Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Preps: Sunrise Region team-by-team outlook

Basic WOLVES

Baseball

Last year: 17-8, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals Coach: Mike Kazek (7th year)

Past state championships: 1987, 1982, 1956, 1955

Key players: Kyle Bondurant (SS, Sr.); Casey Cochran (P,Sr.); A.J. Montano (OF, Sr.)

Outlook: Kazek has a short bench this year, with just 13 players on the roster. But he returns pitcher Casey Cochran and his 2.92 2004 ERA, and first baseman Zeke Roybal, who hit .407 with nine HR and 37 RBIs last season.

Softball

Last year: 7-19

Coach: Melanie Ust (1st year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Andrea Parke (1B, Sr.); Amanda Henry (2B/ OF, Jr.); Aaren Fisher (P, So.)

Outlook: Just four seniors will carry this year's Basic squad, which has three players coming off shoulder surgery. The Wolves look very sound defensively but could struggle at the plate.

Canyon Springs PIONEERS

Baseball

Last year: First-year school.

Coach: Cory Ash

Key players: Tony Carrillo (3B, Jr.); Dennis Parker (OF, Jr.); Andy Sadler (P, Jr.)

Outlook: The Pioneers have been error-prone this year, but former Valley coach Ash thinks the team will jell by the end of the season. In this year's Northeast, anything's possible.

Softball

Last year: First-year school.

Coach: Don Norstrom

Key players: Amanda Bowler (P, So.); Geneviev Zupkosfka) (SS, Jr.); Jessica Guerra (3B/P, Fr.)

Outlook: It's a typical first-year effort for Canyon Springs, which will look to build from this year's experiences to succeed next year. Bowler will be the key.

Chaparral COWBOYS

Baseball

Last year: 13-15, lost in Sunrise first round

Coach: Calvin Valvo

Past state championships: 1991, 1980

Key players: Not Available

Outlook: Valvo, a longtime Cimarron-Memorial coach, will try to resuscitate a struggling program.

Softball

Last year: 14-7, lost in Sunrise first round

Coach: Craig Deputy (3rd year)

Past state championship: 1983

Key players: Michelle Ralston (CF, Sr.); Miranda Etheridge (P, Sr.); Chelsea Rickling (C, Sr.).

Outlook: Deputy has some strong seniors, plus junior Kayla Whalen, who is 3-0 already this year. Rickling, with a .979 fielding average, is in her fourth year as catcher.

Coronado COUGARS

Baseball

Last year: 17-13 Coach: Mike O'Rourke (2nd year) Past state championships: None Key players: Matt Plese (1B, Sr.); Carmen Romano (C, So.); Trevor Clausen (P, Jr.) Outlook: The Cougars struggled in league play last season. Despite a young lineup again this year, they're a popular pick among Southeast coaches.

Softball

Last year: 24-10, lost in Sunrise semifinals Coach: Shari Zeigler (4th year) Past state championships: None Key players: Brittany Loisel (2B, Sr.); Nyshele Miller (P, Jr.) Outlook: Zeigler carries just 12 players on a team with a fair amount of youth. Most think the Cougars will be competitive in a tough Southeast Division.

Del Sol DRAGONS

Baseball Last year: First-year school. Coach: Zenon Brooks Key players: Not available Softball Last year: First-year school. Coach: Cindy Dinkel Key players: Erin Miller (C, Fr.); Lisa Kosinski (SS, Jr.); Laurie Kosinski (P, So.) Outlook: Yet another Del Sol girls program won't carry a B or JV team this year. Experience is an issue.

Desert Pines JAGUARS

Baseball

Last year: 8-18

Coach: Clint Huggins (3rd year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Humberto Rodarte (SS, Sr.); Pat Ricci (1B, Jr.); David Kennedy (P/Util., Sr.)

Outlook: The Jags play this year with a short bench -- just 10 players comprise the varsity lineup.

Softball

Last year: 8-8, lost in Sunrise first round

Coach: Andrew Risheg (1st year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Alesha Wells (C, Sr.); Kristina Brooks (P, Jr.); Jessica Howard (1B, Sr.)

Outlook: Brooks is one of the city's best pitchers.

Eldorado SUNDEVILS

Baseball

Last year: 22-8, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals

Coach: Anthony Medellin (8th year)

Past state championships: 1990

Key players: Anthony Griffith (SS, Sr.); Michael Jett (P, Sr.); Josh Creveling (P, Jr.)

Outlook: Eldorado has a fair amount of experience, including Northeast player of the year Griffith.

Softball

Last year: 18-16, lost in Sunrise Region quarterfinals

Coach: Tyler McCulloch (1st year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Jaime Larsen (C, Sr.); Jasmine Pickett (P, Fr.)

