GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Blake Benedetti went 4-for-4 with two triples and four RBIs as No. 2 Cherry Creek baseball beat No. 4 Legend 13-3 on Wednesday.
The Bruins (4-0) now own three wins over top-10 teams, including then-No. 7 Dakota Ridge last week, and No. 1 Regis Jesuit on Monday. They play No. 10 Mountain Vista on Friday, adding to a loaded non-league schedule.
Wednesday, Aeneas Roberson went 3-for-3 with three runs and a triple, while freshman Tanner O’Tremba was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run. Blake Goldsberry pitched all five innings of the mercy-rule-shortened game. He allowed three earned runs and struck out five against just two walks.
On April 16, the Legislative Council will meet in Aurora. Below is information about the meeting, including links to the agenda and proposals that will be considered.
Where: Radisson Denver Southeast (3155 S. Vaughn Way, Aurora)
Note: Constitutional Proposals require 2/3 vote for approval; Administrative and Sport Proposals requires majority vote for approval, unless otherwise noted.
AURORA — High school sports in this state are destined to expand to Class 6A at some point. But a proposal headed for the April Legislative Council meeting wants football to get there before any other sport — in 2016.
The proposal, which came from the Union Pacific League, wants to change football’s enrollment splits — just approved at January’s Legislative Council meeting — to allow for the addition of an eighth classification.
As it would change the Classification and League Organizing Committee’s report which has already been passed, the proposal will require two-thirds approval from the Legislative Council in order to pass. That, typically, is a tall task.
The football committee, for its part, does not support the proposal. They are working on an alternative plan to balance classifications. The CHSAA office would like to see that plan have an opportunity to formulate.
“This would create another way for football to be different than everyone else, and that’s something we don’t want to further,” said Harry Waterman, CHSAA assistant commissioner in charge of football. “Not taken into account are Title IX implications and geography.”
“Football is already out of sync with all of our other sanctioned sports in terms of the number of classes it has,” said CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico. “To add another football-only classification furthers the imbalance of equity that currently exists between boys and girls sports.”
Aside from the addition 6A, the biggest change from the proposal would come in 2A, where the enrollment cap would drop from the current 729 students to a proposed 550. The minimum would also change from 340 to 266.
(It is worth noting that some members of the Union Pacific play 1A football. Under the proposal, some of them would move from the very bottom of the current 1A cutoff to the middle of the new one.)
The 6A split would be from 1,941 students and above. Currently, 5A is the largest classification with 1,799 students and above. 4A is the next largest at 1,250-1,798. Under the proposal, 5A’s split would be 1,361-1,940 and 4A’s would be 1,000-1,360.
Schools’ enrollment numbers used to determine their classification for the 2016-18 two-year cycle won’t be counted until October 2015. However, currently there are 26 schools that fall above the proposed threshold for 6A. (Find current enrollment numbers here.)
Some other programs may choose to play up, but the proposal indicates 34 schools that would fall into 6A. It is not clear where the other eight come from, especially considering that the Union Pacific has not reached out to schools to ask them about their plans of playing up or playing down.
Here’s a chart of the current enrollment splits compared to the ones proposed by the Union Pacific League:
Class
Current split
Proposed split
6-man
1-135
1-73
8-man
74-112
1A
136-339
113-265
2A
340-729
266-550
3A
730-1249
551-999
4A
1250-1798
1000-1360
5A
1799-up
1361-1940
6A
Does not exist
1941-up
If this proposal is approved, a number of questions would remain, the most important of which would be the postseason field and qualifying procedures. Additionally, current state championship sites would be affected. There’s also league alignment to consider.
These questions would fall to the football committee, if the proposal passes.
AURORA — Baseball’s season could look a bit different in 2016.
One proposal set to be voted on at the April Legislative Council meeting seeks to expand the regular season to 23 games. A second wants to push the start date, as well as the state championships, back one week.
The 23-game proposal comes from the Centennial League. Currently, teams are allowed to play a maximum of 19 games. The proposal would allow for more flexibility in scheduling, including entering out-of-state tournaments, according to the rationale submitted from the league.
There is a mirrored proposal, also from the Centennial, that would expand softball’s season to 23 games. Both sports also have additional proposals that would expanded the maximum number of innings an individual player is allowed to participate in, should the new maximum games limit pass.
Meanwhile, the start-date proposal is directly aimed at finding better weather at the start of the season. According to the rationale for the proposal, which was submitted by the Southwestern League, “a later start date and a later competition date would have a better success rate of completing the season without several rescheduled dates at the end of the season.”
This season, practice started on Feb. 23 and games on March 5. Had this proposal been in effect, practice would have started on March 2 and games on March 12.
