So, Tyler Wallace’s coach says the senior is one of the finest hitters he ever has had on his team.

Big deal, right? Coaches say that all the time about their players.

But this praise isn’t from your run-of-the-mill coach. This is Jim Danley we’re talking about, the longtime skipper of Class 3A powerhouse Eaton, the 38-year frontman who has compiled a 641-149 record and guided the Reds to eight state championships since 1994, including last season.

In short, Danley’s words carry some weight.

“It means a lot to me,” Wallace said. “I can’t express what a good influence he’s been.”

Wallace, primarily a third baseman last season, entered his junior campaign with little fanfare but erupted for 12 home runs, 59 RBI and a .638 batting average.

“For one thing, he just grew up,” Danley said. “He’s a tall kid, lanky, but we put in a lot of work getting some strength on him. He’s certainly one of the best hitters I’ve ever had. He’s hand- ling all pitches right now.”

While Wallace, who will pitch more this season and move around the infield a bit, has unequivocal praise for Danley, he also credits Reds assistant Dale Hughes for transforming him into the hitter he has become.

“He kind of took me under his wing last year and told me before the season, ‘I want to turn you into the best hitter in Eaton history,’ ” Wallace said. “He said, ‘I’m going to get you drafted. You’re going to be my special project.’ ”

So far, so good for Wallace, who recently committed to Northern Colorado. The question remains whether he can duplicate, or come close to, his otherworldly junior season.

“It’ll be harder this year, no question, because last year, I kind of came out of nowhere,” Wallace said. “I kind of fell under the shadow of Kyle Ottoson and Bo McLavey, the seniors who went on to play college baseball. And before, during my sophomore year, I didn’t really put up any spectacular numbers.

“I mean, I pretty much went through all of last season without anyone having any idea of how I was hitting or what I was doing.”

Wallace won’t have that advantage this season, as Patriot League opponents definitely will know who he is. But, as is customary at Eaton, he will receive ample protection in Danley’s lineup with the likes of catcher Bennett Pickar and outfielders Logan Hall and Adam Geisick.

“Danley and failing don’t mesh,” Wallace said. “I mean, he won’t lose. He doesn’t have to have the most talent. He’s told me about teams in the past that didn’t have half the talent we have today but still won state championships.”

NOTEBOOK

Faith Christian is starting to appear like one of those teams that, no matter who graduates, it doesn’t matter. The team will be just as formidable the next season.

While the Eagles have kept restocking talent, they can take solace in knowing one of their best pitchers is back from a 20-4 squad. That would be Pierce Johnson, who has gone 17-2 during the past two seasons and recently signed to play at Missouri State. Johnson helped the Eagles to their first state title as a sophomore in 2006-07.

A few seasons ago, the fledgling Frontier League looked like a division made up of leftovers and odds and ends from other leagues and classifications.

Slowly but surely, the league is starting to have a well-rounded feel. What began as a seven- team league two seasons ago now is at 12. The successes of teams such as Platte Canyon and Bennett have given the league credibility, and now it inherits two more capable squads.

Middle Park has transplanted from the Metro League and could become an immediate factor, as could Jefferson Academy, a solid team in Class 2A the past several seasons.

While good teams and good players often can get lost in the shuffle in the potent Patriot League, it’s difficult to overlook the steady accomplishments of Platte Valley first baseman Mitch Elrick. The senior has put together a career .408 batting average and .968 fielding percentage.

Platte Valley was a representative 12-9 last season but was overshadowed when three Patriot League teams, Eaton, Brush and Erie, were among the final four in the state tournament.

Speaking of Eaton, catcher Bennett Pickar has been turning some heads.

If baserunners were savvy, they might think about turning back around when trying to steal against the senior. Pickar, who has committed to play at Oral Roberts, has pop-up times that are far off the charts for a high school catcher.

