 innings pitched between the three of them. The question marks are how well the defense and hitting will perform after losing 4 of the teams top bats to graduation. If they can get their defense and hitting to perform at a consistent level, they will have a chance to compete in a very tough Longs Peak League. B. Wheatley led the team in batting last season but will not be able to carry the offense alone.
Niwot HS
Cougars (1170)
Coach: Ken Rosales - 1st season
Returning starters: 4
2021 Record: 5-11
2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
Players to watch: None committed - Jack Brooker (SR) OF/RHP, Jed Kilpatrick (JR) INF/RHP, Brooks Barber (SO) MIF
2022 Outlook: Niwot is under new leadership in 2022 as Ken Rosales takes over as the Cougars new head coach. Coach Rosales inherits a program that has struggled over the last 4 seasons but traditionally has experienced lots of success over the last 40 years, 5 state championships and 21 league championships. In his 1st year, Coach Rosales's goal is to be very competitive in all aspects of the game. He welcomes back 4 returning starters and an offense that is led by Jack Brooker (SR), Brooks Barber (SO) and Walt Van Piper (SR). The Cougars lost their top 3 arms from 2021 to graduation and will rely on Jed Kilpatrick (JR) and J. Brooker for the upcoming season, both logged minimal varsity innings a year ago. Overall, Niwot returns a handful of players with quality varsity innings but will be inexperienced throughout the majority of the lineup.
Roosevelt HS
Roughriders (1055)
Coach: Brian Saya - 2nd season
Returning starters: 2
2021 Record: 10-7
2021 Srs playing at the next level: Josh Lawrence - Otero JC, Kyle Jensen - Otero JC, Rocco Salvatore - Otero JC
Players to watch: None committed - Brock Saya (SR) SS/P, Caden Karabensh (JR) P, Nate Renn (JR) P, Ty Diesing (JR) DH, Seppe Salvatore (SO) C
2022 Outlook: After losing 9 seniors to graduation the Roughriders will look to a new core of players to continue the teams 5 year consecutive playoff appearance. The team will have to overcome a lack of experience and find replacements in key positions but Coach Saya believes in this group and their competitiveness. The team strength will be pitching even with last seasons top 2 pitchers graduating. Coach Saya is counting on Caden Karabensh (JR) and Nate Renn (JR) to carry most of the load pitching, with Brock Saya (SR) coming in to close. Offensively, B. Saya will set the tone at the top of the order, with Ty Diesing (JR) and Seppe Salvatore (SO) providing a lot of pop. Defensively, there will be a lot of new starters, but the team will be strong up the middle. With a brand new group of players, team chemistry and how quickly they mesh together as a group could play a major role if the Roughriders will be playing post season baseball for the 6th year in a row.
Frederick HS
Warriors (1076)
Coach: Colin York - 2nd season
Returning starters: 6
2021 Record: 8-8
2021 Srs playing at the next level: Chase Prestwich - Northwestern State University, Hayden Borton - Bethany College
Players to watch: None committed - AJ Lyman (SR) RF/P, Brayden Johnson (SR) 2B/P, Bren Gochanour (SR) SS/P, Bryce Conover (SR) CF/P, Cruz Zamudio (JR) C
2022 Outlook: After winning just 7 games over the last 3 seasons , the Warriors turned things around in Coach York's 1st season at the helm. Now they look to take the next step and clinch a playoff spot for the 1st time in over 10 years. A large amount of varsity players return which is expected to help navigate the ups and downs of the season. The offense is headlined by COBSBL Top 25 Junior in the state, Cruz Zamudio (JR) behind the plate who batted .531 with 6 2Bs and 8 3Bs during the 2021 season. The team will also lean on seniors Brendan Gochanour (SR), Bryce Conover (SR) and AJ Lyman (SR) both at the plate and with leadership in the clubhouse. On the mound, Frederick welcomes back the majority of their pitching staff with B. Gochanour, Talon Boen (SR), B. Conover and Tommy Smith (SR) scheduled to be the teams top 4 pitchers. However, for the Warriors to achieve their goals in 2022 many other returners and new varsity players are expected to elevate their game to the next level.
Northridge HS
Grizzlies (1137)
Coach: Jerod Cronquist - 1st season
Returning starters: 9
2021 Record: 10-6
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2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
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Players to watch: None committed - Gannon McGeen (Jr) OF, Jace Reid (Jr) OF, Parker Steckel (Jr) RHP
2022 Outlook: Northridge head coach Jerod Cronquist may be in his 1st year as head coach for the Grizzlies but they're won't be much rebuilding to do. The Grizzlies return all 9 starters and a dynamic group of sophomores to a team that narrowly missed the playoffs in 2021. After a year of varsity baseball and maturity Coach Cronquist believes this young group of players will see big dividends in 2022. A pitching staff that welcomes back 5 players with 15+ innings pitched a year ago, including ace Parker Steckel (JR), who recorded 33 IP 4 wins and 37 K's in 2021. Offensively all 9 players return to a line up that hit .297 and led the league in 2B's. Plan for Gannon McGeen (JR), Justus Alcala (JR), Jace Reid (JR) and Nick Garland (SR) to hit at the top of the order but this will be a lineup that can produce 1-9. The Grizzlies could be the sleeper team in the Longs Peak League for 2022.
