Compiled By Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

This week marked the beginning of the high school baseball regular season. West Valley Preps asked Northwest Valley coaches to take a look at their teams:

Centennial Coyotes

5A Northwest Region

Coach: Brady Pond (first year as head coach)

2017 Record: 14-12-1 (Division I first round)

Top Returnees: Andy Kupec, Sr., SS (.312, 12 SB, 12 RBI); Kevin Whalen, Sr., OF (.446, 28 RBI) Michael Keevins, Soph., P/OF (2-1, 1.20 ERA)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Experience.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We expect to compete for section championships.

Who are your team leaders? Our four senior returnees - Kupec, 4 year varsity player. Keevins, good command and velocity. Whalen and David Donohew, have power and good bat control.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? sophomore Jacob Hapner and junior Jimmy Garrigan.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season? Consistency and perseverance.

Deer Valley Skyhawks

5A Desert West Region

Coach: Greg Rice (third year as head coach).

2017 Record: 12-16 (Lost in 5A play-in round)

Top Returnees: Wes Hamen, Sr., 2B (.457, 10 SB, 20 RBI); Chase Parks, Sr., C/OF (.314, 19 RBI) Logan Livingston, Jr., P (4-0, 2.58 ERA)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best team attribute is our hitting.  We have a great group of starters that are contact hitters who understand the things we are trying to do at the plate. We have senior Wes Hamen, senior Chase Parks, junior Jake Paige, junior Eli Elliott, and senior Brett Shadley that are the leading hitters on the team.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We need to improve on the defense and not giving up unearned runs and helping our pitchers out.  We have strong pitching to contend this year. Our top pitchers are junior Logan Livingston, junior El Elliott, senior Brett Shadley, senior Chase Parks and senior Austin Raab.  We have great depth at pitching and they need to be consistent for us to be successful.

Who are your team leaders? Logan Livingston, Wes Hamen, Chase Parks, Jake Paige and Eli Elliott.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Sophomore first baseman Chris Peck, sophomore outfielder Caleb Mobley and sophomore pitcher Tanner Merrifield. We will also have transfer junior Donny Smith (from Goldwater) that will help us out at the plate.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We have our team goals in place and one of our team goals is to reach the state tournament. We not only want to make the state tournament, but feel we have the team to make a run and have an impact in the tournament. We must play team baseball and be unselfish to accomplish this. Every team member must know their role and do their job to be successful.

Dysart Demons

4A Black Canyon Region

2017 Record: 8-14 (Did not make playoffs)

Coach: Nicholas Rizzi (fourth year)

Top Returnees: Brody Williams, Jr., P/OF (.385, 17 RBI); Jacob McClelland, Jr., IF/P (.478, 12 RBI).

What is your team’s best attribute? Team defense. The team will consistently pick up the ball.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? The pitchers must attack the strike zone, limit walks, and rely upon athletic, sure-handed defenders behind them.

Who are your team leaders? Carlos Sotelo (Sr.), Albert Hernandez (Sr.), Ruben Mejias (So.)

Newcomers to the varsity squad? Kyle Fairchild (So.), Alan Ripalda (Fr.), Kobe Ganados (Jr.)

What needs to happen for the team to make the state tournament? The team’s pitchers must be effective, hitters must contribute timely hits, and upperclassmen must contribute.

Glendale Prep Griffins

2A Central Region

Coach: David McNeil (fourth year as head coach).

2017 Record: 6-16 (Did not reach playoffs)

Top Returnees: Ryan McBee, Sr., SS (.419, 14 SB, 9 RBI); Ryan Rafaldi, Soph., UTIL (.262, 10 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We will be strong up the middle on D, and the 3 through 6 in our order will be tough

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Pitching and, of course, limit our mistakes in the field

Who are your team leaders? Seniors Shane Kennedy, Kyle McBee, and Kyle Winkleblech

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Freshmen Ethan Eilken and Chris Curran

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We will have to manage our pitching staff carefully as we are a small group (15 players/ five who can pitch) in order to keep them fresh.

Kellis Cougars

5A Metro Region

Coach: Michael Deardoff (10th year as head coach).

2017 Record: 22-11 (5A state champion)

Top Returnees: Jonathan Ornelas, Sr., 2B (.335, 18 SB, 4 HR, 26 RBI); Damien McElroy, Sr., SS (.320, 11 SB, 18 RBI) Justin Flebbe, Jr., 1B (.324, 22 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season?  We have some veteran leadership back from last season that understand how hard they have to work to make a deep run in the playoffs.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Our starting pitching will have to be more consistent and our offense will need to develop an identity.

Who are your team leaders? Jonathan Ornelas, Damien McElroy, Brett Kuest, Kameron Schreiber, and Jacob Lee.  All seniors

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Michael Felix is a senior who should immediately help impact our team

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We need to be consistent every day. We need to throw strikes and play good defense.

