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The Denver Prep League consists of 10 High Schools that compete at the 5A, 4A and 3A levels. 3 schools compete at the 5A level, 6 compete at the 4A level and 1 competes at the 3A level. All 10 schools are located in the city of Denver.
5A Programs
Denver East HS
Angels (2644)
Coach: Dameon Julian - 5th season
Returning starters: 8
2021 Record: 6-9
2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
Players to watch: None committed - Ezekiel Dokes (SR) MIF/P, Mats Hedgstrom (SR) MIF/P, Asher Nicholson (JR) MIF/P, Ian Martines (JR) SS/C/P, Ryan Nakamura (JR) 1B/P, Tyler Naha (SO) OF/P,
2022 Outlook: The Angels look to get things back on track as one of DPLs perennial powers and make a run at the playoffs in 2022. They will return 8 starters from a team that saw 3-4 underclassmen on the field at a time a year ago. With the gained varsity experience and strong pitching staff coach Julian believes East is ready to regain the crown as DPL league champs. Mats Hedgstrom (SR) will be the ace on the mound again the season with support from David Reza (SR) and a cast of others. Offensively Ian Martines (JR) and Asher Nicholson (JR) return to an offense that should be much improved. Freshman catcher Henry O’Rear (FR) could surprise some and play a factor in determining the Angels fate in 2022 too.
Denver South HS
Ravens (1578)
Coach: PJ Marcely - 1st season
Returning starters: 6
2021 Record: 10-6
2021 Srs playing at the next level:
Grayson Gifford - Azusa Pacific Univ.
Players to watch: None committted - Connor Hasse (SR) OF, Jonah Evans (SR) SS/RHP, Campbell Framke (JR) C, Cory Cooper (JR) UTIL
2022 Outlook: 1st year coach Macely inherits a program that finished 2nd in league last season, recently made the playoffs for the first time in 38 years, returns 6 varsity starters but also loses the influence of RHP Grayson Gifford who moved on to Azusa Pacific Univ.. The Ravens return their 3 top hitters from 2021; Cory Cooper (JR), Connor Hasse (SR) and Jonah Evans (SR) who all hit over .400 along with C. Hasse and J. Evans being the teams top 2 pitchers also. Coach Marcely is excited with the ownership and positive energy the team brings to the field and feels like with his style of baseball South sets his sights at a city championship.
Far Northeast HS
Warriors (2964)
Coach: Max Ishikawa - 2nd season
Returning starters: 5
2021 Record: 8-8
2021 Srs playing at the next level:
Bryan Arias - Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Francisco Leal - Colorado Northeastern JC, JC Rodriguez - Colorado Northeastern JC
Players to watch: None committted - Carlos Ortegon (SR) OF/MIF, Fabian Robles (SR) 3B/P, Luigi Leal (SR) 1B/P, Alvaro Nunez (JR) OF/P, Daniel Esparza (SO) SS/P, Jonathan Vazquez (SO) C, Juan Lemus (FR) MIF
2022 Outlook: The Warriors pitching staff expects to be lights out this season with the return of 2021 ace Daniel Esparza (SO) along with lefty Alvaro Nunez (JR). Nunez sat out last season due to covid concerns. Pitching will keep the team in every game with 7 quality arms, 3 being lefties. They still have some question marks offensively but Coach Max Ishikawa believes Carlos Ortegon (SR) could be the catalyst to jump starting the offense. Jonathan Vazquez (SO) will take over behind the dish after playing 2B last season. Vazquez is strong defensively with shut down potential of any opponents running game. Ishikawa feels the team is well rounded with just the right mix of veterans and young guys for the Warriors to compete with the top teams in the DPL in 2022.
4A Programs
Abraham Lincoln HS
Lancers (973)
Coach: Javi Banuelos - 3rd season
Returning starters: 9
2021 Record: 2-11
2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
Players to watch: None committed - Edwin Caldera (JR) INF/P, Leon Ramirez (JR) INF, Samuel Caraballo (SO) OF
2022 Outlook: Lincoln stumbled to their worst season in over 10 years but Coach Banuelos expects improvement with all 9 starters returning from last season. The team will be stronger defensively and specifically in the outfield. Samuel Caraballo (SO) led the team in batting last season hitting .458. After Caraballo things fell off offensively but with a years experience behind the team Banuelos thinks that will change. Cesar Vaquera (JR) and Alexis Carrasco (JR) had the most innings pitched in 2021 and both return. This young group of guys will be improved in 2022.
