Month: May 2014

Rocky Mountain powers past Mountain Vista, takes 5A state baseball driver’s seat

Rocky Mountain senior Nathan Elsheimer (5) doesn’t hold back showing his excitement after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning Saturday afternoon at All-City Field. The Lobos defeated Mountain Vista 17-7 in the final game of the weekend in the double-elimination Class 5A baseball state championship series. (Dennis Pleuss)

DENVER — Rocky Mountain picked a good time to score a season-high 17 runs Saturday afternoon at All-City Field.

The Lobos cranked out 17 hits, including grand slam home run by senior Nathan Elsheimer in an eight-run top of the seventh inning, to take a 17-7 victory over Mountain Vista in the final game of the weekend in the Class 5A baseball championship series.

“We were just trying to finish it off really,” Elsheimer said of Rocky Mountain’s huge seventh inning. “We knew (Cory) Richer was going to shut them down, but it’s nice to get those insurance runs to take the load off the pitcher.”

Rocky Mountain senior Dean Lawson crosses home plate in the first inning. The Lobos put up a season-high 17 runs in the 17-7 victory against Mountain Vista. (Dennis Pleuss)

Rocky Mountain sent 13 batters to the plate in its half of the seventh. Mountain Vista used four different pitchers in the inning before finally recording the third out.

“When we get going offensively we can do some damage,” said Rocky Mountain coach Scott Bullock, who guided the Lobos to four straight 5A state baseball titles from 2007 to 2010. “We are pretty tough one through nine. There aren’t a lot of holes in our line-up. When we get going it’s exciting to watch.”

Rocky Mountain junior Cody Richer relieved starter Marc Bachman on the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs. Richer gave up two runs on five hits, but the Golden Eagles couldn’t erase the big deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Richer was able to induce a game-ending double play to allow the Lobos to celebrate under a rainbow that formed over All-City Field. The victory guarantees Rocky Mountain — lone undefeated team with a 3-0 record in the championship series — will be playing in the state championship next Saturday, May 24, at All-City.

“It’s a ton of stress off our backs,” Rocky Mountain senior Nathan Elsheimer said. “We are just going to go into this next week of practice really relaxed, go for the win on Friday and see what happens Saturday.”

The Lobos’ next game will be noon Friday, May 23, against Cherry Creek at All-City. The Bruins took wins over Chaparral and ThunderRidge on Saturday at Machebeuf High School to advance to the final four.

“I don’t think we know very much about Creek at this point,” Stajduhar said. “Obviously they are going to be a good team making it to this point. We are going to have to go out and play our best baseball.”

Rocky Mountain (19-5) did find itself in a hole early against Mountain Vista (20-4). The Golden Eagles batted around in the bottom of the first inning, plating four runs to take a 4-1 lead.

However, the Lobos quickly answered with a four-run top of the second inning to regain the lead. The big hit was a two-run home run by Elsheimer.

“To be honest I didn’t think it would be going out,” Elsheimer said. “I rounded first thinking it was just a double. Then I heard everyone behind me cheering. Hitting a home run is the best feeling in the world.”

Mountain Vista shortstop Jack Strunc shows the ball to the umpire after tagging Rocky Mountain junior Garrett Hammer (18) at second base. Hammer was attempt to stretch a single into a double, but was called out at second base. (Dennis Pleuss)

Mountain Vista tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double by senior Jack Strunc. Rocky Mountain answered again. The Lobos took advance of a pair of Golden Eagle error to take a 7-5 lead.

Rocky Mountain scored another pair of runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 9-5 before the huge eight-run seventh.

“It’s always a hitter’s day,” Bullock said of the second day of the championship series where teams have likely already had their top two pitchers throw.

Mountain Vista is far from out of the state championship picture despite the loss Saturday. The Golden Eagles will face Regis Jesuit in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. May 23, at All-City. The Raiders took victories over Fairview and Chatfield earlier in the day at All-City to stay in the tournament.

“Playoff baseball is fun. Especially when you are playing teams like Rocky, Creek and Regis,” Mountain Vista coach Ron Quintana said. “Those are good programs and normally here in the final four. You have to be able to come in here and compete with them.”