Valley has one of the deepest pitching staffs in the classification, with seniors Joe Van Hoesen, Paul Lind and Jarrod Huwa all poised to share time on the hill. The return of Huwa is a big boost for the Vikings — literally and figuratively, considering he is 6-foot-5. Huwa missed all but two games last season because of injury.

St. Mary’s coach Bill Percy didn’t like the cold reality that seven starters graduated from his 14-6 squad of last season. But the Pirates received some unexpected help that should ease the transition.

Junior pitcher Brent Harder transferred from Lewis-Palmer, and infielder Jimmy Park, a foreign-exchange student from Korea, arrived and will fit nicely into Percy’s lineup. Also returning for the Pirates is incumbent Joey Langer, a hard-throwing, 6-6 right-hander.

Cedaredge bashed through the Western Slope League with a 14-0 mark last season, and the Bruins’ best player was only a sophomore. That would be Chaunce Lindley, whose remarkable power display (15 doubles, eight home runs) buoyed Cedaredge to the league crown. Lindley will be the ace on the mound this season, making the Bruins the prohibitive favorite to repeat as league champs.

FIRST PITCH

CLASS 3A TOP 10

1. Eaton: Did you expect anything else? The Reds are after their ninth title since 1994.

2. Faith Christian: The Eagles will go as far as Pierce Johnson’s arm takes them.

3. Brush: After a pedestrian regular season, the Beetdiggers made big-time noise in the state tourney last season.

4. Lamar: The Savages started over in many ways last season and still made the final four.

5. Manitou Springs: Arguably the best pitching staff in the state bolsters the Mustangs.

6. Holy Family: The Tigers will give Faith Christian a strong push in the challenging Metro League.

7. Cedaredge: Watch out for junior Chaunce Lindley, who mashed eight homers as a sophomore.

8. Valley: The return of pitcher Justin Huwa — he was injured most of last season — rounds out the Vikings’ staff.

9. Bayfield: Do-everything Jeff Huffmyer returns and should keep the Wolverines atop the Intermountain League.

10. Platte Canyon: With 11 players returning, the Huskies are primed to reign in the ever-growing Frontier League.

Consensus league picks: Platte Canyon (Frontier), Bayfield (Intermountain), Faith Christian (Metro), Eaton (Patriot), Lamar (Tri-Peaks East), Manitou Springs (Tri-Peaks West), Cedaredge (Western Slope).

TOP PLAYERS BY POSITION

Player, School, Year

PITCHERS

Pierce Johnson, Faith Christian, Sr.

Joey Langer, St. Mary’s, Sr.

Arturo Maltos, Brush, Sr.

Alex Peacock, Lamar, Sr.

Sam Prentner, Platte Canyon, Sr.

Alex Reiter, Manitou Springs, Sr.

CATCHERS

Paul Donahue, Kent Denver, Jr.

Bennett Pickar, Eaton, Sr.

Ryan Valdez, Clear Creek, Jr.

INFIELDERS

IF Jeremiah Bossow, Weld Central, Jr.

SS Mariano Carbajal, Faith Christian, Jr.

1B Mitch Elrick, Platte Valley, Sr.

SS Dakota Granzella, Salida, Sr.

SS Larson Greenfield, Buena Vista, Sr.

IF Chaunce Lindley, Cedaredge, Sr.

2B Matthew Lopez, Holy Family, Sr.

IF Jacob Machado, Machebeuf, Sr.

1B Tyler Patterson, Peyton, Sr.

3B Tyler Wallace, Eaton, Sr.

SS Myles Wiedeman, Monte Vista, Jr.

IF Dillon Whisman, Platte Canyon, Sr.

OUTFIELDERS

Brandon Frank,Valley, Sr.

Evan Genders, Holy Family, Jr.

Logan Hall, Eaton, Sr.

Garrett Harper, Lamar, Sr.

Ian Henry, Faith Christian, Sr.

Jeff Huffmyer, Bayfield, Sr.

Paul Manzella, Hotchkiss, Sr.

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