DENVER — Mullen, ranked No. 4 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason softball poll in 4A, beat Regis Jesuit 10-0 in six innings on Saturday.
Category: Softball
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No. 2 Wheat Ridge rallies in softball to edge Chatfield in extras
Wheat Ridge senior Analece Apodaca (16) approaches home plate after belting a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday against Chatfield. (Dennis Pleuss) WHEAT RIDGE — A flair for the dramatic has made a pair of early appearances for the defending Class 4A state softball championship.
“It was crazy,” Wheat Ridge senior Analece Apodaca said of the Farmers’ second straight walk-off victory this season. “We believe with one heartbeat we’ll get there. We never stop believing.”
Wheat Ridge, ranked No. 2 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll, needed a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday on it home field to tie 5A Jeffco’s Chatfield at 8-8. For the second straight game junior Ann Marie Torres delivered a walk-off hit to give the Farmers (2-0) a theatrical 9-8 victory.
“We are real lucky to get out of this one,” Wheat Ridge coach Marty Stricklett said. “Chatfield is a good ball club over there and they played us well today. We answered the bell in the end.”
Chatfield sophomore Natalie Gaber (24) slides into second base before Wheat Ridge senior Analece Apodaca, left, can put down a tag Thursday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss) Torres ripped a double to gap in right-center field in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored senior Jacquelyn Miller from first base. Miller, who opened the inning with a bunt single, was mobbed by teammates after scoring to end the game.
Torres belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday to beat Chaparral 3-2 in Wheat Ridge’s season opener.
Wheat Ridge needed several players to step up to send Thursday’s game into extra innings. Apodaca belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to trim Chatfield’s lead to 8-6. Senior Mary Sand drove in junior Christian Nelson with a single later in the inning to make it a one-run game. With two outs, sophomore Gabby Loya hit a two-out single to drive in Sand to tie the game.
“(Players) were talking in the seventh inning about finding one heartbeat,” Stricklett said. “I told the other coaches that we needed to find team comradery. They found it there in the seventh.”
Senior Erin Dalton also put a smile on her coach’s face. After having Torres and sophomore Riley Scott pitch during the first four innings, Stricklett put Dalton on the hill with one out in the fifth inning. Dalton gave up a RBI double to the first batter she faced — Chatfield freshman Ali Van Gulick — that put the Chargers (1-2) up 8-4. However, Dalton retired 11 of 13 batters to finish the game and get the win.
“I’m working for my team,” said Dalton, who had a 3-0 pitching record last season. “They needed me there (pitching) today. I stepped in and did what I could.”
Chatfield junior Jessica Jarecki throws to the plate Thursday in a non-league game against defending Class 4A state champion Wheat Ridge. Jarecki had a remarkable game at the plate with a pair of home runs while driving in six of the Chargers’ eight runs in the 9-8 loss in extra innings. (Dennis Pleuss) Chatfield junior Jessica Jarecki took the loss on the mound. She deserved a much better fate after pitching a complete-game and having her biggest offensive game of her prep career. Jarecki was 2-for-3 from the plate with a pair of home runs and six RBIs.
Jarecki was really only touched up in the Farmers’ potent offense with the four-run third and seventh innings.
“Wheat Ridge is a great hitting team. I definitely was feeling the pressure,” Jarecki said about pitching in the seventh inning with a four-run lead. “We’ll look at the positives from this. We’ll learn from it.”
Chatfield hits the road against Mountain Vista next week on Aug. 28 before taking part in the Erie Festival of Champions. The Farmers will also be in Erie for the tournament (Aug. 29 and 30) that features some of the top teams in Colorado and a few powerhouses from Oklahoma.
Wheat Ridge’s next game will be perhaps the most anticipated non-league game this softball season pitting the defending 5A and 4A state champions. The Farmers travel to Legacy High School on Tuesday, Aug. 26, to face the defending 5A state champion Lightning. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
“We are excited for it,” Dalton said of the game against Legacy. “Every team we play is new competition.”