Mountain Vista will lean on starting pitchers Will Dixon and Nick Leonard next week in the hopes to get another shot against Rocky Mountain in the championship game.

Rocky Mountain senior Marc Bachman fires to the plate in the first inning Saturday against Mountain Vista. Bachman picked up the victory on the mound as the Lobos went 3-0 in the first week of the state championship series. (Dennis Pleuss)

May 18, 2014
George Washington’s Hall breaks 100 hurdles record at 5A girls track

LAKEWOOD — George Washington’s Dior Hall has been a national phenom in the 100-meter hurdles for many years, but accomplished something Saturday that no one in Colorado history had at the State Track and Field Championships.

She ran a 13.09 100-hurdles in the Class 5A finals, smashing the 1996 all-classification record of 13.23 held by Denver South’s Dominique Calloway. The time was the third fastest in U.S. history for a high school girl.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is that Hall’s 13.09 wasn’t even a personal best. The senior holds the national record in the event with a 13.01, a time she ran to win silver at the World Youth Championships last summer. At a March meet in New York, Hall set the 60-meter hurdles national record with a time of 8.11.

George Washington’s Dior Hall. (Brock Laue)

On Saturday, Hall put on a show in the first event of the final day of State at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. Her competition was Cherry Creek’s super sophomore Ashley Miller, already one of the fastest Colorado girls hurdlers in history herself.

From the gun, Hall and Miller took control but the George Washington star’s speed and picturesque form cruised her past the field to the near sub-13 performance. Miller placed second in the fourth-fastest time in state history, 13.38.

“I just wanted to complete my race plan,” Hall said of her preparation for the final. “Going into finals I wanted to run 12.9, but I ran 13.09. It’s pretty good.”

Hall, who has mostly focused on the 100 hurdles and the Patriots’ always blistering relay squads during high school, displayed versatility senior year.

“I split a 54 on the sprint medley (relay),” Hall said. “It was my first event of the year. I was actually not supposed to run as fast as I did, but I felt like someone was behind me, so I felt like I had to go faster. I was really happy with a 54.”

Hall’s performance was enough to help George Washington become the first Colorado sprint medley relay team to break 1:43. They own the all-classification record with a 1:42.98, the top time in America when they ran it.

The Patriots chose not to stack the relay at State, but Hall was certainly busy Saturday. Less than an hour after her 100 hurdle performance, she placed second in the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.69, a new personal record. Pine Creek’s Ally Watt claimed the 5A crown in a time of 11.53.

Hall also placed fourth in the 200-meter dash in 24.26 seconds. Watt won the double with a blistering 23.73.

Hall even ran a leg on George Washington’s second place 400-meter relay (47.13). Pine Creek claimed the title in 46.55, a mere .04 seconds off the Colorado record of 46.51, which GW set in 2007.

Hall’s impressive weekend helped the Patriots place fifth in the 5A girls team standings with 51 points. Fort Collins won the state championship with 84 points, four points ahead of Pine Creek.

Elise Cranny-led Niwot won its second straight 4A championship with 66 points. Thompson Valley finished second with 57.5 and Broomfield was third with 55 points.

The Classical Academy won its third consecutive team title in 3A with a dominating 111-point tally. Eaton was second with 82.5 points.

In 2A, Paonia held off a game Hotchkiss 102-86 to claim back-to-back team crowns.

Jennifer Celis did her best to give Hotchkiss a chance at victory with 30 individual points in the 400 (57.84), 800 (2:11.43), and 1,600 (4:58.55) by herself. She also anchored the state championship 1600-meter relay in a time of 3:59.78.

Hotchkiss’ Jennifer Celis. (Brock Laue)

Celis broke her own 2A records in the 800 and 1,600. She closed with a scorching fast kick in both races to beat West Grand’s Tabor Scholl. Celis’ 800-meter race was especially impressive.

“The past few years I would take it on pace and then slow up to make sure I had enough for the kick,” Celis said of her 800-meter state championship. “This year I really just wanted to run my own race. I knew I wanted to break 2:13 this year, but for that race I kind of just wanted to run it to win it and hopefully the time would come.”

One event later, Celis won the 400-meter dash despite admittedly tired legs.

The Hotchkiss star might be a 2A athlete, but will be competing for a big-time college program next season — Oklahoma State University — after winning six individual state titles and three relay titles in her career.