Outlook: The Sundevils have a healthy mix of old (nine returning players) and young (three freshmen and five sophomores). Larsen is a top players.

Foothill FALCONS

Baseball

Last year: 18-17, lost in Sunrise championship

Coach: Bill Bainbridge (1st year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Scott Lamborn (SS, Sr.); Kevin Kreier (P, Jr.); Chadd Dudley (C/Util., Sr.)

Outlook: This is a team with a lot of experience from last year's playoff run, and includes C/1B Matt Sexton, a transfer from Green Valley.

Softball

Last year: 14-21, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals

Coach: Tom Mayes (2nd year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Vanessa Stevenson (3B, Jr.); Ashley Nill (P, Jr.); Holly Gerhardt (OF, Jr.)

Outlook: A mostly 10th- and 11th-grade team, Foothill did win one game in the playoffs last year and looks for more success this season.

Green Valley GATORS

Baseball

Last year: 24-9, lost in Sunrise Region semifinals

Coach: Nick Garritano (7th year)

Past state championships: 2003, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993

Key players: Ryan Foley (SS, Sr.); Greg Krause (P, Sr.); Ryan Heroy (1B, Sr.) Outlook: The state's most dominant program of the past decade brings back a great infield, returning four starters, but a less experienced rotation. Senior Greg Krause leads the Gators on the mound.

Softball

Last year: 17-4, lost in Sunrise Region semifinals.

Coach: Mary Scales (3rd year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Jenn O'Dell (IF, Sr.); Meaghan Haley (P, Sr.); Bonnie Trigero (1B, Jr.)

Outlook: Green Valley squad did very well last year, and has that much more experience this season.

Las Vegas WILDCATS

Baseball

Last year: 22-8, lost in Sunrise quarterfinals

Coach: Sam Thomas (6th year)

Past state championships: 1971, 1968

Key players: Shane Gammon (IF, Sr.); Andrew Pluta (P, Jr.); Josh Chasse (P/OF, Jr.)

Outlook: An inexperienced team. Pluta, their most experienced pitcher this season, was on the mound for just 11 innings last year.

Softball

Last year: 26-10, lost in Sunrise finals

Coach: Kevin Jones (5th year)

Past state championships: 1982

Key players: Alicia Delatorre (SS, Jr.); Giovanna Guzman (P, Jr.)

Outlook: The rest of the Northeast has gained a bit on the team that went 9-1 in league play last year, but Vegas still figures to be the team to beat.

Liberty PATRIOTS

Baseball

Last year: 3-27

Coach: Kris Jensen

Past state championships: None

Key players: Reyn Ohye (SS, Sr.); Anthony Reveles (C, Jr.).

Outlook: Ohye, a second-team all-region shortstop, hit .452 with a .712 slugging percentage. The Patriots might not make the playoffs, but should win 10.

Softball

Last year: 2-20

Coach: Anthony Elliott (1st year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Melissa Juarez (C/SS, Jr.); Rebecca Winkel (P, Sr.); Megan Lundwall (3B, Jr.)

Outlook: Liberty brings on former Eldorado coach Anthony Elliott as the school looks for its first ever playoff berth in any sport.

Rancho RAMS

Baseball

Last year: 7-18 , lost in Sunrise first round.

Coach: David Anderson (1st year)

Past state championships: 1976, 1974, 1973, 1969, 1965, 1961, 1960, 1959

Key players: Not Available

Softball

Last year: 4-22

Coach: Cheryl Perry

Past state championships: 1980, 1977

Key players: Not Available

Silverado SKYHAWKS

Baseball

Last year: 13-17, won Sunrise championship, lost in state semifinals

Coach: Brian Whitaker (11th year)

Past state championships: 2000

Key players: Kyle Bostick (C/Util., Jr.); Chad Robinson (P, Jr.); Rance Roundy (INF, Jr.)

Outlook: Silverado returns much of the strength that brought it to the state tournament.

Softball

Last year: 24-12, Sunrise Region Champions

Coach: Steve Hodges (2nd year)

Past state championships: None

Key players: Kelly Griego (P, Sr.); Amanda Edmonson (C, So.); Jessie Rivas (P, Jr.)

Outlook: Griego hit .441 with 30 RBIs last year while leading the Skyhawks with 15 wins, 143 strikeouts.

Valley VIKINGS

Baseball

Last year: 8-19-2

Coach: Gary Findley (1st year)

Past state championships: 1989, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1983, 1981, 1970

Key players: Not available

Softball

Last year: 10-12

Coach: Leslie Samson

Past state championships: None.

Key players: Not available

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