Denver North HS
Vikings (1117)
Coach: Ernesto Marquez - 14th season
Returning starters: 6
2021 Record: 12-5
2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
Players to watch: Ciaran Harding (SR) OF/RHP, Gavin Shary (SR) UTIL - committed to Colby JC, Josiah Romero (SR) 1B, Alonzo Renteria (JR) RHP, Andre DeLeon (JR) C/OF, Daniel Vasquez (JR) 1B/LHP, Ezequiel Adler (JR) LHP/OF - committed to Olive Harvey JC, Isaiah Padilla (JR) UTIL, Malachi Scott-Labode (JR) UTIL, Ciaran Harding (SO) OF/RHP, Josiah Romero (SO) 1B,
2022 Outlook: The Vikings rolled to a league championship a year ago for the 4th time in the last 5 seasons but were unable to breakthrough to the great 8. North has advanced to the playoffs 8 yrs in a row and looks poised for another playoff appearance with preseason league MVP Isaiah Padilla (JR) returing on the mound and in the middle of the lineup. Padilla was a force at the plate in 2021 while also going 3-0 on the mound with 32 strikouts. Also, returning is infielder Gavin Shary (SR) and Andre DeLeon (JR) to help offensively. Besides Padilla coach Marquez is relying on Ezequiel Adler (JR) and Alonzo Renteria (JR) on the mound. Coach Marquez has built a quality program at Denver North that’s made its mark in the DPL and now are looking to do the same at the state level.
George Washington HS
Patriots (1230)
Coach: Nick Dixon - 1st season
Returning starters: 8
2021 Record: 6-10
2021 Srs playing at the next level:
Adrian Paris-Rodriguez - Metro State University
Players to watch: None committed - Alex Tseng (SR) SS/3B, Billy Galpern (SR) 1B, Sam Wiederholt (SR) OF/LHP, Will Kuntner (SR) C/3B, Cody Morris (JR) MIF/RHP
2022 Outlook: The Patriots are hopeful they can take a step forward with 1st year head coach Nick Dixon and get back to the playoffs after a 10 year absence. GW returns almost their entire team after finishing 6-10 last season with 5 of those losses being by only 1 run. Eddie Strand (JR), Billy Galpern (SR) and Alex Tseng (SR) all hit over .400 in 2021 while Zach Brown (SR) stole 9 bases. The team stole 48 as a group. Crafty lefty Sam Wiederholt (SR) and Cody Morris (JR) both had solid seasons pitching and should improve this year. This young and talented team could be the sleeper in the DPL this season.
John F. Kennedy HS
Commanders (1072)
Coach: Nick Arcuri - 1st season
Returning starters: 3
2021 Record: 4-6
2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
Players to watch: None committed - Andre Bustamante (JR) P, Ron Gallegos (JR) P
2022 Outlook: The Commanders will be under new leadership with Coach Nick Arcuri taking over in 2022. Arcuri has coached in the Denver metro area for years but will need time to get to know his new team. Between a new coach and lack of experience, only playing 10 games a year ago, the Commanders have some rebuilding to do to compete for league and capture a playoff birth. Ron Gallegos (JR) and Andre Bustamante (JR) both are expected to play major roles both offensively and pitching for the commanders this season. A heavy youth movement a year ago could be the silver lining for this program.
Northfield HS
Nighthawks (788)
Coach: Alphonso Campbell - 4th season
Returning starters: 9
2021 Record: 11-5
2021 Srs playing at the next level: None
Players to watch: None committed - Lucas Brennan (SR) MIF/RHP, Mason Sukigara (JR) INF/P
2022 Outlook: Northfield just missed out on the playoffs in 2021 going 11-5 overall in just their 2nd full season. The team was young last season and will return all 9 starters including Lucas Brennan (SR) and Mason Sukigara (JR). Both were two of the top hitters in the Denver Prep League. L. Brennan finished 4th in batting avg. and 1st in RBI’s while M. Sukigara was 6th in batting avg.. Thomas Worth (JR) also hit over .400 and will be a threat in the top of the Nighthawks offense too. At least 4 guys should contribute on the mound from a pitching staff that led the league in strikeouts a year ago. Jakob Koinzan (SR) was the ace in 2021 and is back, finishing with a 1.40 ERA and 50 strikeouts in just 25 IP. Lefty Frank Willius (JR), M. Sukigara and Calvin Baughman (SR) will fill out the Northfield staff and are no slouches themselves. As if that wasn’t enough the team led the league in stolen bases as well. The only question mark is who will hit on the bottom half of the lineup and how much will they contribute but Northfield should be right in the middle of contention in 2022.
Thomas Jefferson HS
Spartans (1082)
Coach: Graham Baughn - 6th season
Returning starters: 6
2021 Record: 10-5
2021 Srs playing at the next level: Jaden Hill - Grambling State University
Players to watch: None committed - Danny Brady (SR) OF, Kyle Hrin (SR) INF, Tyler Hrin (SR) OF/1B/LHP, Dylan Huntsman (JR) INF/RHP, Sloan Steimel (SO) C/IF
2022 Outlook: Over the last 10 years the Spartans have advanced to the playoffs 8 times, won league twice and played in 1 state final four. To continue the tradition and success in 2022 the team will lean on potential player of the year, Tyler Hrin (SR). Two way player T. Hrin will need to produce both offensively and on the mound for the team to reach its full potential this season. Thomas Jefferson did lose 3 of their 4 top pitchers from a year ago but Coach Baughn expects the teams offense to be more dynamic and carry the load. Besides T. Hrin, his brother Kyle Hrin (SR) and Dylan Huntsman (JR) should be offensive weapons also. Whether D. Hunstman, Camden Sharkey (SR) or Max Hauer (JR) step up is yet to be seen but could be the difference maker this season for the Spartans.
3A Programs
Other teams participating in the Denver Prep League at the 3A level are Denver West HS.
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.
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