In 1A, Shining Mountain Waldorf won an exciting battle for the State Championship with 74 points. Heritage Christian (71), Dove Creek (68), and Vail Christian (65) were all in the mix late into the weekend.

On a day filled with spectacular performances, Hall’s 100-hurdle state championship run stood out. The senior exudes humility and class, but is honest about her long-term goals.

“To make the Olympics in 2016, win, and break the world record,” Hall said of her ultimate dream.

The George Washington star seems capable of anything after a breathtaking Saturday morning at Jeffco Stadium.

Shining Mountain won the 1A girls track championship. (Whitney Webermeier/CHSAANow.com)

Paonia won the 2A girls track championship (Whitney Webermeier/CHSAANow.com)

The Classical Academy won 3A girls track’s championship. (Whitney Webermeier/CHSAANow.com)

Niwot won 4A girls track’s championship. (Whitney Webermeier/CHSAANow.com)

Fort Collins won 5A girls track’s championship. (Whitney Webermeier/CHSAANow.com)

May 18, 2014
Niwot’s Cranny caps brilliant career with a memorable state meet

Niwot’s Elise Cranny huddles with teammates on Saturday. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

LAKEWOOD — Niwot’s Elise Cranny, one of the most decorated girls distance runners in the country, completed her brilliant high school career Saturday. She provided three memorable performances at the State Track and Field Championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood.

One season ago, Cranny won the Class 4A distance triple crown with state titles in the 800-meter, 1,600-meter, and 3,200-meter races. This year, she did it again and in spectacular fashion.

Cranny started her final high school meet Friday by cruising to a new 3,200-meter all-classification record time of 10:17. Her performance bettered legendary Boulder High star Melody Fairchild’s 10:21, set back in 1991. Cranny’s time also beat her own 4A meet record best of 10:38 from 2013.

“I wanted to be a little bit closer to 10 (minutes), but it ended up being kind of windy and I didn’t feel as good as I thought, but I still got it so I’m happy about that,” Cranny said of the record-setting run.

The Niwot senior claimed the 4A 3,200 crown by 53 seconds over D’Evelyn’s Lexi Reed, but the 800 and 1,600 titles didn’t come so easy.

Friday afternoon, a couple hours after Cranny’s 3,200, she found herself in a peculiar situation in the 800.

Content to tuck into the lead pack and conserve energy behind Palmer Ridge’s Alison Dietsch and Air Academy’s Katie Rainsberger, the field stayed close together through a slow first lap.

Dietsch, Rainsberger, and Cranny took off from the pack soon after 400-meters and made it a three-horse race. Before Cranny knew what hit her though, Dietsch scampered away from her and Rainsberger as the crowd roared with the anticipation of a possible upset. Dietsch had about a 5-meter lead on Cranny with 50-meters to go, but Cranny closed hard and nipped her at the line, 2:12.05 to 2:12.24. Rainsberger placed third in 2:12.92.

“Yeah, that was really stressful and I don’t even know what happened,” Cranny said of the gap between her and Dietsch late in the race. “I think I was half-asleep or something, but we went out slow and then I don’t even know where she came from. I thought it was Katie (Rainsberger), but then it was Alison. It was a really stressful finish.”

“I got stressed, because I was trying to speed up, but the finish line was getting closer and closer and I was like, I don’t know if there’s going to be enough ground, but then it worked out,” Cranny added.

The final push was enough to seal Cranny’s second straight title in the 800. The 1,600 was an even better race.

Rainsberger and Cranny, who would face off in the 1,600 as well, have been rivals since one of the most memorable finishes in the state cross-country meet in many years during the 2012 4A State Championships.

In that race, Rainsberger led by a wide margin with 300 meters left, but Cranny turned on the jets and nipped her at the line by 0.10 seconds to win her first ever state title.

Cranny says that was the turning point in her Niwot career after placing second as a sophomore in cross-country.

“I wanted to win (the 800) and I didn’t want to get second again and I think when I caught her I had that realization that you always have something left,” Cranny said of her first state championship in cross-country or track. “That definitely helped me a lot and helped me learn that you always have something left at the end.”

Throughout the weekend, Cranny had something left.