With that change, the final weekend of state championships (Class 3A, 4A and 5A) would fall on June 3-4 in the 2016 season. It would also be in June (2-3) for the 2017 season.
The baseball committee supports both the expansion and the start-date proposals. The softball committee hasn’t had the chance to discuss the expansion of the regular season.
Each of the proposals will require simple majority approval from the Legislative Council.
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4A basketball proposal seeks a return to 48-team bracket
(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Last year, Class 4A basketball narrowed its 48-team postseason field to 32. Well, now there’s a proposal that seeks a return to 48 teams as soon as next season.
The Tri-Valley League put the proposal forward, saying that a return to 48 would bring it more in line with other classes in terms of the percentage of teams qualifying for the postseason.
The proposal requires a majority approval from the Legislative Council.
A separate proposal, which came from the Continental League, seeks to give Ponderosa special consideration to qualify for the 4A field. Ponderosa plays in a 5A league (the Continental), so the proposal wants them to automatically qualify if they win 10 or more games against 4A or 5A opponents.
The official proposal seeking to add third classifications for girls golf, girls swimming and diving, and girls tennis will be on the agenda.
The hockey sport report, and its recommendation to add junior varsity programs, will go to a vote. Along with that is the reduction to a 20-player maximum roster size.
In volleyball, another proposal from the Union Pacific seeks to return to the previous schedule used at state volleyball. In that schedule, the top seed in each pool has the potential to play three times on Saturday, but it also sets up the Nos. 1 a 2 seeds to play in the final match of pool play. This would create fewer matches that don’t matter in terms of the semifinals.
What a year in big school boys hoops. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
BOULDER — Wow — “wide open” was the theme in boys basketball this year, folks, and Air Academy’s track meet performance vs. formerly-undefeated Longmont proved just that in Class 4A’s title game on Saturday.
Meanwhile, D-I talent-loaded Overland showed that maybe 5A wasn’t so wide open after all!
In 5A we must give “props” to coach “Bubba” Carey and the defending champ Angels who were written off by many early in the season. This was to be the season to “pay” the Angels back for their long string of success and wins. Not to be so! Brian Carey’s undeniable leadership, Jordan Willis’ emergence as a “double-double monsta,” Jack Buckmelter’s boost, and so on, were among the reasons East was back in Boulder.
Eaglecrest also has a crew of stud Raptors in the Ross brothers, Blend Advili, and Peter Anderson. The problem was they ran into a deep T-Ridge squad who got off to a 10-0 lead and the top Raptor players were asked to give everything they had in trying to come back, but came up short.
Longmont’s 4A special season remaining undefeated to the championship game is definitely worth mentioning. Justinian Jessup is a smooth 6-foot-6 lefty who led this team all year.
Sierra and veteran Coach Terry Dunn don’t lack for confidence and have tons of talent to continually be a “southern factor” in 4A play.
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Championship thoughts:
(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
Well, here’s a few numbers for you folks: Overland with 35-, 28-, 21-, 20- and 13-point victories in the playoffs. Average margin of victory 23 points!
Left no doubt who was the best team and most complete roster in the state of Colorado. Coach Danny Fisher had his squad focused and it’s not easy to get all that talent on same page, willing to sacrifice “me” for the “we.”
The Blazers also peaked, playing their best ball at the right time. In coach Fisher fashion, the Blazers raced off the court after accepting their trophies and taking pictures in the same united focus they attacked this postseason with.
Congrats on the first in school history T-Blazers!
Must be honest and pay a huge compliment to the Air Academy staff here: I sat taking notes on the pieces of their program, attack that I would love to implement with the Colorado players I coach spring/summer.
Not a lot of size, but you better have your track shoes on when facing the Kadets! It was like a “senior showcase” as all of their key veterans scored in double figures leading to the upset of Longmont.
Even when you get lucky and stop Air Academy from running they revert to their patient — but fluid — motion offense that still makes you work defensively. You might score a bucket on the Kadets, but you better get back on D and that turned out to be a formula for 4A title success.
Longmont traveled to Boulder with the hopes of keeping their undefeated season alive and knocked off a feisty Sierra squad. Zach Marburger’s awesome coverage is here.
A poised senior guard can be a HUGE help in title game play and Dennis Pleuss covered Wyoming-bound Austin Conway’s ultra confident performance leading to Overland’s first title in boys hoops ever!
4A Final
Our guy Brock Laue took a unique look at Air Academy’s fancy foot-work on the soccer field helped them gain championship experience leading to knocking off the state’s last undefeated Longmont to win the 4A title.
