During the 2006 baseball season, Anaheim Angels scout Wayne Doland was blessed with serendipity when taking in a Cheyenne Mountain-Skyline baseball game.

Doland was there to see Cheyenne Mountain infielder Matt Presley (now at the University of Arizona), but quickly began asking who the tall, skinny kid was — the one with the rocket arm pitching for the opposing team.

Doland was taken aback when he found out that the kid, Derrick Bleeker, was a freshman.

Fast-forward three years. While it remains to be seen if the Angels draft Bleeker in June, there is no disputing that the scout’s recognition of talent was on the mark. Bleeker, now a senior at Skyline, committed in November to play at the University of Arkansas.

And, of course, the 6-foot-4 pitcher/shortstop’s name is out there among professional scouts, too.

“I haven’t talked to (Doland) for awhile,” Bleeker said. “But every once in awhile I talk to him.”

Before anything further develops on that front, Bleeker has one more season to help the Falcons continue their resurgence into one of the state’s top Class 4A teams. Before Bleeker and a few other key players arrived, Skyline was a middle-of-the-road outfit. In Bleeker’s three seasons with the program, the Falcons have gone 47-20, including a 34-11 mark in the rugged Northern League.

“He’s just a skilled player,” said Longmont coach Tom Fobes, whose team regularly faces Bleeker in league play. “He’s probably known mostly for his pitching, because he has the strong fastball, good curve and good presence on the mound. But he’s a good shortstop and a good hitter, too.”

Last season, with Bleeker’s .434 average, 40 RBI and 5-1 record on the mound leading the way, Skyline was one of the final four teams in the Championship Series before losing to eventual state champion Ralston Valley.

Bleeker deflects a large portion of the credit to Skyline coach Mike Hoog and his assistants, saying the Falcons have “the best coaching staff in the state.”

The staff’s mettle, along with Bleeker’s, will be tested this season, as Skyline is starting over at many positions. Other than Bleeker, only second baseman Taylor Nehls and third baseman-turned-outfielder Josh Wilkes return among the regulars.

“Last year, we came out with only three returning starters and just needed guys to step up,” Bleeker said. “It’s the same this year. We have three returning starters, and we’re going to fill in around them.”

Bleeker is in the odd position of not being able to show much disdain for Skyline’s most bitter rival. While crosstown Niwot long has been one of the top-flight 4A programs, and certainly the best in Longmont, Bleeker can’t detest the Cougars, because he plays for Niwot in summer legion ball.

But he’s not sad to see the Cougars share some of the spotlight with his own squad during the varsity season.

“Nothing against Niwot, because they’re a great program over there,” Bleeker said. “But I think we already have stolen a little bit of their glory away. I mean, look at what we’ve done the last three years. Since coach Hoog has gotten here, the program has completely turned around.”

NOTEBOOK

Austin Darby proved during the summer that his stellar freshman season was no fluke.

The Cheyenne Mountain outfielder continued to rake in Connie Mack play, clubbing 14 doubles, 10 triples and six home runs in summer ball. Teammate Colin Bates, a second baseman for Cheyenne Mountain, mashed 12 homers.

Those two, along with senior pitchers Trent Van Horn and Kevin Kimball, have made the Indians the early favorite to win the Colorado Springs Metro League.

Wheat Ridge already had the best player in 4A football in Parker Orms.

Could they have the classification’s finest baseball player, too? Many have touted pitcher-shortstop Jacob Nelson, a four-year starter and three-time all-league choice in the Class 5A Jefferson County League, as at least one of the best in the league. Nelson batted .397 with seven home runs and 31 RBI last season while going 7-2 with a 2.43 ERA on the mound. His fastball currently is in the upper-80-, lower-90-mph range.

As for Orms, he plays baseball, too, and is the Farmers’ starting center fielder. Farmers coach Adam Miller indicated that baseball, not football, might be the University of Colorado-bound athlete’s best sport.

Thomas Jefferson essentially started the same group of players for three straight seasons. They have all graduated, leaving the Spartans in a precarious position in hopes of keeping alive their seven-year streak of winning the Denver Prep League.

The cupboards aren’t completely bare, though, for Tory Humphrey’s squad, a state runner-up the past two seasons. Pitcher Brennan Henry went 9-1 last season as a sophomore and Chris Van Dyke compiled a 4-1 mark as a freshman.