In the 1,600, the two rivals ran away from the field on the second lap and looked poised for a special finale to Cranny’s Niwot career.

“Going into it, I knew that she was really good competition,” Cranny said of Air Academy’s ultra-talented sophomore. “I knew that she would run really fast. She took the pace out pretty hard and I just stayed behind her and tried to stay relaxed. I knew that if I would make a move, I had to make a strong one.”

Cranny’s strong move came with 200-meters left after running even with Rainsberger throughout. The kick was enough to hold Rainsberger off and claim her sixth state championship. Cranny broke another 4A state meet record and set a new all-classification best of 4:47.54. The time was merely 0.02 seconds faster than Cranny’s record time set at the Boulder County Championships last season.

Rainsberger placed second with a time of 4:48.84, also beating the state meet record of 4:54.59, a record held by Thompson Valley’s Laura Tremblay since 2009.

Cranny’s three individual titles and 30 points helped lead the Niwot girls to their second straight team championship by a slim margin over Thompson Valley, 66-57.5.

The phenom recently ran the second-fastest 1,500 time in the nation among high school girls. She is also No. 1 in the nation this season in the 800 meters with a blistering time of 2:04.81 at the Mt. Sac Relays in California.

Cranny has accomplished much on the national level, but says she has most enjoyed competing with her high school teammates.

“I think these meets are just a lot more fun, because you have all your teammates here and I know Katie and a bunch of people,” Cranny said. “It’s really fun to be able to run against people that you know. I think it’s just more fun and there’s more energy.”

The energy and excitement certainly rippled through the stadium during Elise Cranny’s last three races of her Niwot career. She delighted the crowd with an indelible senior season.

May 18, 2014
Pitching depth a must in baseball’s double-elimination format

Cherry Creek junior Cody Wood pitched into the seventh inning for the Bruins against Chatfield on Friday morning. (Dennis Pleuss)

DENVER — Chatfield’s pitching trio of Nick Chamberlain, Travis Schnoor and Sean O’Dell pieced together a victory for the Chargers in the Class 5A state tournament opener Friday afternoon at All-City Field.

Chatfield outlasted Cherry Creek for an 8-4 victory to start the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.

“It was definitely a big game. Coach (Brandon Stone) told me I was on the mound. I knew I had to bring my ‘A’ game today,” said Chamberlain, who pitched the first four innings to pick up the victory. “This game against Cherry Creek we pieced it together. It worked out really good.”

Chamberlain gave up three runs on sevens hits before Schnoor took the hill in the bottom of the fifth inning. O’Dell replaced Schnoor with one out in the sixth inning. O’Dell finished the game to get the save.

The key for Chamberlain, Schnoor and O’Dell was they were all able to get out of jams. The Bruins (17-5) left 12 runners on base in the loss.

Chatfield senior Nick Chamberlain picked up the victory on the mound against Cherry Creek and also hit a solo home run in the seventh inning in the Chargers’ 8-4 victory Friday morning. (Dennis Pleuss)

“It’s double-elimination, but you do everything you can to win each and every one. We did what we had to do,” Stone said about throwing three pitchers. “Nick threw well. Schnoor gave us a chance to stay in it and O’Dell closed the door. It was a great pitching staff effort today for sure.”

Since the double-elimination format began in 2003, 9-of-11 5A state title winners started off the championship series with a 3-0 record. Regis Jesuit (2011) and Cherry Creek (2012) bucked the trend recently getting off to a 2-1 records in the first week of the tournament before going 3-0 in the second week to claim state titles.

Chatfield (20-2) got the important win Friday morning thanks to 15 hits off Cherry Creek pitching. Senior starter Cody Wood pitched into the seventh inning. The Chargers’ big innings came with a four-run third inning and three-run seventh.

Seniors Matt Jarecki and Chamberlain both had solo home runs for Chatfield.

Despite throwing four innings Friday, Chamberlain said he would be game to take the hill either Friday or Saturday.

“Some teams might run out of arms with the double-elimination format, but I think we’ll be fine,” Chamberlain said. “I could throw next game if they need me.”

Longtime Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson is in his 42nd season coaching the Bruins. Cherry Creek has won eight state baseball titles under Johnson, including one in the double-elimination format.