CHSAANow.com has you covered for all those coveted Championship memories here in the action shots.
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The “Way Too Early” Look Ahead
Coach T (right) takes in the action during Championship Saturday. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
Should we? Sure, why not.
It seems De’Ron will resist the temptation of the top prep schools who would love to have his services and prep him on a national stage for college. After the game, when asked if he would go to a prep school or return to Overland, he told our Dennis Pleuss, “I’m coming back for sure. I’m coming back and trying to repeat this thing.”
Because of that, Overland returns as the top squad with the likes of Davis, Gibson, Wang and the Haliburtons back. Don’t forget about Legend, whose entire starting five is returning in Continental. Can’t forget about our city boys, and coach Hammons’ George Washington Patriots have as much young talent as anyone.
Yes, Longmont was surely disappointed in their sole loss of the season coming in the 4A title game but having only two seniors and TEN RETURNING PLAYERS has to make the Trojans the clear 4A favorite next year.
Valor has young guns eager to taste Boulder again and as previously stated Sierra isn’t going anywhere. Pueblo West is another to watch out for down south who experienced tons of success this year and likely cant wait for winter 2015 just like the rest of us “hoop heads”!
The end of Year 6 has come for Ball Fever and our Crew! Special thanks to Ryan Casey for the continued support and let’s all get out there and support the constantly improving Colorado hoops!
Things got a bit crazy when this week’s Class 4A baseball poll was released.
Three new teams — Pueblo West, Pueblo East and Mountain View — joined CHSAANow.com’s ranking after going unranked in the preseason.
Pueblo West jumped all the way up to No. 3 following its 4-0 start which includs a win over then-No. 4 Palmer Ridge, as well as an impressive showing at a tournament in New Mexico.
Pueblo East is No. 5 this week, while Mountain View is No. 8.
Green Mountain remained No. 1 in the 4A poll. In fact, none of the No. 1s changed from the preseason, meaning Regis Jesuit (5A), Eaton (3A), Resurrection Christian (2A) and Dove Creek (1A) all held firm.
In 5A, Columbine joined the poll at No. 9. They were the lone newcomer to that ranking.
The 3A poll added La Junta (No. 10), while Dayspring Christian (No. 9) and Dolores (No. 10) are new to 2A. 1A added No. 9 Springfield and No. 10 Fleming.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.
Dakota Ridge 10, Rock Canyon 10, Fruita Monument 9, Grand Junction 8, Highlands Ranch 6, Adams City 5, Douglas County 5, Mountain Range 5, Ralston Valley 5, Pine Creek 4, Heritage 3, Brighton 2, Chaparral 2, Mullen 2, Grand Junction Central 1, Lincoln 1.
Dropped out
Dakota Ridge (7).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Green Mountain (7)
1-0
98
1
1-0
2
Montrose (2)
3-0
80
2
3-0
3
Pueblo West (1)
4-0
72
–
4-0
4
Lewis-Palmer (1)
0-0
70
5
0-0
5
Pueblo East
3-0
43
–
3-0
6
Valor Christian
0-1
33
3
0-1
7
Ponderosa
1-0
28
7
1-0
8
Mountain View
2-1
25
–
2-1
9
Wheat Ridge
0-1
23
6
0-1
10
Palmer Ridge
0-1
17
4
0-1
Others receiving votes:
Erie 16, Canon City 11, D’Evelyn 11, Falcon 11, Air Academy 10, Vista Ridge 9, Windsor 9, Mead 7, Cheyenne Mountain 5, Mesa Ridge 5, Pueblo County 5, Discovery Canyon 4, Elizabeth 3, Longmont 3, Pueblo South 3, Thomas Jefferson 3, Palisade 1.
Cherry Creek has taken over atop this week’s Class 5A boys lacrosse rankings.
The Bruins are 2-0 to start this season, including a win over then-No. 6 Columbine. They got 10 of the 13 first-place votes from CHSAANow.com’s panel this week.
Former No. 1 Regis Jesuit fell to No. 4 after dropping a game to Arapahoe last week. Arapahoe is now No. 2, moving up two spots, and got two first-place votes
Mountain Vista got the other first-place vote, and is ranked third. Kent Denver rounds out 5A’s top five.
Monarch (No. 6) and Grandview (No. 10) are newcomers to this week’s 5A poll.
In 4A, Pondersa held on top the top spot, but a total of six team received first-place votes, including No. 2 Valor Christian, No. 3 Aspen, No. 4 Cheyenne Mountain, No. 5 Steamboat Springs and No. 6 Battle Mountain.
Air Academy is the 4A poll’s lone newcomer, joining at No. 7.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.