Severance HS
Silver Knights (330)
Coach: Kevin Johnson - 2nd season
Returning starters: 9
2021 Record: 14-6
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2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
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Players to watch: Carson Fagan (SR) SS/RHP - committed to Univ. of Mary, Nolan Hertzke (JR) 3B/RHP
2022 Outlook: The Silver Knights will look to duplicate last season's magical run that included a league title and Great 8 appearance in their first season with a varsity program. To compete for league supremacy again the Silver Knights return their entire varsity baseball team and League Preseason MVP and COBSBL Top 25 Player in CO Carson Fagan (SR). C. Fagan was dominant on the mound a year ago finishing with 8 victories and 75 K's in 53 IP while also leading the team in almost all offensive categories. As overpowering as Fagan was he is not alone as Nolan Hertzke (JR) put up solid numbers on both the offensive side and on the mound. Camaron Christensen (SR) and Brycen Farris (JR) swing big sticks in the Silver Knights lineup and Tyler Hansen (SR) rounds out the teams dominant pitching staff. Severance led the league in batting average, ERA and strikeouts during the 2021 season and everyone is back for the 2022 season. Anything less than another deep playoff run will be a disappointment for this team.
Mountain View HS
Mountain Lions (1203)
Coach: Brian Smela - 12th season
Returning starters: 5
2021 Record: 7-9
2021 Srs playing at the next level: Ryan McArthur - Cornerstone University
Players to watch: None committed - Aaron Baumann (Sr) SS/P, Connor Patrick (Sr) P, Jaden Bowser (Sr) P, Jacob Mraz (So) IF/C
2022 Outlook: After seeing their fair share of struggles in 2021, the Mountain Lions return 5 starters and look to compete with the leagues best this season. Mountain View did lose their top 2 arms to graduation but Coach Smela still believes defense and pitching will be the teams strength. Jaden Bowser (SR), Logan Nichelson (SR) and Connor Patrick (SR) all pitched at the varsity level a year ago and will have larger roles and expectations for the 2022 season. Offensively Aaron Baumann (SR) led the team in most offensive categories last season and returns to build on his junior year. He is joined by Anthony Calabrese (SR) and L. Nichelson and a handful of other seniors in a lineup that looks to improve from 2021. The team will be athletic and competitive but if they can return to post-season play is yet to be seen.
Riverdale Ridge HS
Ravens (543)
Coach: Ray Garza - 4th season
Returning starters: 4
2021 Record: 10-6
2021 Srs playing at the next level: Dakota Pruitt - Otero JC, Easton Makenzie - Otero JC, Grant Wroblewski - Otero JC
Players to watch: None committed - Elijah Lofton (JR) OF, Marcus Espinoza (JR) P, Ty Thompson (JR) P
2022 Outlook: The Ravens graduated a good senior class that featured 3 players who will play at the next level so expect to see a much younger Riverdale Ridge team this season. They will lean on Ty Thompson (JR) to carry the load both offensively and on the mound. He returns as the teams top bat at the plate and arm on the mound after a stellar sophomore year. Assisting both offensively and in the field are Elijah Lofton (JR) and Marcus Espinoza (JR). E. Lofton is expected to canvas CF and hit in the middle of the lineup while Marcus Espinoza will play SS and hit near the top of the lineup. The team will have some holes to fill and Coach Garza is looking for some JV players to step up and fill that void. There is no doubt the Ravens will be battle tested every single game but if things go as Coach Garza hopes Riverdale Ridge could slip into the playoffs for the 1st time in the schools short 4 year history.
Special Thanks
to all the High School coaches that helped make this publication happen by providing league, school and player information to assist with the most accurate and comprehensive Colorado
High School Baseball publication.
Thompson Valley HS
Eagles (1087)
Coach: Jay Denning - 15th season
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Returning starters: 5
2021 Record: 4-12
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2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
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Players to watch: None committed - Landon Carlson (SR) INF, Javier Flores (JR) OF, Riley Suarez (SO) SS
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2022 Outlook: The Eagles look to bounce back after an absence from the playoff picture over the last 3 seasons. To make that happen they will rely on a strong offense and speed led by Landon Carlson (SR), Javier Flores (JR) and Riley Suarez (SO) who all hit over .400 last season and swiped 18 bases between them. The combination of speed and solid bats make the 3 formidable offensive weapons but the remainder of the lineup will need to improve. The Eagle pitching staff lost their top 2 arms to graduation and will look to Kellan Schultz (JR) and Antonio Melendez (JR) to raise their game in 2022 for the pitching to be effective. Jack Lund (SO) could play a role on the mound too but that is yet to be seen.
3A Program
Other teams participating in the Longs Peak League at the 3A level are Berthoud High School.