Wheat Ridge senior Jacquelyn Miller (9) is mobbed by teammates after she scored the game-winning run Thursday at Pennington Field in Wheat Ridge. The Farmers trailed Chatfield 8-4 going to the seventh inning, but rallied for a 9-8 victory. (Dennis Pleuss) -
Photos: Legacy softball beats Standley Lake
BROOMFIELD — Legacy hosted non-conference Standley Lake and won by a score of 7-1 on Wednesday.
For Standley Lake, junior Hannah Rose had a home run. Freshman Megan Foley for Legacy had three RBIs. Senior Hayley Smith was the winning pitcher.
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Photos: No. 5 Eaglecrest beats No. 7 Douglas County in softball
CASTLE ROCK — Alexa Romero homered, Jordyn Wiatrak had three RBIs, and fifth-ranked Eaglecrest topped No. 7 Douglas County 10-8 on Tuesday evening.
Romero also pitched 3 2/3 innings, and allowed just one hit while striking out six.
Douglas County’s Clara Larson was 3-for-3 with five RBIs, a double and a home run in the loss.
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Kelsey Massaro named Pueblo East softball coach
New Pueblo East softball coach Kelsey Massaro. PUEBLO — The tradition-rich Pueblo East softball program has a new leader.
Kelsey Massaro has been named the new head coach for the Eagles. Massaro replaces longtime coach Ben Garcia, who resigned last month to become the head softball coach at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.
“This is the biggest opportunity that I’ve had,” Massaro, 27, said. “I’m extremely excited for what’s in store. We have a great young team and I couldn’t be more blessed that this has happened. I’m really ready to start a legacy and build something of my own. This has been a dream of mine to be a head coach.”
Massaro, whose maiden name is Swanberg, graduated from Arvada West in 2005 and then Colorado State University-Pueblo. She played four years for CSU-Pueblo’s softball team, primarily as a pitcher. Massaro has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for East’s softball program.
Mike Massaro, Kelsey’s husband, was named the basketball coach for the Eagles in April. Mike, who played baseball at CSU-Pueblo and then went to play minor league baseball for nine years, reaching as high as Triple-A, is a volunteer coach on his wife’s staff.
Massaro also is well of aware of the history of the Pueblo East softball program. Garcia guided the Eagles to five Class 4A state championship games in 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2012. The Eagles won state in 2012, beating Niwot 4-2.
The Eagles also have won countless South-Central League titles with Garcia at the helm, including the last two in a row.
“Naturally there’s going to be pressure,” Massaro said about filling Garcia’s shoes. “I have a great coaching staff that is stepping up and really helping me out and giving me support.
"I also learned a lot from Ben (Garcia). He has really guided me in the right direction. He has given me some tools that without I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m looking forward to the future and this season especially.”
Massaro’s team took a hit from graduation, namely losing standout pitcher Katie Orona, who has signed to play softball at Brown University in Providence, R.I. A year ago, the Eagles lost in the Class 4A state quarterfinals 7-1 to Erie, finishing with a 20-4-1 record.
“It is going to be tough for us to replace Katie and we will have to see what options we have, but we have a great defense and we have some girls who can absolutely crush the ball,” Massaro said. “If we can be offensively and defensively sound I think we will be fine.”
The Eagles open their season Aug. 19 in a non-conference game against Falcon at Runyon Field Sports Complex.
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Legacy, Erie, Sterling on top of preseason softball rankings
Legacy opens as the No. 1 team in the preseason 5A softball poll. (Pam Wagner) Two teams that finished runner-up a season ago head CHSAANow.com’s preseason softball rankings.
Erie (4A) and Sterling (3A) both fell in the championship games of their respective classifications last season. A year later, they’re both the preseason favorites.
In 5A, defending champion Legacy is the unanimous preseason No. 1. Legend, runner-up last year, is No. 2, and is followed by No. 3 Brighton, No. 4 Fossil Ridge and No. 5 Eaglecrest.
