DENVER — Thompson Valley handed Evergreen its first loss and Valor Christian topped Air Academy to stay alive in the Class 4A baseball tournament.

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(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

DENVER — The Cherry Creek baseball team had its back against the wall.

One strike was all that remained between the Bruins and their season coming to an end. But that turned out to be just enough to pull off what seemed more than improbable.

Erasing a three-run deficit, Cherry Creek rallied to edge Mountain Vista 9-8 in extra innings on Friday at All-City Stadium and remain alive in the Class 5A state tournament.

“All I can say is that we were blessed,” Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson said. “(Mountain Vista) is a really good team, without a doubt. I’m just thankful for what happened.”

What happened was a series of plays that stole the game’s momentum from the Golden Eagles, who held an 8-5 lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning, and into the Bruins’ favor. A pair of extra-base hits from senior Cody Schultz late in the game helped set up Cherry Creek for a dose of revenge after losing to Mountain Vista in extra innings earlier during the regular season.

Both teams were explosive on offense early in Friday’s game, which reached the 8-5 score after only the top of the second frame. From there, some key pitching changes on each side held the other scoreless until the Bruins began their rally.

Schultz broke the silence with a two-out triple in the bottom of the seventh. He was followed by junior Tanner O’Tremba, who smacked a two-run home run over the left-field fence to bring Cherry Creek to within 8-7. Senior Andrew Chavez then scored on an RBI single from pinch hitter Gunnar Garcia for the equalizer that forced extra innings.

“All year long, it’s been ‘All Hail the seventh inning,’” Schultz said. “We’ve been able to score runs in the seventh, right when we needed them. We kept in that mindset and never stopped believing.”

As the game moved into the ninth inning, the stars aligned for Schultz to come through yet again. With runners on first and second, he connected on a curveball that dropped in shallow centerfield, allowing junior Isaac Kron to cross home plate and compete the dramatic walk-off victory.

“It was amazing to see that one drop. I turned around to see my guys running at me and couldn’t have been more excited,” Schultz said. “We’re fighters – and we were never going to go down without a fight.”

Cherry Creek advances to play Broomfield at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the winner earning a spot to play Rocky Mountain in the state title game at 12:30 p.m.

The Eagles defeated Rocky Mountain, which was the only remaining undefeated team in the double-elimination tournament, also in extra innings with a 7-2 victory earlier on Friday.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Broomfield was led by the impressive pitching performance of senior James Notary, who struck out 11 of the Lobos’ batters and allowed just five hits and two runs over the seven innings he threw.

The Eagles broke the game open in the top of the ninth with a five-run inning. Mitch Morales had an RBI double to give the Eagles the lead, which was later followed up by a double to deep left field by pinch hitter Tyler Conover, scoring three more. Rocky Mountain was unable to respond which resulted in the win for Broomfield.

“We knew things would go our way if we just kept on fighting, so that’s what we told ourselves we were going to do – no matter what,” Morales said. “Everybody played their part and things started to fall into place. It was exciting to get the team going. It sparked the offense and we kept the ball rolling after that.”

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — Three times in a row, Colorado Academy and Cherry Creek have met in the girls lacrosse championship. Three times in a row, Colorado Academy has come away with the gold hardware.

“We faced a lot of adversity. I think this one is especially meaningful for us and for the seniors because we rose above that,”  Colorado Academy’s Sloane Murphy said. “Despite people saying we had it easy in playoffs, or because we lost so many seniors, we wouldn’t be able to get where we are, it shows them that we’re here and we’re staying.”

The now three-time defending champion Mustangs went on a 4-0 run in the first half to distance themselves from Cherry Creek and add to their 16-0 record in the state of Colorado.

Colorado Academy (17-2 overall) did not lose in Colorado all year.

“There was this whole stigma around a streak, so for a lot of us, we’ve tried to push that notion outside of our head,” Murphy said. “Those two losses still meant something to us. We focused on the next game, how we could improve, how can we take the last game and apply it to the next one?”

Out of a timeout, Murphy ended the back-and-forth scoring to put Colorado Academy up 4-2. 