“I try not to outguess myself,” Johnson said of how he decides to start on the mound in the tournament. “We feel like we threw our best available. We’ll throw our best available tomorrow. My philosophy has always been if you are going to get beat in the state tournament make them beat the best guy (pitcher) you’ve got. Chatfield beat the best guy we got today.”

Johnson is counting on Cherry Creek’s depth carry the Bruins to a pair of must-win elimination games Saturday. No 5A team has ever lost their first game of the state championship series and gone on to win a state title.

“I think we’ve got the depth. I think there are a lot of teams in here that have talent. I think we have the depth,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow. Our season is based on tomorrow. We win two or we are done.”

Cherry Creek will face Chaparral at 10 a.m. Saturday at Machebeuf High School.

Mountain Vista received a pitching gem from junior Will Dix against Chaparral in the second game of the day at All-City. Dix nearly went the distance in a 4-0 victory for the Golden Eagles. The junior gave up just four hits before junior Marc Mumper came in with two outs in the top of the seventh to get the final out.

Chaparral senior Jacob Hernandez took the loss on the hill for the Wolverines. Home runs by Dylan Formby and Cale Sparks was all Mountain Vista needed offensively to stay in the winner’s side of the bracket.

Mountain Vista then beat Chatfield in the final game at All-City, 7-1. That puts the Golden Eagles in the all-important 3 p.m. game Saturday at All-City against Rocky Mountain. The winner of that will be in control of the 5A tournament.

May 17, 2014
Rocky Mountain survives two one-run games on first day of 5A baseball

DENVER — This is a resilient bunch. In the Class 5A baseball tournament, that counts for everything.

Rocky Mountain beat arguably the state’s hottest baseball team (Regis Jesuit) to open tournament play Friday afternoon, then took down the defending champion (ThunderRidge) in the evening. Both were one-run games, both decided late.

Both wins proved these Lobos, runner-up a year ago in Class 5A, are built to handle adversity in close games. Because of that, they may be the favorite here this season.

“We’ve got tough kids,” Rocky Mountain coach Scott Bullock said on the field at Bishop Machebeuf High School, site of one half of the 5A bracket. “I wouldn’t expect anything different from them today to come out and just compete against some really, really good baseball teams.”

Bullock’s squad had its stumbles early this season, namely an 0-2 start in Front Range League play, but they’d won 13 straight games since then. Still, Rocky drew Regis Jesuit in the first round of the state tournament, a team that had won its final 15 games and gone unbeaten in the always tough Continental League.

It was not an ideal first-round matchup.

The game was 1-1 most of the way until Rocky’s Garrett Hammer hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth. Tyler Stevens then polished off his complete-game three-hitter in the top of the seventh and the Lobos earned an evening showdown with ThunderRidge, which outlasted Fairview 10-2 in a tough eight-inning game Friday morning.

Rocky Mountain players huddle after beating ThunderRidge. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The evening’s game was a rematch of last year’s championship, as well as a 9-7 Rocky Mountain win to close the regular season on May 5. And Rocky Mountain looked as though it might run away and hide early with a five-hit, three-run first inning.

But ThunderRidge sophomore Jake Eissler dug in and retired the next 11 Lobos he faced. And then the Grizzlies erupted for four runs in the third inning to seize a 4-3 lead. The latter damage was done against the Lobos’ Carl Stajduhar, no less — he of a 1.89 ERA entering Friday.

“I almost went and got him,” Bullock said. “It just kind of felt like he was losing it a bit.”

Instead, Stajduhar stayed in the game. And, at the urging of his pitching coach, adjusted.

“We were pitching outside and they were just going with it,” Stajduhar said. “So I started working inside a little more, getting in on their hands.”

Stajduhar would go four more innings, and allow just four more hits. But Rocky Mountain still trailed 4-3, and still needed to get to extras.

Enter Nathan Elsheimer. The senior’s run-scoring single up the middle knotted the game at 4 in the bottom of the sixth. The teams went scoreless in the seventh, sending the game to extras, and then scoreless again in the eighth.

Lobos closer Cory Richer came in for the top of the ninth and faced the heart of ThunderRidge’s lineup. He walked the Grizzlies’ Josh Brown to open things, and red-hot star Brody Westmoreland — who already had five RBIs over his team’s two games on Friday — hit an infield single.