Dakota Ridge is sixth, Douglas County is seventh and Loveland is eighth. Rock Canyon (No. 9) and Fort Collins (No. 10) round out the 5A ranking.
Wheat Ridge, the defending 4A champion which is expected to rely on a heavy lineup this season, opens at No. 2 in that class.
Defending 3A champion Strasburg opens at No. 3.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, polls will be released each Monday.
Complete rankings for each class are below.
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CHSAANow.com Softball Polls
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A RK TEAM PTS 1 Legacy (9) 90 2 Legend 74 3 Brighton 68 4 Fossil Ridge 57 5 Eaglecrest 51 6 Dakota Ridge 39 7 Douglas County 27 8 Loveland 22 9 Rock Canyon 17 10 Fort Collins 10 Others receiving votes: Chatfield 7, Ralston Valley 6, ThunderRidge 6, Pine Creek 5, Castle View 4, Grandview 4, Arvada West 3, Columbine 2, Rampart 2, Cherokee Trail 1. Class 4A RK TEAM PTS 1 Erie (5) 86 2 Wheat Ridge (4) 79 3 Ponderosa 60 4 Mullen 38 5 Frederick 36 6 Valor Christian 32 7 Discovery Canyon 29 8 Mountain View 28 9 D’Evelyn 27 10 Pueblo West 12 Others receiving votes: Pueblo South 11, Durango 10, Pueblo East 10, Berthoud 9, Palmer Ridge 8, Silver Creek 7, Holy Family 6, Standley Lake 4, Niwot 3, Windsor 1. Class 3A RK TEAM PTS 1 Sterling (4) 58 2 Valley (1) 51 3 Strasburg (1) 49 4 Eaton 33 5 Dolores Huerta 29 6 La Junta 25 7 Basalt 19 8 Burlington 15 9 Faith Christian 13 10 Lamar 10 Others receiving votes: Rocky Ford 7, Florence 6, Brush 5, Cedaredge 5, Platte Valley 3, Gunnison 2. -
Wheat Ridge, defending 4A softball champ, looks to power to another title
Wheat Ridge’s strong line-up this year is highlighted by (pictured left to right) Ann Marie Torres, Analece Apodaca and Christina Nelson. All three were 4A all-state selections last season for the Farmers who won their fourth 4A state softball title in 2013. (Dennis Pleuss) Could Wheat Ridge softball’s offense be even more potent this season? If so, beware to the rest of the Class 4A squads.
The Farmers captured their fourth 4A championship trophy over six seasons in 2013 thanks to veteran pitcher Jessica Salbato and punching offensive line-up.
“Last year’s state championship meant a lot,” Wheat Ridge coach Marty Stricklett said. “It was a hard-fought battle last year. We had to really earn last year’s state title. Day-in and day-out they had to leave it all out on the field.”
Wheat Ridge junior Ann Marie Torres belted 13 home runs last season and had a batting average of .634. (Dennis Pleuss) While Stricklett loses Salbato to graduation, he returns six returning starters. It’s the most returning starters since Stricklett took over the reigns of the Farmers’ program in 2008.
The Farmers line-up should look fairly similar to last year’s team that racked up a 24-1 record on the way to Wheat Ridge’s sixth state softball title since 2002. Senior Analece Apodaca, along with juniors Christina Nelson and Ann Marie Torres headline the Farmers’ offensive attack.
“I definitely think this team has a lot of potential,” said Nelson, one of five returners who batted above .400 last season. “We just have to work and go one day at a time. We are going to be good, but there still is a lot of good competition out there.”
The three returning all-state selections (Apodaca, Nelson and Torres) combined for 140 hits, 93 RBIs and 40 doubles in 2013. Torres belted a remarkable 13 home runs.
“She (Torres) is a great hitter, but we have a couple of other on the team that are right with her,” Stricklett said. “My top three batters in my opinion are three of the top hitters in the state. Those top three hitters we put out there put pressure on every team and every team in the state knows it.”
Torres doesn’t know if she will be able to surpass her offensive numbers from 2013, but the Division I prospect is clearly zeroed in on getting Wheat Ridge in the position to repeat as state champions.
