BRIGHTON — Class 5A No. 2 Brighton softball jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third inning and held off a late rally from Class 4A No. 3 Wheat Ridge to win 10-6 on Friday.
Brighton’s Natalie Sanchez had 3 hits, 3 RBIs and 1 run. Ann Marie Torres collected 2 hits, 3 RBIs and 2 runs for Wheat Ridge.
BROOMFIELD — Legacy scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to take an 8-7 win over rival Broomfield in softball on Wednesday.
Down 7-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, the seventh-ranked Lightning scored the game’s final six runs, including four in that half inning.
Alyssa Geist was 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Legacy, while Celyn Whitt was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Broomfield sophomore Lindsey Malkin went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while fellow sophomore Brennan Thomas was also 3-for-4. Another sophomore, Megan Biesterfeld, scored three runs.
AURORA — A panel of high school baseball coaches and administrators, doctors and club baseball coaches met on Wednesday at CHSAA to further a discussion on how to reduce arm injuries in the sport. Their hope is to change the state’s pitching rule by the start of the spring 2015 season.
It was the second time the group had met. In August, they met to lay the groundwork to change the current pitching rule. At that time, it was clear the conversation needed to have voices from club coaches.
And so, on Wednesday, those coaches joined the group, as well.
In attendance were the following: Bert Borgmann, Darryl Miller (DPS trainer), Rick Harig (Fairview), Ryan Christensen (Cotopaxi), Robert Framel (Palmer/CHSAA baseball committee chair), George Demetriou (CHSBUA), Mark Finley (Fossil Ridge), Dr. David Schneider (Panorama Orthopedics/LA Dodgers Consultant/Surgeon), Al Bleser (Game Day), Mark Knudson (former MLB pitcher/Mile High Sports Magazine), Tom Dedin, Jr. (Thunder Academy), Chris Clark (Bardo’s), Joe White (ThunderRidge) and John Cacowski (Prep Baseball Report).
Wednesday, they established three goals:
Open the dialogue on this topic in the sport, specifically between in-season (high school) and out-of-season (club) coaches.
Begin to develop an informational approach on the overuse of arms to be used by high school coaches, doctors, trainers and outside coaches. The focus here being “prehab” to prevent injuries instead of rehab to heal them. This would be distributed to parents and players, as well.
Provide CHSAA’s baseball committee with a recommendation on changes to the pitching rule, which currently limits players to no more than 12 innings in three consecutive days. (Note: This currently is one of the most lenient pitching rules in the country.)
The final point is what could eventually become a new bylaw, forwarded by CHSAA’s Board of Directors, at the January Legislative Council meeting. It would need to be approved by the Legislative Council in order to be implemented for the spring 2015 season.
The current aim is to model the new rule after what is being done in South Dakota. The state association doesn’t sanction baseball, but the South Dakota High School Baseball Association does the following:
A pitcher may throw no more than 106 pitches in one day, or more than 212 in seven days.
Additionally, no new inning may begin after 89 pitches.
Each outing needs to be followed by required rest, according to the number of pitches thrown. Specifically, 27-44 pitches requires one day, 45-61 requires two days, 68-88 requires three days, and 89 or more requires four days.
If a pitcher throws 26 or fewer pitches in one day, he can pitch again the following day so long as he does not throw more than 44 in two days. After that, he is required to take one day of rest.
Pitchers who throw more than 27 pitches in the first game of a double-header cannot pitch in the second game.
Finally, CHSAA’s pitching panel wanted to explore the process on developing a video which would address proper throwing techniques, innings/pitch counts and post-throwing activities, among other issues.
AURORA — Courtney Browne allowed just two runs (one earned) in seven innings as No. 9 Grandview beat Cherokee Trail 3-2 in Class 5A softball on Tuesday.
Browne improved to 8-4 as she struck out six and walked just one. Grandview, now 10-5, also got a 3-for-4 afternoon from Terran Caldwell, while Emily Supercynski was 1-for-3 with the Wolves’ lone RBI.
Chad Ellis (4), Jimmy Fate (6) and Berthoud football have a big game this week against Erie. (Jan Dowker/Berthoud Surveyor)
BERTHOUD — There are defining games throughout the season and this week, Erie hosting Berthoud could prove to be one of those games for each program.
Both teams experienced “firsts” last week: No. 9 Berthoud gave up its first points of the season to Niwot with five seconds remaining in their 42-6 win. Erie, meanwhile, suffered its first set back in a tough 10-7 overtime loss to Mead.
The Spartans enter Week 5 undefeated (4-0) and Erie is just one game back at 3-1. Neither team can afford a loss as each of their schedules gets tougher as they move through difficult league play.
At present, three of the state’s ranked Class 3A teams call the Northern League home — in addition to Berthoud, No. 6 Holy Family and No. 8 Roosevelt. Erie was also in the top ten until the Mead loss.
Both the Tigers and Spartans have new head coaches this year, who installed new schemes and have relatively young and inexperienced rosters. Erie returned just five lettermen and Berthoud had only four seniors with any significant varsity playing experience.
Erie’s new coach Chris Summers changed Tiger stripes moving over from Holy Family, where he was the offensive coordinator. Longtime Spartans defensive coordinator Troy Diffendaffer has taken over the reins at Berthoud. Both coaches have enjoyed early-season success, while completely retooling their respective programs.
The Tigers rely on seniors Elijah Roper and B.J. Jensen, who play both ways as running backs and as a linebacker (Roper) and defensive back (Jensen). Roper has the size and strength at 6-foot-2, 210 pounts to be a force on both sides of the line of scrimmage and averages nearly seven yards (6.8) per carry rushing the ball.
Jensen is Erie’s leading rusher with 328 yards, as well as their top receiver at 110 yards, and he complements Roper’s power with quick feet and explosiveness, making the duo a serious offensive threat.
Another Erie senior who has become a prominent player in 2014 is linebacker Triston Berringer who leads the team in tackles with 25. He has been an integral part of a defense that has only given up 50 points this season, which is the seventh-fewest in 3A.
The Spartans are led by 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback Cody Braesch. The junior has the third-best quarterback rating in 3A (125.0) and has thrown 11 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
Berthoud’s offense has been able to spread the ball around in the air with five different receivers with over 100 yards this season. Junior Jackson Hall leads the receiving corps with 308 yards on 13 catches. Hall is second in 3A in receiving touchdowns with six and averages 23.6 yards per reception. In total, the Spartans are averaging more than 44 points per game.
But defense may be Bethoud’s greatest strength. Jimmy Fate, the current 138-pound 4A state wrestling champion, is the team’s leading tackler (22 tackles). Through four games, the Spartans have given up only a lone touchdown and they stand at 179 points scored with six points against.
This is a great matchup for both teams to see where they stand at this juncture of the season. Erie’s defense has been stout all year, holding opponents to less than 13 points per game and the Berthoud offense has been prolific.
The midway point in the season only represents halfway through a schedule, but this key 2014 test will be a huge stepping stone and barometer for these two 3A programs.