But Richer got AJ Jones to strikeout, and then Mark Hopper smoked a ball — right at the Lobos’ Stevens, who had moved to third base for the second game. Stevens doubled up Brown at second, and the threat ended.

Elsheimer led off the bottom of the ninth with a single for Rocky Mountain and Zach Hahn reached on an error. That prompted an intentional walk of Cole Anderson to load the bases and set up a force play at home.

The very next pitch, ThunderRidge closer Tyler Loptien — who was scary good at times on the mound Friday — hit Dean Lawson with a curveball. Elsheimer walked in from third. Game over. 5-4, Rocky.

“Didn’t mean to wear it, but he’s got a good curveball, so I just figured I had to stay in there,” Lawson said. “I saw it coming at me, but I thought it would break back into the zone, so I stayed in there and it ended up hitting me. It felt pretty good. Especially for a hit-by-pitch.”

Said Bullock of the ugly way to win a game: “Dang right I’ll take it.”

And so will Rocky, which has another close win under its belt. The Lobos have played in five games decided by two runs or less.

“I love what our team is doing this year,” Lawson said. “I love beating adversity with these guys. I like winning games like that more than winning easy games, because I think those are the types of games that we’re going to be having for the rest of the season.”

“In the past,” Stajduhar said, “it’s come down to close games and we haven’t been able to pull it out. This year, we’ve just been on the grind. We’ve been grinding every day, working hard every day at practice, getting the extra hacks and getting everything in.

“I think it’s really paying off for us. Late in the season, I think it’s really going to keep paying off for us.”

Now, Rocky Mountain will play Mountain Vista at 3 p.m. Saturday at All-City Field, with the winner in firm control of the entire tournament.

“You know what? This first day’s tough, especially when you draw the 12:30 game,” Bullock said. “Especially when you draw our side of the bracket — don’t get me wrong, the other side’s tough, too — but Regis and the season they’ve had, and then the defending state champions. We really felt like today was a big day in the tournament. We know there’s a lot left.”

May 17, 2014
Day 1 results from 4A, 5A boys swim meets

FORT COLLINS and THORNTON — Complete results from the first day of the Class 4A boys swimming and diving state meet at EPIC, as well as the Class 5A meet at VMAC.

Go to: 4A | 5A

[divider]

Class 4A

Download: PDF
https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4a-boys-swimming-and-diving-2014-day-1-results.pdf

[divider]

Class 5A

Download PDF
https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/5a-boys-swimming-and-diving-2014-day-1-results.pdf

May 17, 2014
Pine Creek’s Watt dazzles in relays, sprint prelims at girls track

LAKEWOOD — Pine Creek junior Alleandra Watt burst onto the Class 5A track and field scene as an ambitious freshman in 2012. She became the school’s first state champion in the 100- and 200-meter dash that year and hasn’t looked back since.

Watt, one of the premier sprinters in America, anchored the fastest 800-meter relay in Colorado history Thursday in prelims. Pine Creek broke George Washington’s record of 1:38.09 by a full second with a time of 1:37.05. Watt dusted the field on the last leg in finals Friday as the Eagles won their second straight 800-meter relay championship.

“It was great to defend our title from last year and to be able to break the record,” Watt said. “We were so close last year, but it was more just a good time racing with my team again and to get some points up on the board.”

“Relay records, four people have to do what they’re supposed to do perfectly,” Pine Creek coach Max Oliver said. “That’s just a testament to these kids that they can do that.”

Watt, who also anchors the 400-meter relay, helped lead the Pine Creek girls to the fastest time in prelims with a new school record of 46.86. The Eagles would love to overtake George Washington’s Colorado record of 46.51 in the event during Saturday’s finals, but know it won’t be easy.

“Setting the record Saturday is probably a little tougher,” Oliver said of the 400 relay. “Everyone’s tired and really our goal tomorrow would be to win and if the record comes, it comes.”

Watt seems poised to give them a chance. The junior, who is also the leading scorer on the Pine Creek soccer team, has fresher legs this weekend after taking the past two weeks off from soccer to focus on track. The Eagles are playing tomorrow in the 5A semifinals against Ralston Valley, but Watt won’t be able to attend because of track, she said. Watt knew she had to make sacrifices to be able to have a crack at claiming the state titles in the 100- and 200-meter Dashes.