“I’m focused on high school right now,” said Torres about going into the college recruiting process.
Wheat Ridge’s biggest question coming into the season is who will take over the pitching duties. Stricklett said there are a handful of potential options. Senior Erin Dalton went 3-0 in on the hill last season. Torres and Nelson could move from their infield positions to the mound. There are also three sophomores who could see some time at pitcher.
“We’ll have pitching tryouts and we’ll be going through pitchers for who knows how long,” Stricklett said. “It’s going to be a process, but we’ll figure it out.”
4Awrstricklett.jpg
Marty Stricklett enters his seventh season as Wheat Ridge’s softball coach. The Farmers have captured four Class 4A state titles during Stricklett’s tenure. (Dennis Pleuss)The Farmers start the season playing four 5A squads. Wheat Ridge will have a marquee match-up against defending 5A state champion Legacy on the Lightning’s home field at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26.
Wheat Ridge’s lone loss last season came against Standley Lake. Stricklett said the defeat “humbled” his squad at the right time, but he also admitted it’s hard to look at the Farmers’ state championship shirts and see that one loss.
Standley Lake moved down to 4A Jeffco this season. The Farmers will host the Gators in the middle of their conference schedule.
“It’s always going to eat at us, but it just pushes us to work harder,” Torres said of the lone blemish last season.
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Class 4A softball
Defending champion: Wheat Ridge
Runner-up: Erie
Returning All-State players: Analece Apodaca, Sr., UT, Wheat Ridge (1st); Alex Dufour, Sr., SS, Frederick (1st); Gabriela Garcia, Sr., C, Mullen (1st); Alexandra Jaros, Sr., CF, Holy Family (1st, 3A); Tiffany Maul, Sr., C, Erie (1st); Ally Power, Sr., P, Ponderosa (1st); Rio Sanchez, Soph., P/3B, Erie (1st); McKenzie Surface, Sr., P/1B, Discovery Canyon (1st); Ann Marie Torres, Jr., SS, Wheat Ridge (1st); Kendall Baker, Sr., IF, Berthoud (2nd); Sissy Hall, Sr., CF, Pueblo South (2nd); Christina Nelson, Sr., 2B, Wheat Ridge (2nd); Cheyenne Talmadge, Sr., 2B, Pueblo East (2nd)
Regular season begins: August 15
Playoffs begin: October 11
Championship: October 17-18, at Aurora Sports Park
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Culture is the key to Legacy’s softball success
Legacy coach Dawn Gaffin celebrates with players after last year’s championship. (Pam Wagner) The success Legacy’s softball program has enjoyed over the past seven seasons playing in the largest classification has been remarkable.
Coach Dawn Gaffin has coached the Lightning to six Class 5A state championships since 2007. After winning five straight titles from 2007 to 2011 the championship streak ended in 2012 when Loveland defeating Dakota Ridge in the 5A title game. However, Legacy climbed back to the apex last season with a 6-4 win over Legend to claim a sixth championship.
While Legacy is tied with Wheat Ridge and Arvada West for second with the number of state softball titles in Colorado prep history — Erie leads with 11 state trophies — the hardware isn’t the most valuable part of the winning culture for Gaffin.
“What really means a lot are the relationships you are going to have with those kids. That is what is important,” said Gaffin, who has coached prep softball in Colorado since 1987. “The relationships are real and that is what’s going to last.”
Focusing on strong leadership, mental toughness and visualization skills have been a trademark of Gaffin’s teams through the years. Bouncing back from adversity was the key last season for pitcher Haley Smith.
Smith took the loss on the mound as a sophomore during a 9-2 state semifinal defeat to Loveland in 2012. She had battled through pain with loose cartilage under right kneecap during the season. Smith had surgery in November after the season with the hope to be at 100 percent for her junior campaign.
Legacy has a long history of softball success. (Dennis Pleuss) “I felt really confident going into my junior year because I worked so hard rehabbing it, getting in shape and getting ready for the season,” said Smith, who pitched in all 25 games last season and was named the 5A Player of the Year. “The (semifinal) loss my sophomore year really lite a fire under me.”
