To continue the series of outlooking high school baseball teams ahead of the new season, Horizon is up next.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Horizon’s Deep Playoff Run
The Horizon Huskies finished last season with a 25-6 record and entered the 5A conference playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
The team made it to the semifinals but fell short in a 2-0 loss to Catalina Foothills, making it three seasons straight where the team was eliminated one game short of the final.
Ball game!
Nathan Carrillo (@6Nateball) gets the final strikeout to end it and Horizon gets the 8-4 win over Catalina Foothills and advances to the 5A semifinals.@husky_baseball_ (AZ) 2024 · @PeacocksBASE commit
Profile: https://t.co/eYK7DRSk7e pic.twitter.com/wgTUxHHHwk
— Five Tool Arizona (@FiveToolAZ) May 5, 2023
Despite not ultimately achieving their goal, it was a more than successful season for Horizon, as they outscored opponents 280-137.
Departures
As with every season, several key players from last year’s team graduated in May and departed with Horizon.
This included the team’s top-two hit leaders Collin Senior and AJ Keely, who finished the season with 43 and 41 hits.
Horizon (AZ) takes the lead.
AJ Keely (@AJKeely_8) rips the 2-out, 2-run double to left making it 4-3 in the bottom of the second.@husky_baseball_ (AZ) 2023 · @GCCazAthletics signee@PrimeHydrate Five Tool Game of the Week@FiveToolAZ
Profile: https://t.co/Net0bii47Q pic.twitter.com/xYUTBvK9xi
— Five Tool Baseball (@FiveTool) April 22, 2023
Despite the losses, Horizon has players who can step up and fill the voids left, including current sophomore outfielder/pitcher Ethan Trahan. Trahan finished the year batting .446 with 33 hits and 35 RBIs, including 13 doubles and two home runs.
Season Outlook
This is a team that has consistently proven that they can compete at a high level and are yearly contenders in the 5A.
They will look to get over that hump and not only make it to the 5A conference championship but to win it and be crowned champions at the end of the season.
Keep a close eye on the Huskies this season as they can compete with any team in the conference.
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Saleh Awwad is a reporter/writer covering Phoenix High School Sports and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @SalehAwwad_