Watt, who placed second to Regis’ Ana Holland in the 200 and 400 meters as a sophomore, handled high-level fields in prelims of the 100 and 200 on Thursday. She ran 11.68 in the 100, 0.23 seconds ahead of Denver East’s Chyna Ries, and 23.59 in the 200, 0.43 seconds clear of Ries again.

“First goal is obviously to just win them,” Watt said of Saturday’s 100 and 200 finals. “I want to PR again and have legible times that aren’t wind-aided. All my PRs are wind-aided, but mostly my goal is just to win, because I know how great competition is and I want them to push me and I want to push them.”

Asked what makes Watt so good, Oliver said, “Genetics. She works really hard at it. She’s limited by her time commitments. She’s not really training year-long, but its genetics and then good coaching. We have the best sprints coach in the state and I believe that wholeheartedly. Whatever the potential is, he gets it.”

Watt has great potential and talent on the soccer pitch as well, as she is already a Texas A&M University commit in soccer. She hopes to play both sports at the next level and said the A&M coaches would love to add her to the mix in both.

Former Wheat Ridge soccer and track star, Annie Kunz, currently competes for the Aggies in both sports. Watt wants to follow in her footsteps.

In the immediate future though, the Pine Creek junior desires to add to her already lofty track legacy Saturday with 5A crowns in the 100 and 200, and 400 relay.

Oliver knows Watt can do special things anytime she steps on the track and said the best is yet to come.

“I don’t think we have any idea just how fast she is capable of,” Oliver said excitedly. “I think she has a big top end still with a lot of room to grow. She’s split time with soccer this year and she’s not a full-time track athlete and so there’s still a lot of potential there.”

May 17, 2014
Durango relies on Dunlap in 4A baseball win over Wheat Ridge

(Zach Marburger)

AURORA — Durango’s dugout was chattering from first pitch, clearly excited at the chance to extend its postseason success with a victory against Wheat Ridge.

The Demons kept up the chatter all afternoon long. But ultimately it was the quiet composure of starting pitcher and senior Blake Dunlap that powered Durango to a 4-1 victory over the Farmers Friday afternoon in the second round of the Class 4A baseball state tournament.

With the wind blowing in heavily from left field, the game was destined to become a pitcher’s duel. In that environment, Dunlap thrived, pitching a complete game and allowing just one run to earn the victory as Wheat Ridge remained undefeated in the double-elimination style tournament.

“Great job by Blake Dunlap, going all seven for us,” said Durango coach Rob Connington after the game. “Our pitching has been real strong lately. They’ve really stayed within themselves, and I’m real proud of what they’re doing.”

Senior Luke Wagoner took the loss for the Farmers despite pitching well over seven innings. Two of the four runs he allowed were earned, as he was victimized partly by the Farmers’ defense behind him.

In the bottom half of the third inning, after a single by Durango third baseman Lawrence Mayberry and a Dunlap walk, the Demons sent catcher Isiah Mayberry to the plate. Mayberry rolled-over a soft groundball that was misplayed, plating two runs to make it 2-1 in Durango’s favor.

The Farmers finished with three errors in the contest. For their part, the Demons made two errors, but Dunlap was always able to prevent major damage.

Wheat Ridge would draw first blood in the top of the third thanks to an RBI single by designated hitter Damian Padilla that scored first baseman Diego Garcia.

But Durango responded right away, helped in part by the Farmers’ misplays. After the two-run error and another single, center fielder Tyler Worely singled in two more Demons to give Durango some breathing room.

Not that Dunlap would need it. A ten-minute delay caused by malfunctioning sprinklers in between the third and fourth innings put the Demons’ momentum in jeopardy, but Dunlap wasn’t fazed. He set the Farmers down one-two-three in the fourth.

It came as no surprise to Connington that his veteran squad, loaded with nine seniors, would keep their cool during the unexpected halt in play.

“That was kind of a crazy deal. Reminded me of the lights at the Super Bowl a couple of years ago,” Connington said. “But they kept their head and kept the momentum in our direction.”