While Smith enters her third season as the Lightning ace, she was also impressive at the plate. Smith led Legacy last year in home runs (six) and RBIs (36). She is one of seven returning players who batted over .400 last year for Legacy.
“We have really great hitters on that team that produce,” Smith said.
Seniors Alyssa Geist, Celyn Whitt and Smith, along with sophomores Emily Taggart and Katelyn Kubitschek will provide plenty of pop at the plate for Legacy. The Lightning averaged more than six runs a game in its four state tournament games in 2013.
“I would definitely have to give credit to my two assistant coach in John Waller and Lauren Green,” Gaffin said of Legacy’s offensive achievements last year. “We’ve got some great hitters still on the team. In fact I’ve got four of my one through five hitters back. That’s a good thing.”
It’s also helpful for Legacy’s winning tradition that complacency isn’t in the Lightning’s vocabulary.
“I’m more focused than ever,” Smith said. “It’s my last year and the last time I’ll be playing with my Legacy jersey on. All of us seniors want to go out with a bang.”
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Class 5A Softball
Defending champion: Legacy
Runner-up: Legend
Returning All-State players: Tes Hass, Sr., OF, Loveland (1st); Tayler Mashburn, Jr., UT, Eaglecrest (1st); Carly Perry, Sr., SS, Columbine (1st); Haley Smith, Sr., P, Legacy (1st); Emily Supercynski, Sr., SS, Grandview (1st); Autumn Anderson, Jr., P, Fort Collins (2nd); Lauren Buckley, Sr., OF, Eaglecrest (2nd); Alyssa Geist, Sr., OF, Legacy (2nd); Kenya Lindstrom, Sr., P, Denver East (2nd); Kayla Michel, Sr., C/1B, Brighton (2nd); Sloane Stewartson, Soph., C, Rock Canyon (2nd); Dani Valerio, Sr., CF, Dakota Ridge (2nd); Jasmime Wessel, Sr., C/SS, Horizon (2nd)
Regular season begins: August 15
Playoffs begin: October 11
Championship: October 17-18, Aurora Sports Park
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Sterling aiming for first softball title in 3A
Sterling pitcher Dallas Magnusson. (CHSAANow.com file photo) Sterling softball coach Bob Knudson admits he is glad Strasburg has graduated several key cogs from the Indians’ back-to-back Class 3A state championship squads.
“They (Strasburg) have had our number the last couple of years,” Knudson said. “They had a dominating pitcher in Logan Losh. We never were able to get anything going offensively.”
The Sterling Tigers reached a softball championship game for the first time in the program’s history last October at Aurora Sports Park, only to have their district rival score a 3-0 shutout victory. The win gave Strasburg a perfect 24-0 record as the Indians claimed back-to-back state titles.
Sterling gave Strasburg one of its toughest tests of the season with the Indians taking a 7-4 victory in 12 innings.
“We battled really hard during that game,” said Sterling senior pitcher Dallas Magnusson, who pitched 11 innings in the epic game. “Coach (Knudson) kept us all relaxed. We all stayed positive. Even when it came to the end and we lost. We stayed positive.”
The two-time defending 3A state champs graduated a trio of all-state players in Losh, Danni Klein and Vic Wilson. Despite those losses, Knudson still has high regards for the Strasburg club that has a 6-0 record against Sterling during the past two seasons.
“They are very well-coached and will put out a really good team again,” Knudson said.
Sterling has plenty of returning pieces from its squad that finished with a 19-5 record and was the 3A state runner-up. Magnusson, an all-state selection last season, is back for the Tigers. Magnusson will lead Sterling’s pitching contingent that includes juniors Kylie Ross and Alexis Rutz.
“We have three really good pitchers,” Knudson said. “I’m not afraid to use any of them in a game.”
