CLASS 5A TOP 10

1 Grandview: Is this the year the Wolves fully escape Cherry Creek's shadow?

2 Columbine: The Rebels are back and loaded with multiple-sport championship experience.

3 Mountain Vista: Fresh off an appearance in title game, the Golden Eagles still are hungry.

4 Chaparral: The talented Wolverines are aiming to return to the final four.

5 Rocky Mountain: Andy Burnsis emerging into the classification's next big-time player.

6 Arvada West: The Wildcats simply clobber the ball throughout the lineup.

7 Wheat Ridge: Last year's junior-dominated team is ready to further elevate.

8 Arapahoe: The Warriors will need to fill in the pieces behind Cody Scott.

9 Cherry Creek: They are retooling, but the Bruins will do so quickly.

10 Doherty: The Spartans narrowly missed their first state tournament appearance last season.

• Consensus league picks: Grandview (Centennial), Doherty (Colorado Springs Metro), Mountain Vista (Continental), Denver East (Denver Prep), Rocky Mountain (Front Range), Columbine (Jeffco), Brighton (Skyline), Grand Junction (Southwestern).

CLASS 5A TOP PLAYERS BY POSITION

Player School Year

PITCHERS Danny Beck Mountain Vista Sr. Mark Gerster Doherty Sr. A.J. Jacobs Cherry Creek Sr. Mike McElreath Smoky Hill Sr. Dominic Montoya Columbine Sr. Cody Scott Arapahoe Sr.

CATCHERS Zach Blakeley Highlands Ranch Sr. C.J. Gillman Columbine Sr. Cole Leonida Grandview Sr.

INFIELDERS SS Mitchell Adams Boulder Sr. 3B Everett Altman Wheat Ridge Sr. IF Eric Baalman Dakota Ridge Sr. SS Andy Burns Rocky Mountain Jr. 1B Curtis Cunningham Columbine Jr. 1B Mike Frank Chaparral Sr. SS Adam Hilker Northglenn Sr. 1B David Runberg Arapahoe Sr. 3B Ryan Salt Air Academy Sr. 3B Jared Schlehuber Grandview Sr. 3B A.J. Schugel Mountain Vista Sr. 1B Jordan Vaughn Rampart Sr.

OUTFIELDERS Bobby Cozine ThunderRidge Sr. Corey Gaudet Chaparral Sr. Lincoln Harmer Arvada West Sr. Bubba Higgins Grand Junction Jr. Garrett Houts Fort Collins Sr. Justin Major Ponderosa Sr.

• For a complete Class 5A league-by-league outlook, including top players, go to RockyPreps.com.