The Spartans might take their lumps early, as they try to mold into another potent team while playing an ambitious schedule against high-profile opponents such as Ralston Valley, Cherry Creek and Chaparral. But Humphrey believes his Spartans again will be in the mix by season’s end.

Greeley West opponents might want to find a way to elevate the pitching machine several feet before taking on the Spartans. There is no shortage of height on the Spartans staff. Right-hander Alex Seier is 6-foot-7 and left-hander Robert Hawkins is 6-5. Seier, 5-2 last season, has signed with Rockhurst University. Hawkins, also a standout first baseman, recently inked with Kansas State.

Starting seven sophomores seems to be a trend in the classification. At least two teams will do so, although they are on different ends of the spectrum. Golden, which has been ranked in the Top 10 at some point during each of the previous eight seasons, is one. Included is 6-2, 215-pound pitcher Xander Morris and hard-hitting catcher Brent Hermannssen.

Then there is Sterling, 2-16 last year, which also will start seven sophomores. The Tigers are optimistic, though, because four received ample varsity time last season.

No team will defend the state championship this season, because 2008 winner Ralston Valley has moved to 5A, swapping places with Wheat Ridge. Three additional 4A powerhouses have moved up to give the classification something of a wide-open feel. Fountain-Fort Carson (17-4 last season), Mountain Range (17-3) and 2007 champion Cherokee Trail all have become 5A programs.

FIRST PITCH

CLASS 4A TOP 10

1. Wheat Ridge: The Farmers, two years removed from a deep run in Class 5A, could do the same here.

2. Pueblo South: When listing contenders in the South Central League, it’s the Colts and then everyone else.

3. Niwot: It’s Cody Laham’s turn to become the next Cougars legend.

4. Greeley West: With a formidable lineup supporting him, 6-foot-7 pitcher Alex Seier should excel.

5. Cheyenne Mountain: Sophomore Austin Darby quickly is developing into one of the state’s best outfielders.

6. Mountain View: The Mountain Lions, a pedestrian 10-9 last season, appear ready to take the next step.

7. Widefield: The Gladiators will be a top challenger for the Colorado Springs Metro League crown.

8. Thomas Jefferson: Though many graduated, the Spartans’ top two returning pitchers went a combined 13-2 last season.

9. Golden: The Demons could start seven sophomores, but many would start, regardless of age.

10. Skyline: Only three starters return, but one is 4A player of the year candidate Derrick Bleeker.

Consensus league picks: Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs Metro), Thomas Jefferson (Denver Prep), Wheat Ridge (Jeffco), Niwot (Northern), Skyview (Skyline), Pueblo South (South Central), Montezuma-Cortez (Southwestern), Moffat County (Western Slope).

PLAYERS BY POSITION

Player, School, Year

PITCHERS

Derrick Bleeker, Skyline, Sr.

Brennan Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Jr.

Cody Lahman, Niwot, Sr.

Xander Morris, Golden, So.

Jacob Nelson, Wheat Ridge, Sr.

Tim Zufall, Pueblo South, Sr.

CATCHERS

Brent Hermannssen, Golden, So.

Anthony Sylvester, D’Evelyn, Sr.

Dillon Parker, Longmont, Jr.

INFIELDERS

SS Jake Appling, Palisade, Sr.

SS Hans Ask, Pueblo West, Sr.

SS Joe Carrannante, Centaurus, Sr.

SS Dwight Cerise, Rifle, Sr.

IF Cody Coulter, Eagle Valley, Sr.

1B Robert Hawkins, Greeley West, Sr.

1B Erik Lockwood, Broomfield, Jr.

1B Nick Miller, Mountain View, Jr.

IF Tyler Nuñez, Pueblo Centennial, Jr.

2B Tyler Shannon, Cañon City, Jr.

1B Mike Smargie, Falcon, Sr.

1B Michael Tennessen, Northridge, Sr.

IF Joe Wahl, Pueblo East, Sr.

OUTFIELDERS

Austin Darby, Cheyenne Mountain, So.

David Henrie, Delta, Sr.

Scott Hoyt, Silver Creek, Jr.

Evan Kenebrew, Widefield, Sr.

Seth Lanier, Moffat County, Sr.

Parker Orms, Wheat Ridge, Sr.

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