Wheat Ridge would put together one more serious charge, loading the bases with two-outs in the top of the fifth before Dunlap got Farmers’ left fielder Chase Powell on a groundball to escape the jam.

The Farmers kept fighting. Center fielder Willie Harris made a perfect throw to gun down Durango first baseman Dayne Rawley at third to end the fifth inning and keep the game within striking distance. But the Demons late rally petered out before it could even start. Fittingly, Dunlap finished off his gem with a one-two-three inning that included a strikeout of Padilla to end the game.

“It was a great day. We’ve had a couple good weekends. Hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow,” Connington said. “Not sure who we’re going to play, but I’m sure it will be a tough team. It’ll be exciting.”

“We can celebrate for a few minutes but we’ve got to get after it and get ready to prepare ourselves for tomorrow’s game.”

Wheat Ridge will try and bounce-back against either Evergreen or Green Mountain in an elimination game Saturday at 1 p.m. Durango will face the only other team yet to lose in this tournament, Niwot, Saturday at 3 p.m.

May 17, 2014
Boys swim state roundup: Highlands Ranch’s Mueller aiming for title

(Kenzie Hewson/CHSAANow.com)

THORNTON — For the last four years, the talented Nathan Mueller has been chasing a coveted state swimming championship.

The Highlands Ranch standout took two more steps toward reaching that goal when he finished first in the prelims of the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.22) and 500 freestyle (4:26.95) Friday in the Class 5A Swim and Dive State Championships at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.

“That was one of my faster times for altitude (in the 200), and I was pleased with my 500 time,” the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Mueller said.

Diving prelims begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and the finals in all events start at 2 p.m.

(Harry Waterman/CHSAANow.com)

Mueller, who also swam legs on the 200 medley and 400 freestyle, concluded his individual effort Friday in the 500-yard freestyle — an event he placed second at state in the last two years.

Standouts Clark Smith of Regis Jesuit, who set the all-school state record in the 200-yard freestyle a year ago when he won state, and Ponderosa’s Carter Griffin, the second-place finisher, have graduated.

That opens the door for Mueller who was third in the 200 the last two seasons. Mueller has signed to swim at the University of Wisconsin.

“It’s not urgency,” Mueller said about capturing the elusive individual state crown. “I’m just ready and racing is just so much fun. I’m just excited to race (Saturday) and I think I can win both (the 200 and 500).”

When Mueller isn’t in the pool, he spends time doing graphic design projects and sleeping. Those ventures, however, haven’t kept him from being wide awake in the classroom.

“I’m planning on majoring in biomedical engineering with a pre-med kind of focus,” said Mueller, who has a 3.8 GPA. “I know I want to do something with medicine and biomedical engineering is really cool and it sound really hands-on.”

Team-wise, Regis Jesuit, which has won 12 out of the last 13 state boys swimming titles, is aiming for another one Saturday.

Individually, Regis’ Stuart Hennessey (200-yard IM, 100 backstroke) doubled up as a No. 1 qualifier for Saturday’s championship finals as did Douglas County’s JP Beach (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle).

Fort Collins’ Maxwell Holter (100 butterfly), and Regis’ Quinlan Stuart (100 breaststroke) also paced their events heading into the finals.

In the relays, Regis qualified No. 1 for the finals in the 200-yard medley, and the 400 freestyle relay and Fairview is tops in the 200 yard freestyle.

[divider]

Class 4A

(Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

The prelims for the Class 4A state meet took place Friday in Fort Collins.

The individual swims were highlighted by Thompson Valley’s Liam Gately (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), D’Evelyn’s Daniel Graber (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), and Air Academy’s Hunter Doerr (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle), who each qualified No. 1 in a pair of events for Saturday’s championship finals.

Thompson Valley’s John Thorne (100 backstroke) and Discovery Canyon’s David Keller (100 butterfly) also each won their prelim heats.

In the relays, D’Evelyn (200 medley relay), Air Academy (200 freestyle relay) and Discovery Canyon (400 freestyle relay) were prelim winners.

Air Academy is the defending state champion.

May 17, 2014
Photos: First day of the 5A baseball state tournament

DENVER — The Class 5A baseball state tournament kicked off on Friday.

May 17, 2014