Magnuson had a 10-2 record last season with a solid 1.38 ERA. The Tigers’ offense wasn’t shabby either. Sterling scored double-digit runs in 13 games last year. Juniors Jenna Knudson and Rutz combined for 77 hits, 69 runs and 47 RBIs last season.
“I think our team is going to be amazing this year,” Magnusson said. “We are a really good group of girls. We all click together as a team.”
Before advancing to the title game last year the Tigers made it to the 3A state quarterfinals in 2012. Valley — eventual state runner-up — ended Sterling’s postseason run with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Sterling poses with last season’s runner-up trophy. (Jack Eberhard) Magnusson points to Valley and Eaton as a pair of conference rivals that will be tough again this season. Sterling split a doubleheader against Valley and came away with a couple of one-run victories versus Eaton last season.
“We are just really excited,” Magnusson said. “We can’t wait for that first practice and first game to begin.”
While on paper the Tigers look like a logical favorite to take the next step and win its first state softball title, Sterling’s coach knows it’s a long road to the championship game.
“We hope it’s our year,” Knudson said. “Softball is a funny sport. One bad game or a great game by the other team can change everything.”
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Class 3A softball
Defending champion: Strasburg
Runner-up: Sterling
Returning All-State players: Bridgette Hutton, Sr., P/SS, Valley (1st); Dallas Magnusson, Sr., P, Sterling (1st); Jenna Knudson, Jr., INF, Sterling (1st)
Regular season begins: August 15
Playoffs begin: October 11
Championship: October 17-18 at Aurora Sports Park
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Rule changes approved in baseball, softball
(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com) INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning with the 2015 high school baseball season, teams will be allowed to use video monitoring or replay equipment for coaching purposes during games.
This revision to Rule 3-3-1 was one of five changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 8-10 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Previously, video equipment was permitted but it could not be used during games for coaching purposes.
“With advancements in technology, it was extremely difficult for officials to determine if teams were using video replay during games,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and educational services and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. “The committee determined it was the right time to permit teams to use these technological aids if they so choose.”
In softball, two rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee at its June 16-18 meeting in Indianapolis and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Rules 1-6-1 and 1-7-1 were revised to state that the batting helmet and the catcher’s helmet shall have a non-glare surface (not mirror-like).
Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials education and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee, said the committee instituted these changes because helmets that are mirror-like in nature are distracting and could be dangerous for other players.
In other baseball rules changes, the committee expanded the definition of interference in Rule 2-21 to include follow-through interference and backswing interference.
Rule 2-21-4 will state that “follow-through interference is when the ball hits the catcher after the batter has swung at a pitch and hinders action at home plate or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner,” and Rule 2-21-5 will state that “backswing interference is when a batter contacts the catcher or his equipment prior to the time of the pitch.”
Hopkins said that follow-through interference and backswing interference are separate and distinct acts that previously were not addressed in Rule 2-21. The rule previously covered offensive, umpire and spectator interference.
The rules committee approved a change in Rule 1-5-1 regarding the batting helmet to be consistent with the rule for helmets used by defensive players. As is the case with head protection worn by field players, the batting helmet now must have a non-glare surface (cannot be mirror-like in nature) and meet the NOCSAE standard at the time of manufacture.
The definition of a foul ball in Rule 2-16-1 was expanded to be consistent with language elsewhere in the rules book. Specifically, Rule 2-16-1f will now state that a foul is a batted ball “that hits the batter in the batter’s box.” Article “g” will state that a foul is a batted ball “that hits the ground or home plate and then hits the batter or the bat which is held by the batter while he is in the batter’s box.”
The final change approved by the Baseball Rules Committee involves the following additional language to Courtesy Runner Rule No. 1: “In the event that the offensive team bats around, the pitcher and/or catcher who had a courtesy runner inserted on their behalf may bat in their normal position in the batting order.”
Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level with 474,791 participants in 15,632 schools during the 2012-13 season, according to the NFHS Athletics Participation Survey. Fast-pitch softball is the fifth-most popular sport for girls at the high school level with 362,488 participants in 15,067 schools during the 2012-13 season.