Liberty pitcher Chandler Murphy winds up against the McClintock batter in 5A baseball playoff action May 2017.

Liberty Lions

5A Northwest Region

Coach: Chris Raymond (second year at Liberty).

2017 Record: 26-8 (5A semifinalist)

Top Returnees: Chandler Murphy P/1B, Jr. (7-2, 1.77 ERA, 61 K in 47 1/3 innings); Isaiah Montoya P/1B, Sr. (6-0, 1.63 ERA, 56 K in 52 IP); Jace Johnson 2B, Sr. (.355, 16 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Pitching- a lot of quality arms

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Playing the game one inning at a time.

Who are your team leaders? Isaiah Montoya/Brady Welch/Jace Johnson.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? J.D. Wadleigh will hit leadoff and throw important innings

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? Just play the game inning by inning and day by day.

Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions

6A Desert Valley Region

Coach: Artie Cox (first year as head coach).

2017 Record: 21-12-1 (Lost in 6A quarterfinals)

Top Returnees: Matthew Liberatore, Sr., P (8-0, 0.79 ERA, 96 K in 62 1/3 innings); Jason Harayda, Sr., SS (.327, 23 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Experience we have 11 seniors which 7 will start for us.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Offense we need to be more productive offensively

Who are your team leaders? Matthew Liberatore and Jake Robson are our captains and who lean for our leadership

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Transfer Zach Martinez (a junior who played his first two years at Joy Christian) is a huge addition on the mound.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We have to pitch and play defensive at a high level. We have to pitch and play defensive at a high level. That will take pressure off us offensively and I think that will keep our offense productive. Also keeping our guys healthy in which they put in a lot of hard work in the gym in the off season and continue to work hard in the gym, so we’re hoping that they will stay healthy.

Peoria Panthers

4A West Valley Region

Coach: Shawn Sullivan (third year at Peoria).

2017 Record: 7-20 (Did not reach 4A playoffs)

Top Returnees: Cameron Torres, Jr., SS/P (.465, 16 RBI); Miguel Marquez, Sr., UTIL (.382, 15 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? This team is changing the culture. They all work very hard and take a team first approach.  They are all very coachable and I look forward to watching them grow this season.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Our goal is to win the section. We have to learn to close out games.

Who are your team leaders? Miguel Marquez, Brock Hall and Cameron Torres. Miggy, because he is one of the hardest working kids I have ever coaches. Brock is a Senior and I see him coaching the Freshman players all the time.  He is a very genuine kid and all he wants to see the program grow and succeed.  Cam has played varsity since his freshman year.  He is very committed and loyal player.  His baseball IQ is extremely high, it’s like having another coach on the field.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Michael Lebario, Drew Gunnell, Albel Calderon, Marcos Felix. Daniel Innes, JR (C/UTL) Daniel will play all over for us. He will catch a good amount of time, but we also feel comfortable putting Daniel at any position in the infield.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We need to throw strikes, play defense and execute on offence. As a team we need to have more plus than minus. Only my current and  former player will understand this chart.

Shadow Ridge’s Cade Kennedy (#8) reacts after a single in the first inning against Willow Canyon April 18, 2017 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Shadow Ridge Stallions

5A Northwest Region

Coach: Charles Summers (second year)

2017 Record: 12-14 (Did not make playoffs)

Top Returnees: Daniel Holbert, Sr., (.406, 18 RBI, 10 SB); Cade Kennedy, Jr., C (.262, 18 RBI).

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Pitching depth

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? More offensive production.

Who are your team leaders? Jordan Bach, Dylan Anglin, Cade Kennedy and Chase St. Amand.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Trey Tarver and Brett Kuhlin.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? Consistent offensive production, cut down on strikeouts offensively

Sunrise Mountain Mustangs

4A West Valley Region

Coach: Eric Gardner (21st year at Sunrise Mountain)

2017 Record: 25-6 (Reached second round of 4A playoffs)

Top Players: Troy Balko Sr., 1B (.405, 12 RBI); Ethan Snodgrass, Jr.,C (.479, 25 RBI)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Overall the Mustangs should be a well balanced team with their strength on the mound and solid defensively across the diamond.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Consistent defense and pitching is always our goal and the areas we focus on most to improve each year.  With a completely new infield this year we will see if we can live up to the model of consistency we have had in the past.

Who are your team leaders? Sunrise Mountain will return 7 starters from last years team including Troy Balko (RHP/1B UNLV commit), Trevor Pruitt (OF/RHP University Texas-Arlington commit), Tyler Pruitt (SS Concordia University commit), Alec Myers (1B Vanguard University commit). Ethan Snodgrass returns as the a 3 year starter and one of the top uncommitted catching prospects in Arizona.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? New additions to this year's squad include sophomore Tyler Davis (RHP University of Arizona commit) and freshmen Andy Moreno (SS/2B Grand Canyon University commit).

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? Main goal is always a good post season run.