Colorado Academy coach Steph Sanders said she told her team, “You guys have this much time, you’ve got to get the job done. How badly do you want this?”

Then, Murphy did it again.

Murphy cut into the middle of the Cherry Creek defense and scored as she ran across goal.

Merrill Rollhaus added another to push the lead to 6-2 and the Mustangs were rolling.

“Coming out of that timeout, we were realizing we were a little frazzled and we needed to settle in,” Murphy said. “It’s already been 15 minutes, we need to just get our nerves down. At that point, all of us realized let’s get some numbers on the board.”

Cherry Creek coach Bailey Zerr called a timeout to let her Bruins take a breath, and it paid off.

Pearl Schwartz and Emma Godfrey ended the 4-0 Colorado Academy run with back-to-back goals.

Colorado Academy had a goal called off for charging with 1:36 in the first half and the teams went into halftime with Cherry Creek holding the momentum.

“Our goal was to come out and play the best we can and end up here. And we ended up playing a great game,” Sanders said. “We knew we had to show up every single game because we have a target on our back. As long as we can stay with our gameplan, we’re fine.”

But, out of the half, Colorado Academy controlled the ball for almost four minutes to deflate that momentum. Then, Claire Wright got the second-half scoring started and it was 7-4 Mustangs.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

“We came in telling them this is a game just like any other,” Sanders said. “Our defense knew they had to step up. We really wanted to possess the ball, because we know that when Creek has the ball, they’re really dangerous.”

Colorado Academy held Cherry Creek scoreless for 23 minutes stretching from 3:48 in the first half to 1:48 in the second half.

“That was extremely vital,” Murphy said. “In lacrosse, we’ve learned people can come back in a matter of seconds. I think that was really crucial in the end. Creek’s offense was something we really had to be aware of coming in. They have great stick skills, all of them are a threat. That’s a great feat for us that we were able to hold them off for so long.”

Cherry Creek had the chance to take the lead with the game tied 3-3 as Pearl Schwartz weaved her way on net, but the shot was saved by Bridget Sutter.

Colorado Academy got on the board first with a goal by Sydney Prokupek.

Isabel Anema struck back for Cherry Creek, then Emma Godfrey’s shot went off the crossbar.

Colorado Academy’s Claire Wright took advantage of the opportunity off the missed shot to put Colorado Academy up 2-1.

And again Cherry Creek responded. Pearl Schwartz found the back of the net to tie the game.

But, the game wouldn’t stay tied long as Lauren Russell got in on the scoring to give the Mustangs a 3-2 lead.

Cherry Creek has made every Colorado girls lacrosse championship in the history of the sport. The Bruins have 10 titles.

Colorado Academy moves into second all-time with four championship wins.

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

COMMERCE CITY — D’Evelyn can add its name to the plethora of Jeffco League teams who have won a girls soccer state championships.

The Jaguars defeated rival Jeffco rival Evergreen 1-0 on Wednesday night in the Class 4A title game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to claim the first girls soccer state title in the program’s history.

“I just had a complete rush of emotion,” said D’Evelyn sophomore Bella Scaturro, who had a couple of key clears in the final minutes to preserve the 1-goal victory. “I’m so happy. I’m so proud of us. I couldn’t ask for more from this team.”

The lone goal in the championship game came early. D’Evelyn’s leading scorer, sophomore Laryssa Hamblen, put in her 20th goal of the season in the 5th minute. Hamblen put pressure on an Evergreen clearing attempt. The ball rocketed off Hamblen to create a breakaway on Evergreen sophomore goalie Sarah Straut.

“I just kept pushing through and was able to get a touch to get a one-on-one with the keeper. I managed to slip it in,” Hamblen said. “Honestly, I was kind of shocked when it happened. I wasn’t sure where the ball was at first, then I saw it in front of me. I just hit it hard enough.”

Straut was able to get a hand on the shot, but enough to keep it from getting across the goal-line.

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It’s just work,” D’Evelyn coach Paul Moline said of Hamblen’s goal. “We talked about that today because we knew it was going to be a battle back-and-forth all game. There were going to be those individual battles all over the field.”

