Another gem on the mound, another productive day at the plate for Fort Collins’ Sean Togher.

Yes, the senior is doing a bit of everything in leading Lambkins to one of the most impressive starts from around the state.

On Friday, Togher threw seven sparkling innings in a 6-3 win over Mountain Vista for his fourth straight win of 2024. He also drove in his 11th run of the spring, giving him an RBI in seven of his team’s first eight games.

The Lambkins (7-1), who finished last year .500 after falling in the opening round of their regional, lost their first game of the season 24 hours earlier to Broomfield — the 2022 5A champs and the 2023 No. 1 seed.

MaxPreps ranked them fifth in Class 5A and sixth in the state coming into this week.

In our look-in on big-classification baseball, let’s touch on a few of the more surprising starts in the 5A and 4A classifications.

Class 5A

Fort Collins Lambkins (7-1 in 2024; 12-12 and lost in first round of regionals in 2023): Togher is an early candidate for the state’s best player, with a 1.65 ERA across 17 frames, and a .550 batting average to go with his team-leading 11 RBIs.

Against the Golden Eagles on Thursday, he allowed three runs — two earned — in a second straight complete-game performance.

They’re at MaxPreps’ 5A No. 7 Brighton on Tuesday.

Vista PEAK Prep Bison (7-3 in 2024; 11-10 and did not reach the postseason in 2023): The Bison have been one of the better offenses in the state in 2024, averaging 10.1 runs per game.

Sophomore Abel Salinas has been productive at the plate and on the mound, touting a .375 batting average with 12 RBIs, and a 4.20 ERA across 15 innings.

Salinas has RBIs in eight of 10 games this season for the Bison, who have scored at least eight runs in each.

Vista PEAK Prep is at the Far Northeast Warriors on Tuesday.

Arapahoe Warriors (6-3 in 2024; 8-14-1 and no postseason in 2023): It’s been a nice turnaround for the Warriors, who started last year 1-6, losing three times by at least 10 runs.

Andrew Smart is 14-for-26 from the plate with five extra-base hits, two homers and 12 RBIs this spring.

After the Warriors suffered consecutive losses earlier last week, the junior went 2 for 3 and drove in five in a 14-1 win over Lakewood on Saturday.

Arapahoe is home against Cherry Creek on Tuesday.

Class 4A

Pueblo Central Wildcats (6-2 in 2024; 9-14 and no postseason in 2023): The Wildcats have been stingier in 2024, allowing 2 ½ fewer runs than they gave up in 2023 (4.5 runs from 7).

Junior Anthony Trujillo is a big reason why, thanks to his 1.29 ERA through 16 1/3 frames this spring.

He allowed two runs and struck out seven in a 4-2 win over Lewis-Palmer on Saturday, the Wildcats’ fourth straight win.

They’re at Pueblo South on Tuesday.

Aurora Central Trojans (4-3 in 2024; 7-14 and no postseason in 2023): The Trojans have had one winning season since 2008, going 15-8 in 2022.

They are looking for their second in 2024.

Sophomore Toby Sanchez is hitting .429 with nine RBIs. Already better than last year, when he hit just .295 with five RBIs.

Senior Aron Gardea has been good, too, hitting .316, also with nine RBIs.

The Trojans won their first three games in April before falling to Thomas Jefferson on Monday.

They’re at Adams City on Thursday.

Mead Mavericks (7-5 in 2024; 13-11 and lost in first round of regionals in 2023): The Mavericks have been better on their home field this season, starting the spring 5-2 at home after going just 4-6 a year ago.

Dalton Berg, the two-time 4A wrestling champ, is hitting .484 with two homers and 13 RBIs this spring.

He has at least a hit in 11 of 12 games.

The MaxPreps 4A No. 14 Mavs recently split with No. 3 Holy Family, winning Saturday before losing Monday.

Next is a two-game series against No. 1 Windsor, starting on the road April 13.