The Eagles have a deep enough roster to make another run at the Class 4A Jeffco League championship.
Last season, Valor Christian High School baseball finished its season with a 19-7 record and the league title. In the state playoffs, the Eagles finished third after a loss to Cheyenne Mountain in the semifinals.
Over the summer, Valor had good results having played more club ball and traveling for competition in Nashville, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago and Fort Myers, Fla.
“The chemistry, coachability and work ethic of this team make them infectious to watch,” Eagles coach Keith Wahl, in his fifth year with the program, said. “They get it and get after it.”
Daniel Butler is one of Valor’s returning starters who earned second-team all-conference honors last year. However, Wahl said leadership responsibility will be spread across the board.
“No one guy carries this load for us. Everyone does,” the coach said.
Butler, a junior, and sophomore Mat Whalen are expected to add depth on the Eagles’ mound as right-handed pitchers. Both pitchers throw 86 or 87 mph on the bump. Wahl said the team lineup is deep, young and talented.
In their league title-defending season, Wahl said he expects Valor and Green Mountain to top the league in 2012. D’Evelyn also has a chance.
The Eagles’ best chance for a second league title will come from consistency of purpose and effort, the coach said.