Evergreen (13-7) had a flurry of chances in the final 13 minutes, including a few corners and direct free kicks off the foot of Evergreen senior Sofia Weiner that nearly tied the game up. The University of Virginia-bound Weiner felt that the Cougars had more scoring chances, but couldn’t find a way to score on D’Evelyn sophomore goalie Kiera Hess.

“She (Hess) has been stellar,” Moline said of Hess, who recored her third straight shutout victory in the Jaguars’ third straight 1-0 playoff victory. “All the way through the playoffs she has been unbeatable. She has owned that box.”

Hess admitted it was a little stressful holding a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game. She gave a lot of credit to her teammates.

“I had a really good team in front of me,” Hess said. “You can’t win a game unless you score.”

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

D’Evelyn (16-3-1) actually placed fourth in the brutally tough 4A Jeffco League this season. Valor, Wheat Ridge and Evergreen — all 4A state quarterfinalists — finished ahead of the Jaguars in the conference standings.

In the league game between D’Evelyn and Evergreen on April 26, the Cougars pulled out a 3-2 victory.

“To make it through Jeffco was extremely difficult this year,” Moline said. “To make it all the way to here was even harder. I think our league pepped us for a game like this. We played so many good, tight soccer games this year against quality opponents and quality coaches.”

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

It hasn’t been rare to have an all-Jeffco soccer final in either 4A or 5A. Wheat Ridge and Valor faced off in three straight 4A title games from 2009 to 2011. In 5A, Columbine and Ralston Valley battled it out at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park just three years ago in 2014.

“Overall as a team this season we were able to unify as a team and we were more cohesive. It worked out for us in the end,” Hamblen said. “Now that we know that this team can do it, we can do it again.”

Evergreen also had an interesting ride before getting hot for its strong playoff run. It was the first time the Cougars and longtime coach Peter Jeans made it to a girls soccer championship game since Evergreen won the 4A title in 1997.

“It’s incredible. If you asked any of us in the middle of the season if we would be here today, I’m pretty sure all of us would have said you are crazy,” Weiner said. “We really picked it up at the end of the season and our chemistry really came together.”

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — When time had run out, Mountain Vista coach Theresa Echtermeyer stood on the sideline looking at something that never gets old for her.

A group of remarkable young women had come together to put together 80 minutes of championship soccer.

Her Golden Eagles had just beaten Arapahoe 3-1. For the fourth time in school history, they’re bringing home a Class 5A girls soccer state championship.

“It’s really special to watch kids have a dream like that come true,” she said. “It’s amazing.”

She had stood on the very grass at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park a year ago with a completely different feeling. It was Grandview celebrating a title then, not Mountain Vista.

And in the first five minutes of the game, there was fear that the Golden Eagles (17-2-1 overall) were going to come up short again. Arapahoe had an open look at the net.

It slammed off the post.

They had another wide-open opportunity, but the ball was kicked out of the box by a defender. Early on, the Warriors (15-5) had control of the game.

“I saw them getting momentum at the beginning of the game and I got nervous,” forward Katie Joella said. “I knew our team could come back and get the win.”

So they just grabbed that momentum away from the Warriors.

Katie Harris went to put the ball in front of Arapahoe keeper Grace Caddorette, who attempted to scoop it up and end the threat.

Mountain Vista’s Katie Joella. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

But Arapahoe defender Sydney Maxson got tangled up with Joella and the ball squeezed free and rolled into the net.

The Golden Eagles nearly had another one as a shot off the crossbar shot straight down, but it was waved off.

It wouldn’t matter.

In the 30th minute, another cross in front of the Arapahoe goal made got by Barker and found the foot of Taeya Schueppert who had nothing but green grass between her and the net.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Schueppert said. “I just knew because it was state, I wanted to score for my team and for my sister (senior Haley Schueppert) and everyone else. It was the greatest feeling ever, knowing I scored and helped the team.”

But she wasn’t done.

She added another goal in the 57th minute of the game and with a three goal pad, all the Golden Eagles had to do was milk the clock.

When her second goal went in and the Golden Eagles grabbed a three-goal lead, they could feel championship gold coming their way.

“I was making sure that I wasn’t fully saying that,” Schueppert said. “But I was pretty confident at that point.”

Even down 3-0, the Warriors never stopped fighting. Maxson was able to put one in the net to make it a 3-1 game and not once did they think they were out of the game.

“I feel like this is a team that is incredibly resilient,” coach Mark Hampshire said. “The senior leadership with this crew is hard to explain. This is a senior group that has witnessed an incredible school tragedy. The power of that resilience… nothing is out of reach.”

But by the time they had been able to regain the momentum they had early in the game, it was too late. Mountain Vista had put too much pressure on and not given the Warriors enough time to recover.

It is the first state title since 2013 for Mountain Vista. The seniors were in eighth grade at the time.

Perhaps with this win, they have inspired kids who may be in eighth grade right now to put forth the effort to come away with a title. Because on the first night of May where it truly felt summer, the seniors left Dick’s Sporting Goods Park high on emotion.

“It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had,” Joella said. “It’s amazing.”

GREELEY — Dillon Rudd went 2-for-2 with two RBIs as Valley locked up a spot in the Class 3A baseball title game with a 7-2 win over Colorado Academy.

Faith Christian won games against Salida and Peak to Peak to remain alive in the tournament.

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Rampart on Thursday announced that it has hired Jake Huard to be its next baseball coach.

The school announced the hire in a press release.

Huard is very familiar with the Rams, having grown up around the program as the son of former coach Ken Huard, who led the program from 1989-2005. Jake Huard also played for Rampart, graduating in 2008. And he was an assistant for the Rams this past season.

“Coaching baseball at Rampart is incredibly exciting to me because of my extensive background in this program,” Huard said in a statement. “I am excited for the opportunity to be a positive influence for Rampart baseball.”

Said Rampart athletic director Andy Parks, in a statement: “Jake Huard understands the unique culture and expectations around being a student at Rampart High School as he is currently a physical education teacher at Rampart High School as well as an alumnus. Coach Huard supports, understands and will continue to work to implement the Rampart High School mission for educational athletics.”

Huard will meet his new team on May 22. The Rams finished 4-15 last season in Class 5A.

Palisade baseball coach Aaron Howard has resigned his position in order to spend more time with his family.

In his four seasons, Howard has made the Bulldogs into one of the Western Slope’s best teams, and they consistently qualify for the postseason. He was 60-22, with two Western Slope League titles.

“I am very fortunate to have a wonderful wife who has supported me these past four years so I could do what I love, which is coach baseball,” Howard said in a statement. “However, I am at a point in my life where I want to watch my kids grow up and not miss out on any of their activities.”

Palisade went 16-4 in 2017, and hosted a region in Class 4A. The Bulldogs lost to Evergreen, 3-2, in the regional championship. Evergreen is now the lone unbeaten team remaining in the 4A state tournament.

“It has been a true joy and privilege to be the head coach of the Palisade Bulldogs,” Howard said. “It is a phenomenal community with many quality people and student athletes. The administrative team at Palisade High School has been amazing and very supportive of our program. This program is successful because of all the people involved.  I feel the program is in a very healthy state and I hope it continues to grow.

“Lastly,” he added, “I would like to thank my coaching staff, who along with me, put in countless hours to make this program what it is.  Without them none of our successes would have been possible.”

The 2017 all-state girls tennis teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created based upon results at the state tournament.

The athletes who won championships at their classification were named players of the year.

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Class 5A

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Ky Ecton, Poudre

Coach of the year: Chris Jacob, Cherry Creek

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Class 4A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Josie Schaffer, Kent Denver

Coach of the year: David Adams, Cheyenne Mountain

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Class 3A

(Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Sammy Moore-Thomson, Colorado Academy

Coach of the year: Woody Oliver, D’Evelyn

DENVER — Colorado Academy won a third-straight girls lacrosse championship by beating Cherry Creek on Wednesday night.

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